What do Big Ron, Marco Haeger, Jörg Ballermann, and Edger Tepper all have in common? They all built world class Mk1s. It looks like we could have another to add to the list?

Having been born and raised in construction, and owning a successful company that specialises in commercial and industrial roofing, it’s fair to say that Toronto, Canada-based forty-year-old Richard ‘Richie’ Francisco knows the importance of attention to detail. He started his automotive journey at 17, when he got the keys to a 1995 Honda Civic. It didn’t take long for the need for speed to take hold, and the plucky single-cam example was duly B16-swapped, put on a set of wheels, and painted. However, European metal had started to turn Richie’s head, and at 22 he bought an E36 M3 Convertible. This was treated to BBS CH wheels and supercharged, and remains one of the lowest static BMWs we’ve ever clapped eyes on. The M3 eventually made way for a stunning one-owner Porsche 993 Turbo, which remains in his collection to this day. “I saved hard and bought it when I was just 25 from a local motoring journalist,” explains Richie. “The prices have since gone crazy on these, but this one isn’t going anywhere. I met my now-wife, Veronica, the week after picking it up, and she always tells me never to move it on as she knows how much it means to me. I’ve put my mark on the car, but I’ve been careful to ensure that all the modifications are reversible. It is fitted with a chrome cage, Speedline split rims, a Fabspeed exhaust and Bilstein PSS10 coilovers.”

The remainder of the interesting current fleet includes a bagged ’52 Chevrolet 3100. The perfectly patinated exterior hides a neat LS3 swap and a leather-trimmed interior. The convenience of the A/C, power locks and electric windows means that it is often used as a summer daily, with a modern GMC Dually 4X4 truck taking over those duties for the long Canadian winters, with six to seven months of snow being the norm. Wolfsburg is well represented in the collection, with a 1963 Beetle that has also had the full Unix treatment (watch this space), a 1992 Mk2 Golf 16V found in Edmonton, a Corrado shell, and of course, today’s star of the show, this rather special 1977 Mk1 Rabbit.

“I’ve always loved the early Mk1s,” enthuses Richie. “I particularly like the rear end, with the small lights. My neighbour actually owned a ’77, and I used to admire it and promised myself that one day it would be mine. That day never came, so when this one cropped up from the same model year, it piqued my interest. I did try and find a Mk1 that was closer to home, but our weather wasn’t kind to them, and the survival rate is low. This one came up for sale in California and looked good in the photos. Some further images of the floors and the discovery that it was a one-owner car, complete with the original bill of sale from the Californian dealership, led to a deal being done. I wasted no time in stripping it down, and the only dent was on the driver’s side rear quarter, just above the side reflector.”

The Mk1 was bought in 2020, work on the project began in 2021, and the car was completed in 2024. Once he had stripped and inspected the car, Richie sent it to be acid-dipped; it was then consigned locally to Dave’s Autobody, where it was rotisserie-prepared and painted. The colour is Porsche Arena Red, a one-year-only metallic paint option reserved for the 993 Turbo and C4S models. This was the same year as Richie’s 993 Turbo and is a nice nod to one of his other automotive loves. Once painted, it was shipped to Unix Performance in Quebec. Despite being a good five to six hours away, their reputation precedes them, and Richie knew that main man, Remi LaFlamme and his team were the guys to realise his dream. “How you see the car now is exactly how I envisaged it, and we were all on the same page throughout the build,” states the satisfied customer. The advantage of having a vision and the car being built in one holistic sitting is obvious. As we chat, Richie makes several references to the ‘flow’ of the project. This is self-evident in the photos, and you only have to look at the Unix back catalogue to see how their builds, despite each one having its own distinct personality, have a tangible fluency. To evidence but a few of their creations that have graced these pages over the years, Pierre Alexandre Vallé’s Mk2 GTI VR6 Turbo (PVW June 2012) nodded to his personal interests, whilst demonstrating to the world that textbook Euro show cars can be executed to perfection in Canada, Remi’s 1.8T-powered Mk1 (PVW April 2014) proved that personality and a playful palette can be mixed with high-end hot rod levels of finish, with the readers showing their approval by crowning it PVW Car of the Year, and Remi’s R36 Rallye (May 2015) giving us an OEM+ masterclass. Whilst we have become used to seeing themes and flow on full size kustoms and restomod exotica, Unix bring these levels to our beloved hatches.

The exterior styling is an exercise in restraint, where the quality of the workmanship, the clever touches, and the glint of the chrome do the talking. A wise man once said that ‘effortless’ cool requires the most effort. Take a second look at that single-headlight chrome surround front grille. Yep, it’s debadged, but this isn’t an off-the-shelf item; three originals were carefully cut and plastic-welded to produce the finished article. Going back aft to the tailgate, the chrome trim on the leading edge was added to continue the confident lines of the side trim, and the minimalism of the chromed single-wiper conversion works well with the original ‘flag’ door mirrors and the chrome 944 door handles. Pop-out rear windows, the GTI chin spoiler, shaved front and rear Federal reflectors, small Euro bumpers, and CL arch spats complete the classic look.

Some people questioned my logic of chroming a moving part, but it’s the first thing you see when you open the door!

Mk1s and BBS RS’ are a combination that are guaranteed to work, but once again, Richie put a lot of thought into the exact specification. “I know they’re not for everyone, but I like the way the zero lip and inverted centres accentuate the narrow proportions of the Mk1,” he explains. “Similarly, I’m all about more lip and wider wheels on the wider hipped stuff. I think wheel choice should work with the looks of a given car.” The Airlift 3P hardware and full management allow the 17 x 7.5-inch square setup to tuck perfectly, achieving what he calls a “tasteful slam.” Radinox outers, chromed centres and bolts, and stretched 215/30/17 Nexen tyres complete the killer rolling stock selection, and whilst RS’ do not show a lot of brake, no stone has been left unturned in the stopping department, with Wilwood four-pot callipers up front and their dual calliper conversion out back, grabbing cross-drilled discs all around. The brake booster is hidden behind the dashboard, so as not to spoil that amazing ‘bay. The Rabbit has been fully polybushed using Powerflex components and has been fitted with uprated anti-roll bars front and rear, evidence that this car is built to handle, too.

No Unix project is complete without serious firepower, and the turbocharged VR6 never fails to put a grin on Richie’s face. “That sound,” he enthuses. “The VR6 noise, especially with the turbo is amazing, I get chills every time I start it! It’s such a fun car to drive, the power means that it’s a challenge to keep it in a straight line, it absolutely fries tyres.” The well-considered engine build started with a 2.8-litre VR6 AAA 12V block and packs a mouthwatering specification: DP forged pistons and rods, Supertech valvetrain, modified and chromed Schrick intake manifold, Garrett GT30 turbo, cast exhaust manifold, Unix custom charge pipe, Unix custom stainless steel downpipe, Unix custom stainless steel exhaust system, Tial blow-off valve and wastegate, Unix custom WG drop, chromed Eurowise alternator, Eurowise engine mount, various Fabless Manufacturing VR6 conversion kit parts, including their transmission mount, Unix custom aluminium radiator and piping, custom coolant bottle, iABED cast thermostat housing, iABED oil filter flange, Link ECU, Unix custom harness, Bosch Motorsport drive-by-wire throttle body, Unix custom hardlines throughout….phew! An 02A transmission changes precisely thanks to the CAE shifter, and the Wavetrac LSD ensures that some of that power is transferred to terra firma. Whilst the spec list is enough to leave you speechless, the way in which it is presented is even more jaw-dropping. Chrome has been lavished on the mounts, brackets, timing cover, valve cover, turbocharger, pipework, and even the exhaust. The bolts are either chrome or gold-plated, carefully used to complement both the Arena Red main hue and the cinnamon leather interior. Literally every bolt has been carefully considered. “I wanted the bonnet opening experience to be like opening the box on a piece of jewellery,” explains Richie. As with every part of this build, multiple facets contribute to the wow factor. As the hood opens, your eyes focus on the gleaming chromed Schrick manifold, you then note that it is bejewelled with gold plated Allen bolts, with the oil and custom expansion bottle caps having been given the same finish. A gold-plated downpipe complements the chromed turbocharger and, hell, even the dipstick pull has had the Midas Touch. As you drink in the details, custom hardlines are so well executed that a second or third look is required to fully take them in. We’re used to seeing smoothed bays, but this is next level, with the chassis legs having been boxed in and smoothed, beautifying and simplifying the comparatively fussy stock factory items. As per the photos, the underside has been subject to the same exacting standards, with chroming extending to the sump, bracketry, and even the anti-roll bars. Whilst we’ve seen clean undersides before, Richie’s uncompromising standards mean that even parts that are completely hidden from view have been chromed, such as the fuel filler neck and steering column.

That aforementioned ‘flow’ pours through the interior, too, tying the whole package together in that classically boutique Unix way. Chrome features, but it doesn’t overpower. Richie explained that he had the Unix custom cage chromed, but then had the vision to have it upholstered in matching cinnamon leather, exposing just small chrome details which tie in with rearview mirror, handbrake handle, door handles, custom sill protectors, CAE tower and lever, fuel pump access panel and hard lines. “I was keen to get even the latch mechanisms chromed,” explains an exacting Richie. “Whilst some questioned the logic of chroming a moving part, my response to that is that it’s the first thing you see when you open the door, and why wouldn’t you want a good first impression?” As per the engine bay and the underside, a considered use of gold- plating continues into the cabin, with the CAE shift knob and mechanism, custom door pull securing tabs and various Allen bolts matching the text on the BBS steering wheel horn push and complementing the cinnamon leather with light cinnamon stitching smartly. In a similar vein to the engine bay, all unnecessary holes and switch gear were removed from the dashboard, with a ton of plastic welding and smoothing having been thrown at it before it was upholstered. It houses an AEM digital dash display in the original instrument binnacle position, with a Kenwood Bluetooth controller just underneath it, whilst the Airlift 3P controller is located in the centre. Mk2 Golf GTI Recaros are backdated with period-correct ‘seventies-style fishnet headrests, which celebrate the Mk1s decade of origin along with the hole-swaged alloy window winders. Whilst we are used to seeing show cars with leather adorning the dash, seats and door cards, the Rabbit takes things to the next level, with the with the cinnamon hide covering the instrument stalks, pedal arms, fire extinguisher, and even shift rods. Whilst binding the entire cockpit in cowhide was an option, once again, the use of colour and texture has been carefully considered. The lack of a headliner allows the Arena Red-painted interior side of the roof to vertically bookend the cabin with the body-coloured boot space and nine-gallon Airlift tank. A hatbox-style storage compartment in the spare wheel well breaks up the painted surface area with cinnamon leather, aping the plaid-style stitched hatching of the front seats. Whilst the aforementioned painted air tank is smartly displayed, a decision was made to hide the compressors behind the custom interior quarter panels, along with some sound deadening. This was partly a practical consideration, to reduce operating noise, but also an aesthetic one, ‘deleting’ the compressors to the eye, with just the chromed hardlines exiting the tank, leading to the quarter panels. A custom carpet set in oatmeal with cinnamon edging is the icing on the delicious interior cake.

So pleased with the outcome of this stunning Mk1, Richie informs that this one is a definite keeper, which his sons will one day inherit. In a collection like his, this is praise indeed and proof of the elite in-house workmanship that Remi and the team at Unix Performance continue to put out. Show, go and flow? I should cocoa!