In the early 1980s, the United States car market saw an influx of low-cost compact cars, primarily from Japan but also from South Korea, Europe, and even Yugoslavia. Volkswagen saw an opportunity in the Gol family to offer a low-cost product by importing the Voyage and Parati models to the American market. Renamed Fox and Fox Wagon, the pair underwent over 2,000 modifications to meet the requirements of US legislation and the market, selling approximately 220,000 units between 1987 and 1993. Of these units sold, about 200,000 were sedans, while only 20,000 station wagons were sold.
One of these units was transformed into a rally car, with a look that at first glance resembles a Group B Audi S1 Quattro. Prepared by the Sakis Motorsport & Eurosport team, of former rally driver Sakis Hadjiminas along with his son Andy, Luis Figueiredo and José Vicente. Built by hand, the Parati was equipped with the Syncro system (the name given by Volkswagen to the Quattro system when it equipped its cars) and the 2.8 V6 engine from a Passat and Quaife limited-slip differentials at the front and rear. The engine, controlled by an Electromotive TEC II control unit, was even fitted with two IHI turbochargers, reaching 400 HP of power, coupled to a 5-speed transmission also from the Passat with clutch actuation on the gear lever.
In addition to the engine and transmission, the Fox Wagon received a competition suspension with lower arms with aluminum bushings and Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs, 11-inch disc brakes with 4-piston Brembo calipers and Hawk Racing pads, and 5-hole Fuchs wheels with 15×7 inch dimensions for asphalt and 15×6 for snow/mud.
From 1998 onwards, the car competed under the confusing name Fox Kit Car in the Open Class category of the SCCA Pro Rally championship, achieving first place overall in the Apple Hill Rally Cross, and also competed with José Vicente at the wheel (Black River in 1998, Maine, Tall Pines and Rally New York in 2000).
Seeking to simplify the car and improve its reliability, the Fox Wagon was equipped with a 2.8 V6 naturally aspirated engine producing 210 BHP and front-wheel drive only, to compete in Group 5 of the SCCA North East Club championship, competing in this configuration at Sawmill in 2002 and 2003. During this same period, Andy also competed with the Fox, in the AWD configuration, at races in Black Bear, Canada, and Maine. One of the peculiarities of the project is that it could be converted between Open and Group 5 within a timeframe of only one hour.
The resemblance to the Audi Quattro, besides the color scheme, is largely due to the radiator being installed at the rear, as in the German car, which requires large air intakes just ahead of the rear wheel wells. This resemblance was further accentuated by the modifications made by José Vicente to the rear panels and radiator air intakes, as explained by José himself:
“I think it looks like that because we changed the rear quarter panels. If you look at the old pictures you can see that they blend in to the body, whereas the new ones go straight back, like the Audi S1. We also changed the air inlet at the C pillar, it now has about a 45′ degree angle. I guess a combination of a bunch of little things can really thow the human eye off. That was not our intention but we liked the end result.”
Sources:
Parece um Sport Quattro mas é uma Parati de Rally. Available at: http://www.jalopnik.com.br/parece-um-sport-quattro-mas-e-uma-parati/.
Sakis Hadjiminas’ 1988 VW Fox Wagon (USA). Available at: http://Sakis Hadjiminas’ 1988 VW Fox Wagon (USA).
Anyone remember this car? Available at: https://www.specialstage.com/threads/anyone-remember-this-car.27730/.
VW Fox Kit Car. Available at: http://www.eurosportrally.com/vwfox1.html.
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