2000 Volkswagen Golf GTI VR6 - Tony Murell's Iced GTI

West Palm Beach, Fla., resident Tony Murell isn't new to building show-caliber cars. He claims to have a basement full of awards from campaigning past projects. Ordinarily he'd start with a used car and spend a lot of time just getting it in running condition, then go about adding the personal touch.

"This is the first brand-new, drive-off-the-lot car I've ever owned," Murell said. "I got the top-of-the-line model in terms of performance and decided to do things differently this time, getting the styling and interior done first then upgrading performance last."

The leisure of having a relatively fast car to begin with allowed Murell to focus on constructing an incredible in-car entertainment array that's about as custom as they come. It incorporates no less than four amplifiers, component speakers in specially-made kick panels and pods, and a 15-inch subwoofer sunk into the spare-tire well. Murell installed a half-cage behind the front seats, with which he incorporated two of the amps and a centrally mounted nitrous bottle.

The proof that Murell is a true obsessive? He did all the work, minus paint, himself. "Not being wealthy, I've always had to do the manual labor myself, and I take great pride in that," he said. So far, the car has taken two best of show awards out of three events to attest to his skill.

Prizes shipped within continental US only. No P.O. boxes.

2000 VW Golf GTI VR6

Engine
2.8-liter V6, dual overhead cams, two valves per cylinder
Mods: ABD big-bore intake, Nitrous Express 75-shot wet injection, GIAC software, Techtonics Tuning exhaust w/ Bosal muffler, Optima Yellow Top battery

Suspension
Mods: H&R coilovers, ABD front strut tower brace

Brakes
Mods: Zimmerman cross-drilled rotors, Mintex red pads (f)

Wheels and Tires
TSW Catalunya, 8.5x19
BFGoodrich Scorcher T/A, 235/35-19

Exterior
Seidl Tuning body kit, Freedom Design hatch spoiler and mid-wing, DTM Autohaus carbon-fiber hood, Audi TT fuel door, FK projector headlamps, Eurostar LED taillamps, custom satin silver pearl paint

Interior
Momo shift knob and pedals, Weicher's half roll cage, aluminum R32 armrests and custom dash trim

ICE
Kenwood Excelon head unit, molded 6.5-inch LCD screen, Kenwood 10-disc changer, front and rear Oz Audio component speakers in custom pods and kick panels, 15-inch Oz Audio subwoofer in custom spare-tire well enclosure, dual Audiocontrol crossovers and equalizers, four Butler Audio tube driver amps, blue LEDs and neon lighting throughout