---

As human beings, we’re constantly learning, questioning and gaining new knowledge of the things that we’re passionate about. For me, and no doubt you as well if you’re reading these words, that means every day I’m excited to learn more about car culture. Just over a week ago, Paddy and myself flew to Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, to go Speedhunting. To be honest I didn’t know what to expect… and I’m still trying to take it all in. Rod had set up a feature with the beautifully aggressive Volkswagen Caddy that you see here, but the rest of the three day adventure was yet to be confirmed. In fact, Rod might well have mentioned what else was on the agenda, but as soon as I saw a photo of this 1JZ-powered VW on my phone, I lost track of everything else that was happening.

---

---

Was I excited? Damn straight. Seeing a car build like this and not knowing anything about how it came about is pretty exciting from a storytelling point of view. I had so many questions: was it a no-limit, chequebook-out type of build? A big money demo car? Who owned this absolute weapon and what were their plans for it? But allow me to explain the answers to those questions in just a moment whilst I take a brief trip back in time.

---

---

Y’see, there’s something very special about this Caddy. It reminds me of the mental cars that used to find their way onto magazine covers here in the UK back at the turn of the millenium. In the late ’90s and early ’00s two car builders stick firmly in my mind for pushing the boundaries of what was possible. Ian Birch of Dubsport fame was one of these guys; he put together many rear-engine conversions and a handful of twin-engine powered cars (all of the VW variety) that graced the covers of many automotive magazines. Another name you might remember, if you were into the turbocharged Ford scene, is Squint of MJS Performance and his positively bananas rear-engined Ford Escort and even more insane twin-engined RS Turbo pick-up truck. These builds were the ultimate pinnacle of insanity, albeit it of a good kind.

---

---

But then much of this awesome shoehorning of big power motors into places they didn’t really belong seemed to kind of stop in the UK. Sure, it still happened. But in the VW community there was a shift toward factory-look motors with big power or very clean engine swaps that looked awesome, but didn’t really gain any sort of high score bonus for mentalism.

---

---

And that’s why I think this 1JZ-powered Volkswagen Caddy truck, which has been lovingly built by its inspirational owner, Viktor Martensson, is so very special. Not only does it bring together a crazy engine swap and elements of different car cultures but he and his friends at the Japcrap Bombsquad are all about having fun with their bonkers automotive creations. Viktor and his friends embody everything I love about the automotive scene. This guy started out as a humble metal worker in Stockholm, and with the help of the Japcrap Bombsquad, has put together a vehicle that he is able to have stacks of fun with.

---

---

I’m fascinated by the pure insanity of the build. Simply down to the fact that it breaks all of the rules. This Caddy is a perfect Euro/JDM mash-up and Viktor has also managed to combine many elements of various scenes to create a car that everyone seems to be talking about. It’s all-encompassing. This vehicle represents the Euro, drift, JDM and stance movement all in one hit. It’s a German car that’s been created by a clever Swedish guy using Japanese power. With this in mind it could be some sort of United Nations car culture project!

---

---

From the outside it may look like just a pretty bonkers Volkswagen Caddy with a side-exit exhaust. But actually, there’s a whole other complete car involved in the build, as well a load of fabrication work. Rather than just fit the engine from a Soarer, Viktor completely re-engineered the whole body. The front end is pretty much all Soarer with the Caddy panels cleverly disguising the happenings from this dead-side shot. The rear sub-frame is all Soarer too. Rod put it better than I could on the shoot when he said, “There’s a ghost of a Soarer living inside that Caddy.”

---

---

Maybe that ghost is why the front of the Caddy almost has a personality; a kind of mad, one-eyed face that shouts, “I’m gonna physically harm you if you don’t get out of my way!” And Viktor’s not afraid to push his latest creation as these awesome photos taken by Paddy at the incredible Gröndal Eskilstuna Motorsport Arena show.

---

---

In fact, I found it pretty hard to believe that this was only the second outing for the car and the first time it had been used to its full potential in its current guise. Viktor has recently made some changes to make the Caddy more track compliant. The external wastegate used to sing its battle cry via a wild screamer pipe that looked similar to the handbrake and gear shifters used inside the car. This screamer pipe exited straight up out of the engine bay and looked crazy, but also sounded pretty violent, too. Violent in a good way, that is… unless, of course, you’re a racetrack scrutineer with a dB meter. With noise reduction being the name of the game, Viktor has re-engineered his Caddy’s turbo’s wastegate system. Despite this though, the motor still sounds very tough indeed.

---

---

It’s a deliciously smooth straight-six sound that the 1JZ turbo lump serves up. A sound that is completely unexpected. It’s not something you associate with a VW and certainly not a little Caddy truck. The smooth engine note is complemented by the equally slick rolling stock which this vehicle sits on. The OZ Racing Futura is one of my all-time favourite wheels and Viktor is running some super-wide 17×10-inch items out back…

---

---

… with a pair of 17×8.5-inch versions up front. At the moment the vehicle is still being developed, so this set-up could change but the stance of the vehicle is pretty much right on the money if you’re a fan of aggressive wheel fitment. Personally, I love the look. The timeless design might make me slightly biased, but I can think of no better wheel set-up; the Futuras add a classic blend of style to this nutty build.

---

---

The dash installation, wiring and cool little touches inside the Caddy are all Viktor’s own handiwork and an expression of his personality. I for one really like it when people inject some of their personality into a build rather than simply installing ‘must have’ parts in an effort to tick boxes.

---

---

*Built by Touring Superleggera for Italian financier and ex-Ducati President Dr Carlo Bonomi
*One of only four Maserati Bellagio Fastbacks
*Bespoke in the finest “shooting brake” tradition

---