Alright, let’s get this out of the way first: I’m not going to suggest that electric cars will ever replace what internal combustion engines do for folks like you and me. The smell of burnt fuel, the scream of high RPMs, and the mechanical, technical, and dirty nature of it all undoubtedly holds a place in our hearts.

There’s no better way to enjoy a vehicle you’ve built with your own hands than to use it, or perhaps in this case, abuse it. Earlier this spring, Emily and I, along with our dog Chloe, set out for the deserts of Utah, where we spent eight days camping inside our 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser. While the trip itself offered a slew of memories we’ll never forget, that wasn’t the only thing we were left with.

Photography by Mike Crawat
From the Renault Alpina GTE turbo wheels to the massive Hella foglights, there’s something special to be said for this loud and proud pint-sized Volkswagen. Lukas Sentensky’s rally-inspired ’78 MK1 Polo hatchback pulls together a slew of neat and eclectic ’80s parts to make for a tiny car with huge flavor.

Despite its size, Lukas has built a car thats hard to ignore, first and foremost with the vibrant yellow paint: a factory original color.

Episode 3! We’ve been making small improvements here and there, and your feedback has been great. While we’ve yet to work out the video and audio quirks for Episode 3, we’ve done what we can in front of the camera, and this time, we’re diving into progress on the Model A build. Let us know what you want to see next time, and enjoy our latest 15 minutes of content.

If you step into my apartment, you’ll find my walls covered in art. Much to the chagrin of my lovely, patient, and understanding girlfriend, the art is almost entirely automotive in nature.