Before I begin let me inform everyone that this will be slow as I am on a tight budget and parts are hard to come by here in USA. However, I have stopped racing my 2014 Ford Focus ST this season and am working on this in time to start next season. I picked up my 1991 Polo Fox 1L with 77,000km locally for $350 (250 BP or 314 EUR). At that price I couldn't say "No". It was decided among me and fellow local car enthusiasts that I should build it for the local Time Attack series next year. As a reminder, This is on a budget and not meant to win and beauty contests. Instead it will be a purely functional design and also as a test car for any future builds.

Here is the day I first got her..

Now the first thing I realized driving around was it didn't like the heat very well and started running very poorly. Around these parts in the summer it can reach up to or over 110F or 43C outside at midday. Noticing the Intake was sucking in air behind the headlight I knew this wasn't going to run as it should. With some digging through the garage I ended up finding and applying a form of "Cold Air Intake or Ram Air" setup.

Notice the cowling at the bottom of the bumper. I figured that would be the best place to mount it for now. Before anyone wonders why there is a cloth wrapped around the ducting in place was 3in (about 8cm). As we all know that is much bigger than the stock intake setups of these vehicles. It needed a filler of sorts in order to create a seal and unfortunately the only thing i had to do the job is the shirt off my own back. It works amazing in this summer heat!

The next step on this budget build is to start getting rid of anything unused or broken in the car. The rear windshield wiper did not work so out it went! Although now I again was stuck because now I have a hole in the hatch and its the rainy season here....Mhmmmmm what to do....

FIXED!!!

Then the rear bumper since it was only a cover anyway an unneeded.

The next was the rear seats and rest of interior. They were in good condition, However, unused and not needed. so out the went along with the rear seat belts. Mixed with a tad bit of elbow grease and she was shining rather nicely I think.

Obviously the spare tyre and components stay in for now as I drive this to work everyday!

Then the front carpet and insulation/sound deadening materials.

Then door cards..

That is about all the weight she will get rid of until I remove the A/C (broken) and fabricate and install the plexi-glass windows all around.

In the mean time I once again went exploring in my garage to find 1.5m of NASCAR brake cooling ducting I forgot I bought years ago for another project. With the heat around these parts outside means track temps are outrageous and brake temps would be insane! As we all know hot brakes fail so I broke out the old hole saw and went to town drilling holes for "science".

Future parts listing.

-Gaz coilovers

-PPP stage 3 chassis stiffening (wishbone conversion)

-All new poly bushings

-421 header straight piped to a "Super trap" muffler

-Full roll cage

-Volvo 240 calipers and slotted rotors up front

-EBC brake pads

-GTI rear brake conversion

-Super glue brake fluid

-Still deciding on wheels size but at least 7J wide all around

-NT01 tyers

-Front and rear down force...and a lot of it

-Fixed back bucket seats with 6point harnesses

-Plexi-glass windows all around

-Front doors gutted

-Smaller side mirrors

-spare tyre well delete

-5-10L fuel cell

-Relocated Battery (lightweight upgrade as well)

-1.3L motor on bike carbs running high comp.

The list goes on and on but you guys and gals get the idea.

Thank you for reading!

Edited 13 July, 201511 yr by nige8021
Pictures added :)

Should be an interesting build, I look forward to seeing how it goes. I love the wiper hole fix. P.s if you use the 'img' link it saves clicking each individual picture.

I'd Add a performance camshaft on that list too,

I was running bike carbs but now I'm turbocharged, you'll soon want more power :)

In terms of fuel tank, the standard ones the best in my opinion as it's low and keeps the weight low down.

Edited 13 July, 201511 yr by Buxton

Lilredwagon, thank you for the help I will make sure I do that from now on! Buxton, I yern for turbo power in this thing however due to the classing of the series is purely power to weight ratios. I don't want to make too much power but rather carry whatever power I donend up with through the corners with me 😀👍

Awesome sounds fun!

Lilredwagon, thank you for the help I will make sure I do that from now on! Buxton, I yern for turbo power in this thing however due to the classing of the series is purely power to weight ratios. I don't want to make too much power but rather carry whatever power I donend up with through the corners with me 😀👍

Glad to help :)

What a/c system does this have?

Andy, to be honest I'm not sure. It does not work and hasn't since I bought the car. Obviously it is an electrical issue with it since it won't even blow anything.

pics of the a/c would be good , never heard of one with it before

parts would probably sell too

I dont think it has A/C. Sounds like the resistor for the fan has blown.

I dont know if there were any small block golf mk3 sold in the us?

But if you could find a 1.4 with the ABD engine code..(made 95 - 97 around that time)

You could use the ABD as a very good base for further tuning, it has more bhp and torque at a lower rev than the 1.3 and is more rev happy. and u could reuse the brakes of the golf on your polo, same diametre rotors, but thicker and vented. (same as g40 brakes)

A lot of parts of golf mk2 fit the polo as well.

p.s: a/c was an option for the polo back early 90's, (in the Netherlands, that is)

Edited 4 August, 201510 yr by martijnt