Let's hear a little bit about the driver - What's your name and where are you from?
My name is Kynon Johnson, and I’m from Sullivan, Indiana.
What got you into modifying cars and what kept you in it?
I was basically born into the car scene. My parent’s car when I was born was a bow legged 91 Geo Storm Wagonback on 13” wires with a Lowrider paint job (pic of white car next to my wagon). Growing up I always saw pictures of his car and always wanted to build something just as unique. I always spent my free time out in the garage with my dad working on dirt bikes, and learning wrenching skills. I finally started working on vehicles with him once I was old enough to drive. Before that, they spent what they had on my bikes instead of vehicle of their own. My first vehicle was a single cab 98 Toyota Tacoma that we cut the front springs on and put lowering blocks in the rear. Along with 3 8” JL subs beside the seat.
Tell us about your ride, what is it?
My car is a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon. My first VW was a mk4 golf that I got in 2014 (pic of silver golf with orange wheels). Shortly after getting it and installing bc coils, I was hit head on by another vehicle. Ended up walking away unscathed. I knew I needed to buy another one, so I bought a deep blue pearl mk4 R32 even though my dream car was a manual TDI wagon. I finally talked the owner off current wagon out of it, and listed my R32 for sale the next day. Once my R32 sold, I went to pick up the wagon in an ice storm and snow in January 2018 and have been modifying it since. (Pic in the snow below is the morning after I bought it)
Exterior Mods?
Only complete authentic Caractere wagon body kit in the States. I started with the front valence that I molded into a Votex front bumper and decide I wanted to start making a period correct build. I have since got a whole second kit as well for my other wagon, so I have the only two complete wagon kits in the states. My silver wagon has a custom y-pipe tip out of two 4” Caractere exhaust tips. Using two GLI exhaust valences cutout to properly mold over the tips. I also extended the valence an inch to fit the wagon rear bumper. Rear missing is from a golf that I made new ends that attach to the hatch and widened it on each side to fit the wagon hatch. Shaved euro hatch. Hagus mirrors and matrix headlight covers. Rear tails were one of the first wagons to have the Alptech clears on it. Most recent just welded up all the holes in my roof and then spent hours block sanding everything to be sure it was perfect. Austoart wheels I bought and did all the refinishing myself and building them. I bought them from Patrick Thurston who bought them brand new in ~2003 for his silver mk4 wagon. I widened the fronts to be 18x9.5 and the rears are 18x10.
Interior Mods?
NOS caractere floor mats. Audi s3 blue alcantera Recaro seats front and rear. R32 steering wheel. BFI blue Alcatel shift knob and boot. Stitchcraft did my alcantera door panels and e-brake cover. Recently wrapped the pillars and headliner in Apex leather microsuede (their version of alcantera) with the help of my dad who works for Davis Brothers Designs building custom semi interiors. Just did a simple trunk setup for now with two small tanks. I bent the short hard lines and polished all the clamps and lines for it.
Anything special under the hood?
The bay is a fully shaved and wire tucked bay. Did all the wiring myself with lots of tips from Ryan Halbasch and Allee Noyes since I had never messed with a wire tucked bay before. Since doing that, I added all Darkside development intercooler piping, intercooler, and intake with my own 3” polished aluminum maf housing. I specced out all the hardware from Zealous Hardware with his oil fill cap to match. I’m also running a Swoopsbuilt brake reservoir that I polished along with his stubby oil dipstick. I also have a Diesel Geek Sigma 5 short shifter that I polished and swapped all the hardware out for stainless so it could be polished as well. Since my bay doesn’t have any welding done in it, I had to design, 3D print, and paint my rain tray filler panels where the old wiring harnesses used to come through.
What are some things you've done to your car that others might not notice?
Small OEM+ mods like the Passat d pad mirror switch and the Seat Arosa headlight switch and hvac control knobs. The subframe is a Halbasch Fabrication raised subframe that you never get to see because it’s on the ground. Also has blue powder coated Gli big brakes hiding behind my wheels with R32 control arms and spindles. Just a general note that many won’t notice is that all of the custom work and body work on this car I have done myself. I learned plastic molding on this car with my bumper and learned bodywork when I did my engine bay which still looks good for having been rattle can painted. All the other exterior paint was done by Brooks Martin who also work for Davis Brothers Designs. My fixed front upper camber plates I also designed based off of the Swoopsbuilt plates and have my custom designed low profile dog bone mount.
Anything else you'd like to add?
There are so many ways to do different things when building cars and I’ll never claim to be a professional but I can at least claim to have put lots of my own hard work into my car. I’ve learned how to do things by trial and error. Also have learned the wrong way to do things. Lots of people have helped give me tips along the way, so I’m trying to do the same when I can.
Photo Credits:
- H.K. Miller
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