IN THE SHADOWS OF OUR WORKSHOP, SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED IS TAKING SHAPE

For the first time in automotive history, we're pouring one million dollars into a Volkswagen build.

This isn't just another custom car. This is a declaration. A statement that passion, creativity, and raw determination can transform the impossible into the inevitable.

And when it’s finished, we want one of you to own it.

THE CHALLENGE

Build the world’s first crowd-funded, seven-figure, fully custom Volkswagen. A build so unique that no one will be able to guess what we started with.

Every year you’ve seen us competing against million dollar builds at car shows across the USA. Our largest build budget, including labor, has been $175,000. Our biggest parts budget - $55k. The most hours ever spent? 1400.

This time, we’re upping the ante. We’re aiming for a parts budget of $300,000 and we will be donating SEVEN THOUSAND HOURS of labor. For a total build budget of One. Million. Dollars.

The first 500 donors will have exclusive voting rights to name this build. Once those spots are gone, they're gone. You can own a piece of history, or you can just watch it happen.

EARLY DONORS VOTE TO NAME IT

CAST YOUR VOTE

THE MYSTERY

What are we building? That's the secret we'll guard with our lives until the unveiling.

All we can reveal:

It starts as a 1969 Volkswagen Squareback
The finished project will be an unrecognizable, coach-built, one-of-a-kind custom - and possibly the most expensive Volkswagen ever built.
Every single component will be custom-fabricated or heavily modified
The engine remains true to our roots: air-cooled
We're targeting awards that have never seen a Volkswagen winner

THE TIMELINE

Here's the reality: we're building something that's never been done before. We'd rather take an extra year to make it perfect than rush it and fall short. So we're giving you two possible timelines.

Our Goal (Best Case Scenario):

October 31st, 2025 - Donations open

November - December 2025 - Design refinement and planning

January - December 2026 - Disassembly, metalwork, fabrication & bodywork

January - December 2027 - Paint, assembly, electrical, interior & final finish

January - March 2028 - Unveiling

December 20th, 2028 - Winner Drawn

If We Need More Time (Extended Timeline):

At the end of 2027, we'll assess whether the build meets the standard required to compete at the highest level. If it doesn't, we're taking another year. No compromise.

January - March 2029 - Unveiling

December 20th, 2029 - Winner Drawn

Bottom line: The latest you'll wait is December 20th, 2029. We're aiming for 2028, but we won't cut corners to hit that date.

BE PART OF HISTORY

THE UNDERDOGS

We don't have million-dollar facilities. We don't have corporate sponsors. We don't have state-of-the-art equipment. We are well-known for painting in an inflatable paint booth, welding in the snow, buildings without heat and air-conditioning, tools without warranties, and electricity that trips a fuse at least four times a day. We work for the love of the game, to support children in need, and to fulfill our creative needs.

What we have:

Calloused hands
Relentless imagination
Unmatched attention to detail
An unwavering commitment to excellence
The support of believers like you

THE CAUSE

Every donation enters you to win this historic build while funding the MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation's mission:

Keeping vulnerable children off the streets
Ensuring educational opportunities
Fighting human trafficking
Building brighter futures

The MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity, operating for over a decade. We fund real programs — verified orphanages, education, housing, medical care, and rehab for kids who have been through things no child should ever see. We work with licensed local teams, not freelancers or “awareness” projects, and the money goes straight to the ground, not into admin. We are Gold-level verified on GuideStar, which means the legitimacy and transparency of the charity have been independently checked. This is not a feel-good idea — it’s a functioning, proven operation that changes lives in places where there is no safety net.

HELP DRIVE CHANGE

FAQ:

Why can’t we see what you’re building?

1. Because it’s a ‘mystery build’ and it wouldn’t be a mystery if we showed you, and

2. The competitions we would like to enter forbid the project being seen prior to their unveiling at those shows. If we show it before, we will be disqualified.

Which awards are you going for?

Honestly, at this stage we are undecided. There are two major awards we are considering. We won’t know which one until we get closer to the finishing line. In the interests of not potentially getting disqualified before we even enter - we aren’t going to say which awards we might be going for.

Do you really think a Volkswagen can win those awards?

Honestly? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s never been done before, so who knows? We aren’t necessarily trying to win, we are trying to see how far we can go.

Do you really think you’re good enough to build a car at this level?

Dunno. We have never had the resources to try. But I do know that we will put everything we have into trying.

What if it fails/doesn’t get accepted/doesn’t win?

Then we fail very publicly. We would rather attempt a build at the edge of possibility than build a safe and unmemorable car. We aren’t trying to win. We’re trying to do something that extends us to the true limits of our potential as designers and builders.

What if you don’t raise enough money?

Well, that will suck, but we will do what we do best and work with what we have. We make no guarantees about how much money will go into the build, just what we are aiming to do.

Will you show any progress of the build?

YES! But not until after the car is unveiled. The entire build will be documented, and we’ll be releasing long-form content covering the entire build - but not until after the build is unveiled.

What’s in this for you?

Financially? Nothing. Creatively - everything. We anticipate that this will probably be Cate’s last build. This is her ‘magnum opus’. Her last hurrah. The opportunity to build a car at this level is usually reserved for the ‘big guns’ - the builders with deep pocket clients. This is our opportunity to do something without corporate sponsors, with full creative freedom.

Where do donations above and beyond the parts budget go?

All funds above the required parts budget go to the MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation. You can read about them below.

What happens to the car at the end?

We put the names of all the donors in a big fucking hat, and pull out a winner. The winner will take possession of the car within three months of the draw.

How’s this work?

The estimated build cost for this vehicle, including parts and labour is $1,000,000.
Valuing classic/custom cars is subjective, rather than estimate what it might be worth, we will just tell you what it would cost to build. Our cars are all custom, so it’s worth what someone will pay.
Make a donation of $50 USD to be included in the draw. Donations are non-refundable. There is no limit for entries for this promotion. The minimum number of donations required for the draw to go ahead is 2000.
You may make multiple donations, at any time throughout the duration of the promotion. Donations will remain open until 24 hours prior to the draw date.
To be eligible to win ‘the Million Dollar Mystery’, you must be 18 years or older. Only one name may be associated with each donation. Employees of MetalMorphosis Customs and their immediate families are not eligible to win.
THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE IS THE PERSON NAMED ON THE DONATION, REGARDLESS OF WHO MADE THE DONATION. Please check that your details are correct.
The beneficiary of your donation is MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation.
The vehicle will be located in Alabama, USA. The winner of the vehicle is responsible for all costs associated with the transport/delivery of the vehicle to their place of residence.
The winner of the vehicle is responsible for the registration, insurance and other ancillary costs, including any government taxes associated with taking possession of the vehicle.
The car will be taken to several shows, and while every effort will be made to keep the vehicle in showroom condition, we cannot guarantee against minor scuffs or scratches. The prize will be awarded in its then present ‘as is’ condition.
The winner of the vehicle will be selected randomly by computer software. The draw will take place at MetalMorphosis Customs, on December 20th, 2028* The vehicle will be available for handover within three months of the draw. (*In the event that the promoters decide the car is not at an acceptable standard at the end of 2027, a contingency draw date of December 20th, 2029, will come into effect). Donors must be willing to accept that due to the nature of this build, it may be necessary to extend the build by 12 months.
The winner of the vehicle will be notified by email and/or telephone, and announced on the MetalMorphosis Customs Facebook page.
In the event that the winner is located outside of the USA, MetalMorphosis Customs will assist with either the transportation of the vehicle at the winner’s expense, or the sale of the vehicle. A 4% brokerage fee will apply, and the winner will be responsible for all costs associated with the sale, including transaction and advertising fees.

DONATE NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

Donations made via this website benefit the MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation, whose mission is to minimise the effects of human trafficking by funding education, housing, health and safety for severely underprivileged children. While no return on your donation is guaranteed, we do giveaway a vehicle to a randomly drawn donor each year.

This is not a lottery, but our way of thanking our generous donors.

Our Last Four Giveaways…

Git you some merch…

Who Are You Helping?

Donations via this website go to MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation (formerly Foundation18 in Australia), a suite of humanitarian projects founded and funded by Australian-born artist, author, and humanitarian, Cate Culp. Its primary purpose is minimising the effects of human trafficking.

Cate established an orphanage in the small village of Ringdikit, on the island of Bali in Indonesia, 2010 and has since dedicated much of her life, time and income to ensuring the welfare of children in the region. The Foundation runs a small group home for verified orphans, and outreach programs to assist severely disadvantaged children in the wider community.

Their Education Outreach program currently funds the education of 254 children, including providing food, clothing, health insurance, immunisations and emergency medical assistance. An Open Kitchen program provides approximately 14,000 free meals each month to children who would otherwise go without. And their Elder Care program provides housing, food and medical assistance to elderly citizens without a living relative to help with their cost of living. The Foundation also arranges and finances their cremation at the time of their passing.

Most recently MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation has expanded their operations to Malaysia where they are assisting to fund the rehabilitation of children and young adults who have been rescued from the child sex trade. This includes the provision of education, food, medical expenses, clothing and counselling.

Our orphanage is registered as a non-profit entity with the Indonesian Government, in the name Yayasan Dharma Sadana, and is independently managed in Indonesia by Alit Samara, and independently funded by The MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation via generous donors all over the world.

The MetalMorphosis Charitable Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity in the United States of America.