ALONG CAME A SHOP CAR
Shop cars are wonderful things, acting as blank canvases for businesses to show what they’re all about and they've been around for years. Some of them enjoy unlimited budgets, riding the credit wave into the shoreline of success. Others are created from the blood, sweat and tears of a tireless and dedicated team. Whatever their path to fruition, you can bet it’s a good representation of what the shop can do.
Brian Smith, the 37 year-old owner of Redline Motorworks LLC in Reisterstown, Maryland, has been entrenched in the Volkswagen world since the time when Mk2s were still shiny in the showrooms. As is often the case, enthusiasm is either discovered on your own or handed down through a family member. Brian’s grandfather possessed the keys to a handful of Mk1s, including Rabbits and a Caddy, a Mk2 Jetta and even a Bus. “Growing up, I did not realise that VW/Audi would become my entire life,” says Brian.
In the event the hook wasn’t set by his grandfather, other influences in his life would conspire to bring him aboard the Wolfsburg squad. “Fast forward a few years later,” continues Brian. “One of my best friend’s older brothers got his license and purchased a brand new ’98 GTI VR6. After going on a few cruises in the car, I immediately fell in love and that became the
