DIY Pickup: 2001 Volkswagen Jetta Ute
“He took a perfectly good Jetta…and cut it to pieces.” That’s the opening to the three-part YouTube series titled DIY UTE that documents a 2001 VW being hacked apart with a Sawzall and transformed into a pickup. Yes, you read that right. The guy who decided to turn his Jetta into a truck documented the entire process on YouTube! He’s not only a talented fabricator but also a budding internet star! The finished project is potentially available for sale here on Craigslist in Bath, Maine for $3,500.
The seller boasts the project only cost $600 and states “there’s no way I was dropping $3,500 on the Smyth kit.” Claiming to be a NIMS certified machinist and automotive technician with over fifteen years of experience, he also mentions he might be willing to help someone complete their own ute project or perhaps, hire him to complete one for them. As for his Jetta, the seller simply “purchased a Ford Ranger window and a bunch of steel and aluminum diamond plating” to transition the car to a truck. He says he is often stopped by people who admire the ute and that he doesn’t particularly want to sell it but is “open to the idea.”
No photos are provided of the ute’s interior or motor but the seller lists mileage at 200K and its title status as “salvage.” I’m uncertain as to what conditions constitute a salvage title in the state of Maine but am guessing it has to do with the vehicle being altered so significantly. More photos would certainly help evaluate the work that’s been done on the vehicle. From what can be seen the paint job isn’t perfect and the only close-up picture provided reveals things looking a bit rough and uneven along the top of the bed rail above the right rear tail lamp. Potential issues with body rigidity you ask? According to the seller’s YouTube comments, he answers that question by saying he’s heard “some creaking in sub freezing temps” but there’s been “minimal Bondo cracking in front of the bed rails on the B pillar.” Doesn’t that make you feel better?
If you’re like me you’ve probably been wondering “Can a snowmobile fit in a Jetta truck?” Yes it can! But by the looks of things that old Ski-Doo Safari might have taken a tumble out of the back on a previous trip. This picture of the Jetta is more recent since, in addition to the snowy conditions, the ute is sporting a different set of wheels. We’ve featured many old VW Rabbit Pickups here on Barnfinds and this DIY’er is definitely a nod to that classic creation. Wouldn’t it be great if Volkswagen brought those back? In the meantime, I guess we’ll have to settle for DIY Jetta utes!
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Comments
I’d rather have the snowmobile, and I live in Texas!
I don’t think he’ll have much luck in the show with front-wheel drive and hundreds of pounds of weight hanging off the back
This car may seem weird to most people but i respect someone for having a vision and making it happen. It’s not bad looking. I wish more of these conversions could have a more rounded off cab but that would be extremely difficult to do.
The savage title shouldn’t be for the modifications. The DMV has no way of knowing what’s been done to it unlike a total that would be reported by the insurance company. Maybe it has been wrecked in the back, thus making it a candidate for this conversion?
Yes you nailed it on the salvage title thing, found the car in a junkyard 500 bucks. Also I never drive it loaded in the snow. I’ve been driving these in Maine winters for 18 years. Consider following me on YouTube channel ecophage for more
I wouldn’t have wasted a perfectly good webpage on that.
The last one of these conversions I saw
was in the mid ’80’s was when the company I worked for hired a fellow named Rich to home deliver the goods
we were selling back then. Well, Rich had
a Vega wagon that he had converted into
a pickup truck. Didn’t think much of it
until I got the chance to see this thing in
person. I was quite literally blown away
by this young man’s handiwork! He had
taken great pains to do the job right.
If you didn’t know Rich, you’d swear that
he’d bought a custom conversion from
a body and fender shop. Every line and
every panel met each other where intended with no sharp edges or exposed
seams. Dunno how he did it, but even the
tailgate worked as well. And the crafts-
manship didn’t stop there either. The
metal fabrication in the “bed” area of the
truck was outstanding! And again, every
line and every piece of metal met each
other where intended with no seams or
other flaws to be found anywhere. After
looking it over, I found out then that Rich
was mentally disabled and couldn’t get
a job anywhere else. Rich was a slow
learner and no company in town would
hire him. To this day, I’m still baffled as
to why no body shop would put him to
work even though his metalwork was
phenominal! The kid took a Vega wagon
with a smashed roof that anyone else
would’ve junked and turned it into
something unbelievable. I still tell this
story to any disabled person who doesn’t
think they have it in ’em to land a job
among normal people. Thanks for that
wonderful memory.
By the looks of his Blue Heeler dog he may be an Aussie that just missed the ute’s ( pickup truck) of the old country.
Junk
First off, there’s no such thing as a perfectly good Jetta.
Take a close look at the photos on CL. It’s a good 100 footer.
OK! Enough! Just because it is not YOUR cup of tea. There is no reason to degrade someone else’s opinion or vision. He may have started with something that you don’t care for. But he had the ambition to get off his butt and try it. That means it takes more than just sitting on the couch with his laptop. And commenting on how the job and the car are crap. I would have added some additional bracing (floor and roof, maybe rollbar) to try and keep the “shell” from twisting when driving. But at least he did it and has not priced it to try and make a bundle. He seems honest enough. And the experience he gained in the endeavour is priceless. Give him a break and appreciate his efforts.
Thank you, if you watch the videos there’s actually 4 new steel supports running from the roof to the body two of which go roof to floor.
“…Wouldn’t it be great if Volkswagen brought those back?…”
Yes it would & the Smyth guy/co. is near here. They do bout a 1/2 doz different vehicles w/their different kits. Only 20/25 prts. The best is the innerfender wheel well panel. I’d try’n out fit a WRX kit to a 4WD subie for a Brat revival.
But, yes, the vebub diesel p/u is more what I’d like…
they sell vehicles like this in Brazil made by VW, Renault, Citron and Toyota
Hey guys thanks for the interest in my project, it was a $500 junkyard car to start hence the salvage title and the sled was 300$ and looked like that when purchased lol. If you guys like it make sure to follow me on my YouTube channel ecophage or Facebook ChrisBCritters for updates and other projects.