28/05/2026
From navigating the runways of Heathrow Airport to sitting flat on the UNMARKED exhibition floor.
James was just sixteen years old when he first laid eyes on a Volkswagen Mk1 Caddy while scrolling through overseas event coverage on Speedhunters. In Australia, these things are a total ghost. He spent a decade searching for one, and when this clean, UK-imported utility finally surfaced in 2023, he almost talked himself out of it—until his partner told him he was absolutely nuts to pass it up. He bought it the very next day.
Transforming a rare utility into a premium show piece meant twelve months of focused garage nights. James stripped the bulky factory plastic for a sleek chrome front bumper, deleted the rear tow assembly for a smooth roll pan, and tackled the hardest part of the build: the stance.
Because the Caddy runs a commercial leaf-spring rear end, standard kits don’t fit. After a failed, harsh attempt with air shocks, James re-engineered the rear with a custom bag-over-leaf setup using a mix of BC struts, Airflex bags, and a CKW2 rear configuration.
It sits perfectly over a set of timeless, custom-spec BBS RS split wheels, while the interior keeps it pure with a classic Nardi steering wheel—a piece James has carried with him from his past iconic builds.
No corporate teams. Just a guy chasing a childhood screen-grab, a supportive wife who wouldn’t let him pass up the opportunity, and an air-ride setup that makes a retired airport workhorse look like an absolute piece of art.
“The younger me would never have thought I would be here,” James says. “Pulling up somewhere and airing out will never get old—even if it’s just pulling up to put fuel in it.”
Come witness James’ incredible, ultra-rare Mk1 Caddy in the flesh this weekend!
📍 Caribbean Park
📅 May 30-31
