This immaculate Volkswagen Golf started its journey in 1979. It is no longer the stock Mk1 it was when it rolled off the assembly line over 40 years ago. The current owner, Willem Jacobus, bought it in 2006 with a friend, and it has undergone several significant changes since then. It might not look like it from the outside, but this VW has two engines hidden inside, and a new video from Cars.co.za showcases the wild shape.
The VW Golf didn’t go from having one to two engines overnight under Jacobus ownership. It first got a bigger engine before selling it to a nephew. It got another engine swap, this time upgrading it to VR6. The nephew then sold it back to Jacobus, and that’s when he decided to install a second engine in it. He made the engine mounts and made the rear end out of steel, making it as safe as possible.
The turbo was a later addition, boosting the car’s output to 536 horsepower (400 kilowatts) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque. The front engine powers the front wheels, and the rear engine powers the rear wheels, and they operate independently of one another, much like two gearboxes. However, the car only has one key, which engages two start buttons so Jacobus can start them separately.
Volkswagen also has a double dial, with two tachometers, two temperature gauges and two boost gauges. One of the biggest challenges of this build was figuring out the gearbox, shift linkage and clutches. The dual-engine layout creates less noise in the cabin, but generates more heat. It was fixed by lowering the window. The extra engine, weight and power come with another upgrade – better brakes all around.
The first generation Volkswagen Golf wasn’t big, so putting two engines in the car was good enough. The hatchback layout, designed to be a practical economy car, has another advantage for owners looking to convert their Golf into a twin-engine car.
