Building a car that doesn’t exist - the VW Caddy Van USA story - *VW Caddy History*
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2020
- Monday's Car Video - the Caddy Van USA - the VW commercial vehicle that America never got.
► This video is presented by SoloWerks Coilovers, and we thank them for helping these videos happen! CHECK BELOW FOR EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODES including for the Mk1 Caddy - valid until October 16th, 2020!
The VW Caddy was first born in the USA, as the Rabbit Pickup Truck (in the Westmoreland PA factory). After that model ended in the early 1980's, the Caddy was never sold again in the USA - but it was in Europe, and throughout the rest of the world. It went from being exclusively a pickup truck, to only being produced in a van body, which is still in production in 2020.
This is the story of building a brand new VW Caddy Van, in the USA. Every single bolt by hand. Every wire. And the windshield wipers.
Today's video is presented by SoloWerks Suspension, who are based in Fresno, California, and part of the KW Suspension family. You can find out more details and purchase their coilover kits here:
► www.solo-werks.com
USA SOLO-WERKS COUPON CODES
Code: #SOLOJAMIE - $150 off and Free Shipping
Used for standard complete kits (non caddy) for any of our applications
All VW applications are only $449 shipped!
Code: #SOLOJAMIECADDY - $75 off and Free Shipping
Used for VW Rabbit Pickup Kit only which makes the kit $224 shipped!
CANADA SOLO-WERKS COUPON CODES
Code: #SOLOJAMIECDN - $49 off and Free FedEx 3 day Shipping and all border charges included!
This price Includes what we call All In No Hassle Pricing - all border charges and FedEx 3 day express shipping are taken care of, no bills will arrive later!
Used for standard complete kits (non caddy) for any of our applications - VW applications are all $550 shipped USD
Code: #SOLOJAMIECDNCADDY - $25 off and Free Shipping and all border charges included!
This price Includes the same All In No Hassle Pricing - all border charges and FedEx 3 day express shipping are taken care of, no bills will arrive later!
That makes the Caddy kit $274 shipped USD
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Hosted by Jamie Orr, this series of videos will have a new car featured every Monday, and new car culture video when we have them on Thursdays. You can subscribe here:
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Thanks!
VIDEO NOTES
We don't use a script, and sometimes I misspeak, sorry. Everything should be just about factually correct. I definitely called the Teensey3.2 an Arduino, which isn't totally correct, but hey, it's close enough. - Авто та транспорт
And me in Germany: "Ok.. a Caddy Maxi with a TSI Swap.. eh.. cool"
More like in whole europe 😂
Ja, natürlich, haha :-)
@@JamieOrr Way cooler than a simple Caddy, nice work and amazing that you could do it by yourself. Congrats from the EU!
But fr
I would never buy a caddy but if lived in USA i would want one you really wouldnt want it if you see 30times a day and you can buy them for 1500€
“This van doesn’t exist”
Van: *exists*
Reality: *breaks*
Schrödinger's Caddy?
Yes
It exist as a Ford so if you want one buy the Ford one and change things.
I live in Ireland and caddy vans are all over the place so usually I wouldnt really care but i have to respect the dedication you have unreal!
My da has a caddy
When the line blurs between genius and madness. Impressive regardless.
This must be most expensive Caddy ever build 😄
That's probably a fair bet, haha.
But it is litterally: Personal!
Yes lol so many parts
Teres a 2jz swap in sweden
Nah there is one that swapped the engine with a brand new rs3 engine, suspension and brakes
Jesus as a German i can’t get my head around why someone would do this just to get a crappy little Volkswagen van. I mean there are a lot more exciting cars in Europe that you could do this with
It is wild to think that I see them ALL OVER as well, (Ireland) they're common cars, but you can not legally import one to the US for daily driving use until it's 25 years old.. So this is the only way to do this legally without crashing SEVERAL and spending hundreds of thousands.. possibly millions to get the NHSTA certifications and compliance licenses.
Exactly.
@Last Name First DITTO!
@Last Name First they like torture? The don't know old Mercedes which are easy to work on? The are sadist's? Usually all of the things before ;-)
Last Name First well some ppl vw so y not
We have caddy’s in Mexico, why don’t you get the parts from Mexico and avoid the trouble?
hahaha... this is hilarious ...Jamie has now switch to Jaime and lives in Cancun
Have you seen his hair !? He's no space for a brain.
You think he built a car bolt by bolt piece by piece & didnt learn that they make them in Mexico?
@@marquisethomas5611 not really, but the thought of it is helarious. On the other hand, the drive to biuld this thing is clearly not rational.
@@team3383 or is it because of the stress of doing it himself
i have a 2009 caddy panel van 1.4 80 ps . the van is heavy and it's tiny engine really struggles to get it going on the road. but i love it lot's of space and hasn't had any major issues all these years.
as for the windscreen wipers i have noticed the duartion and frequency of sweeps depends on the speed you are traveling
very usefull function but also very complicated.
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad you enjoy yours!
Yes, the Mk5 era cars brought in a LOT of wiper ideas.. They can self park at different positions to prevent warpage from sitting also - lots of fun little attention to details things :-)
Meanwhile in europe: HMM Id think Id like a new car. Maybe VW caddy .... Then goes to the store and buys one 100% complete unit.
Ich geh zur Post und kauf einen gebrauchten :-D ..
Not available in the USA or Canada.
@@hansgearbox4251 haha i have 2 caddys just in my street...
Im in the netherlands though
@@hansgearbox4251 but he went to germany to buy the shell he should have just bought the car lol ?
I have riden in one at the back otw to the hospital....Where I'm at its an ambulance most of it.
That’s... insane! I’m trying to think at what point would I have given up on this project. Honestly, I think Jamie is the ONLY person on planet earth who’s dub crazy enough to not only take on such a project, but actually see it through.
Well done, man!
Love the videos!
Please, keep ‘em coming!
Thanks!!
he looks like a crazy scientist when hes talking about it
ITS ALIVEEE!!!!!!!
I wish VW would facilitate the people home building cars unavailable in our country. I would love a Caddy but I'd probably build an Amarok actually. This build is so awesome!
Basically no manufacturer allows 'body in white' shells to be out there - for a whole list of reasons. The world of kit cars allows it sometimes, but that's a whole different (and easier but still tough) game.
@@JamieOrr I'd like to get a body in white of an amarok, do you have any recommendations of who to pester or reach out to?
@@jesussavesanus9790 Aren't there any loop holes? Europeans who have lived in US or UK 4 years or more were allowed to import back their car and other belongings - it is a bit easier these days thought and everyone can do it. Maybe it is the same for Americans that lived in Europe for some years and they are allowed to import their belongings when returning to US?
@@jesussavesanus9790 Hello, I live in Mexico, I have an amarok and there are many amarok here. I think it is easier to take one from here to the United States than from the United Kingdom. If you want I can help you carry it. And there are many in white
@@JamieOrr I do know Porsche can sell you shells of the 911 if you're a manufacturer like RUF
Your dedication just earned you a U.K. subscriber.
After owning a MK2 caddy, MK 4 Golf, several MK5 golfs and now a MK6 Golf I totally understand some of your frustrations especially with coding VCDS
Thank you!!
I somehow find the coding fun.. at least some of the time.
I took the PD150 engine from a MK4 Golf GT TDI and swapped it into a MK3 Caddy and I was well impressed with myself when I got that running.. But holy shit, this another level.
My brain is melting at what a huge, impressive achievement this is. 200 labor-hours in one door!? I would have gone mad. I have so much respect for you for pulling this off.
Of all the cars you own, this one might be my favorite.
Absolutely. The fact that he put everything together from the chassis is amazing, plus the fact that its probably one very few, if any, MK3 Caddys in America.
Woah! Thanks!
Theres one guy in South West england and he have caddy with golf 6R suspension, gearbox, engine, interior, lights and basicly all :) and the engine is tune :)
Should've just moved to Europe. It's much cheaper.
Probably, haha. I was born and raised in Europe, and do like living in the USA now. But that’s a whole bigger discussion :-)
@@JamieOrr knew it! You’re Scottish!
I also own a modified caddy and not only is it amazing that you have brought a caddy to the states but you have built the whole thing yourself! and it looks fantastic!! great job!!
Bro what you did is truly amazing. I've tried some CANBUS and LINbus hacking before and it's not an easy feat. I'm shocked you actually got everything working and coded properly. Major props, and congratulations. VW needs to see this and send you everything missing for the project lol. This is ridiculous
edit: please don't think you were nerding out too much on the electronics part, I died inside when you cut yourself off and wanted to hear all the tech details! Maybe make a video for us car tech geeks about what you had to do with VCDS and all the modules :(
Some people in the comments are
forgetting that, Jamie is building this car, because of a dream he has. The build is for himself. Not to please others. Mad respect Jamie, for chasing your dreams ✌️😊🇩🇰
I remember the good old days of car modifying. Biggest problem we used to have when dropping different running gear into a RWD car was having to work out how to relocate the new gearboxes gear stick so it still stuck up in a usable location on the tunnel. :D
Cars all got too complex in the last couple decades. Modification stumbling blocks used to be mechanical engineering related things, but now, the tallest hurdles are to do with getting all the little electrons dancing down the right wires.
"... the motor was the EASIEST PART" HAHAHA... Jokes aside, I feel you, Jamie. Good luck! Keep going with the good work!
Dump ideas sometimes generate amazing results. This is a work of beauty!
Thank you!! Your comment literally made me smile and laugh, haha!
Truly amazing that you built this whole car!!! I wish I knew half as much as you do about VW's!
I have never seen anybody so enthusiastic about a dead boring car. You rule bro!
Hahahah, thanks :-) :-)
Man, Killin it!!! That ride makes every good part in my body better and tingly.
not a VW fan, but I think this is fantastic...you don't need to justify this to anyone, it's your hobby, passion, and learning lab all in one (albeit a stressful one ;) Thumbs up for sure.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
This is pure love. To build a vehicle that is totally out of its element, in true politic dispute, is amazing. The rarity of this one makes it a unicorn.
Keep it up Jaime.
Surely the sensible thing would have been to break/bag/tag a European caddy and export the bits to the USA and rebuild it into your shell?
That was the plan originally, but...then things got out of hand, and now everything in the car is brand new, haha.
Jamie Orr 🤦🏽♂️
@@JamieOrr still the caddy is pretty cheap in the EU so it seems that it would be cheaper to buy a brand new one and ship it in parts? Any way, you do what you do, sometimes you invest too much at an early stage ang just have to commit and follow through.
#ishouldhaveboughtam3nota330ci
Such a cool build Jamie!! Cant wait to see this thing driving around at shows in the future!
Thank you!
Amazing, this is the only word that I can say to this project, congratulations
Absolute respect to you for such an undertaking.. I cannot even think how much work it’s been!
Like this Caddy van, you Sir, are one of a kind!
Someone actually make my dream come true! I really love the caddy,much of fun to drive and very utilities wise like.
Great job,proud of you!
Thank you so much!!
Love it Jamie , cant wait to see it in person
I loved seeing this at the Ross-tech booth in 2017. Glad to see it again.
Love this thing !!!!
That's pretty sweet Jamie...kudos to you for going the extra mile to do it right!
Volkswagen needs this guy in. So much dedication needs to be rewarded with something.
He is a representative of VW in the U.S.
Great story & project. SUBSCRIBED!
This is a beautiful VW Caddy! It looks amazing! So much work done on it.
I also have a Caddy. She is the Life version for 5 passengers with 1.9 TDI engine Fresco Green made in 2008.
Your caddy sounds great! I love the different colour versions, and the five seater is very cool as well.
Loved the vid! Wasn't nerdy enough, would have loved more in depth details, breakdowns, etc. Was too short. Also dunno why I have not came across your channel ever before but happy that the UA-cam alog picked it up tonight. Why are there no more videos about this car?? I have so many detailed, technical stupid questions man.
Thanks! I honestly just didn't go much on YT before now, but definitely happy to be here and nerding out. You can see more of this build on its instagram.com/caddyvanusa and sometimes on my personal IG too. Thanks :)
Love the Wheels on the caddy... Amazing build.💪😍🇿🇦
Amazing. Simply amazing! I just bought mine. I built my bug bolt by bolt but a modern car? Crazy!
This is do rad. The only thing I would of done different is a tdi.
No way bro, diesel gate is still fresh in our minds
Matthew Armstrong Dieselgate:Plandemia
I have the 2010 version tDi in a Polo and with all that diesel gate I WIIL do it AGAIN in a heartbeat.
My colleagues tank 2 times a week. I tank 1 every 4+ weeks and I drive with my a/c on. They do not.
Vr6 turbo would be my choice if you’re going to all that trouble on a vw caddy van *4 motion obviously over FWD
The Caddy is offered in Denmark as a Diesel as standard
I love that Buick! But seriously...I first followed you years ago because of the Caddy. Glad to see it again!
Thanks!!
Sick caddy!!! Lve all the way from South Africa
Thanks! Hello to SA!
I've been following since day one on instagram when you got the chassis inside the container to SEMA unveiling that was just mindblowing for me that what was just amazing for me someday this 'THING' should go to worthersee and the nordshleife keep the amazing work going Jamie Cheers !
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Speaking of people with brains! 👍👍👍
❤️❤️❤️
I have to say that your Caddy is the coolest i´ve ever seen!
Pure madness this project, luv it!
Awesome project Jamie!!!! Congratulations
Thank you!
great work 👌 as a VW parts guy and a VCDS user i understand your beeps and what a mare those wipers must be can't wait to see it finished 👍
Thanks 👍
My head hurts just watching this lol but that is awesome! I would love a caddy van
Thank you!
You and me both, haha!
Your a Brave man to take on that project! Great Job Keep it up!
Thank you so much!
Me as a german: ye ok... PFFFF 200H FOR A DOOR
Jaaaaaaaaa
Love it. Best project i ever seen !!!
Wow, thank you!
So cool, after all the wiring and programming work you had to do it makes me feel like my 40 year old AC install should be a piece of cake in comparison, great job and good luck registering it
One Guy who worked 3 times on the same model car: "yeah I know this inside and out"
This guy: "hahaha yeah right"
Awsome work, keep it up ! Cheers from a German VDub worker from Wolfsburg. Btw got a Caddy too :D
Well done Jamie. I can believe you when you say it was a pain to build. I am sure if you had the manufacturer back up it would have gone way smooth. It's a pity that VW did not see potential in sponsoring your journey. Well done for taking on the Challange. Can't wait for your future video. Keep it up!
This was such an interesting video, good luck getting it registered in the US Jamie!
Wow building this VW Caddy from the ground up,looks & sounds like a mountain of work.First thought it's a South African car converted to LHD.Hats off for going above and beyond to build a unique car.Great colour choice too.
Thank you! I'm glad you like the colour!
I've converted a lot of VWs from LHD to RHD also, haha, which is the opposite of the work needed in SA :-)
This is one of the coolest caddy's i've seen! That color, omg! Here in Holland they are pretty common, even in the modified carscene.
Your citi golf and this caddy , my favorite of your collection 🔥🔥
Thank you!! Nice choices :-)
Most excellent job so far, best of luck to complete this project.
Thank you very much!
If the official VW dealer Diagnostics (ODIS) work like here in germany the Computer will say : "I dont know this Vin. Have a nice day. Goodbye." I worked at a Skoda dealer some time ago, and retrofitting or swapping Modules (even with valid VINs) was always a nightmare with the official Tools (due to the online connection to VW).
It was pretty interesting when we did hook it up. We called the technician support line, and elevated one level before being able to try and have some fun with it. :-)
99.8% has been done myself with VCDS though.
That is one of the craziest builds I've ever heard from
Great job.!!!!RESPECT !!!!Greatings from Belgium (Europe)
Thank you!
And hello to Belgium! I love it there!
Congrats for the bravery building this car💯👍
Awesome build!!
Thanks!!
Wow! This is so cool! Why a Caddy? Why not! Man i love to watch stuff like this! And if u in a crazy way back in the time said to me strip a caddy and send me every cable and bolt i would done it haha. Good luck with the car. Greetings from Sweden 👍
Thank you so much!
Imagine building an entire van by yourself lmao this is so great! Incredible job man
Well now i’m even more thankful for owning one, MK7, they are just perfect.
Im on my second caddy here in the uk and theyre awesome.many mk5 gti engine conversions happening here too.
Very cool! The UK Caddy scene does seem to be awesome!
That is amazing!!!
This is insane. Subscribed to follow this build. So impressive.
You're amazing. God you spent tons of time. Congrats man... I own a 2007 caddy btw... It's in my opinion the best European small van, having worked on peugeots and Citroens, they're nothing alike... They really are like lego, but quality and we'll built legos! Lots of aluminum and sheet steel welded control arms instead of the cheap stamped steel ones you see everyday on french cars. Gotta love VW!!!
I have the upmost respect for your build!! This is verry impressive!
This project is so god damn insane, you gotta love it
I've had Solowerks S1 coilovers in my B5 A4 for nearly 5 years. Absolutely love them
Awesome! Thanks for sharing and confirming!!
They suck. They are low quality not up to spec. Sorry not sorry. Had them, didn’t take long for them to sag like crazy and loose rebound
Do you still have them? They come with a 3 year warranty - contact them if so :-)
@@JamieOrr no, they started to lose rebound, especially the rear, after 8 months. Sold them off and bought pss9s
@@goclunker maybe they suck for the e36 chassis, no complaints with my b5 chassis though. I have KW V2's in my B8.5 chassis and tbh the difference is hardly noticeable
This is great! I can’t even imagine but damn it looks worth it
I love this vehicle!
So awesome!
Thanks!
dude realy, go buy the windshield wiper in EU from that Era of caddy and ur problem is solved! if u cannot find it send me a PM with all the car info and dimensions of the mounting position and ill find it out(im a mechanic in the netherlands!)
im sure theres a possibility !!
PS awesome caddy :)
greets,
Hey fellow dutch man, ik ben nu aan t leren om een monteur te worden, ik wil geen veer in mijn reet lopen steken hier (spreekwoord) maar ik kan motor en ophanging dingen best goed, plaat werk lukt wel maar electronica............... is echt mijn grootste vijand. Misschien tips om electronica beter te begrijpen?
@@fedor5664 praktijkervaring met storingen zoeken, veel youtuben werkt ook goed :)
From what he said in the video I believe you can’t do this. Ours in the EU use the Linbus system and the us wiring loom he has uses a 2 relay system. He’s basically trying to take the signals from his relays in the loom to convert them into a linbus signal so the wiper motor he has for the the caddy will work. I’m guessing non of the US wiper motors would have worked with the caddy shape.
This is correct ; all Caddy Van use the LINbus system, but the USA chassis harness uses Relays.
I could fit the full Caddy harness (I have two here) but then I would need to retrofit the full engine, emissions, and airbag systems to the USA style. I decided it was easier to make the wipers work on their own, than do that. But I still haven’t found the time :-)
@@JamieOrr the arduino way was a good solution too:) u can even make it whit a rain sensor if u program it right but u still need a switch for the legit right? here in the netherlands it is
Finally! Love the Caddy
Thanks!!
👨💻👏👏🔥lot of people dnt understand the time, stress, work and dedication it takes to build something like this... I definitely learned something now about the wipers ... I to having issues with my golf6 r32 build it's still working progress....
Love the color, in the Netherlands we got it on a mk3 polo g40
Correct!! Violet Touch Pearl Effect :-)
From the Polo, the Corrado, and Golf GTI mk7 and Golf R m7 (maybe others too?).
Man, you got my respect 🙌
Very cool project! As a german I thought it‘s just a rebuild of a Caddy :D but basically, you biult this complete Caddy by yourself from 0 to 100^^
Thank you!
Was it not possible to use the BCM from the mark 5/6 with LIN bus even if you just used the wiper function only. Then have a second USA BCM as well for the rest of the functions 🤔
Good point! I thought about it, and I did look at the wiring implications, but I decided that wasn't the type of 'fix' that I wanted to go with. It would be the answer on a concept / show car that wouldn't be driven, but.. my brain is weird and decided to go down the rabbit hole, haha.
Nice air tank install!!!
What an awesome project. Sehr schönes Auto
Great work sir! On a side note: The fox looks and sounds flippin amazing in the wild. I should have stayed at vag fair a little while longer before heading back to New York.
Well done.
It will be worth it.
Never knew they never sold the Caddy in the US. I now have a new appreciation for the company van I drive (RHD uk) After watching this.
U sir have a new sub good job
Thanks!
Wow! This is such an insane project! I never thought a caddy could be so complex to build.
So impressing you are doing the job! And I really don't understand why it has to be so hard to bring a car which doesn't exist in the country.
There are so many cars I would love to have in Germany that aren't available here and aren't possible to get here legally to drive on the streets.
I love to follow the process from now on! Subscribebotton is pressed.
Good luck on this!
You're nuts. It's awesome.
Press and hold open button on remote and watch the windows go down 😮😆 you should’ve put the 2 litre Tdi or grab an r32 motor for it like they do in Uk, you can also put the scirocco center clocks on that on dashboard storage hole.. there’s really cool ones around here.
I thought about doing a 3.6L like my Mk1 Golf has, but the opportunity to have a brand new TSI motor was too good :-)
Nice idea on the 'Rocco clocks!
Jamie Orr keep in mind that being VAG group you can also grab some engines from Audi’s , presuming you don’t have skoda or seat there in the US, as it’s all the same thing. I have a remapped 2.0 tdi mark 4 In nardo grey, does about 180 horses which is enough for work, 130mph flat out 😆. Yours seemed to be a mark 3 because of the rear lights on the shell, and you rebuilt to mark 4? I suggest you join CCUK ( caddyclub Uk ) on Facebook, someone posted your video there, that’s how i came here 😆 there’s really cool vans and great ideas for the interiors, even to make them mini camper vans. There’s also some posts on how to sort the scirocco clocks.. you’ll find some good friends there to help you with anything caddy related!