Recommendations for Parts/Brands for Modification

Hi guys. I'm looking to buy a mk1 and theres one for sale 2 miles down the road that could be a winner. However, before i embark on my restoration and modifications, i feel i need to have a plan and a budget to give me reference on the feasibility of the project before i get stuck in .

After the usual repairs and parts required to make the car road worthy i want to add my own style or replicate a really nice clean example. I've had a little look at some Mk1 examples and have found 1/2 which i think are really great examples. Here are some pics:





I really like the clean look of these cars. Ok, to my untrained eye ive got a little idea of what has been done to achieve these looks. However, i don't know what are good products to use or how much some of the coachwork services typically cost. so heres my list of things that id like to do to the car and was hoping you guys could make a recommendation on

-the products used - Good brands which are value for money etc
-where to buy them - good value and services etc
-typical costs

1. Coilover Suspension
2. Wheel arch rolling
3. Chrome Door handles
4. 15" BBS alloys (size guess, perhaps you can make a better judgement)
5. Exhaust system - I'll probably just need a non resonated backbox - I may be able to make my own custom exhaust system from the manifold back apart from non-res back box

any advice would be greatly appreciated so i can start saving n have a rough idea of costs to achieve my dream car.

Coilovers. anywhere from £200 pikeyspec to grands.
Exhaust, again, anywhere from £200 for an off the shelf steel exhaust to £500-100 for a custom jobber.
Custom fitment BBS…£1000-1500 if you buy them already done.
Wheel Arch rolling…few hundred well thet will get done as part of your resto I suspect.

That's the least of your worries…those cars will have had at least several thousands spent on them to get the bodies looking like that.

Cheers for the reply. Yeah i dont think ill be able to get to those sort of standards for a long time. those two seem to be some of the cleanest and in my opinion most tasteful modded mk1s. If i can get anywhere close to that id be chuffed to bits. Although, i will say that i think these cars looks so great is not only the vast amount of money spent on them but the attention to detail. the chrome touches are great.

i also think the rims could be bigger than 15". infact im pretty sure. im surprised the guys here managed to get anything bigger than 15" on the car. perhaps some arch mods were needed.

In your experience of coilovers, exhausts etc, what manufacturers can you recommend?

ive been around coilover and backboxes but never anything for mk1s specifically to get the best out of the car

I haven't got a clue how to help you any further tbh, no-one can tell you what you want from the car.

Is the aim just to get the 'look'?  In which case cheaper components that will do the job fine, (but more than likely not last as long) will do you, slap on a Steel exhaust and cheap coilovers (<£200 for 'hottuning')

I'd suggest Supersprint or Jetex are a good start for a decent exhaust, FK do decent lower end coilovers that'll last a good few years if looked after.  Have a search for mk1 coilovers on here, Ed38 and CGTI.

If show car standard is the target then don't waste money on bolt on stuff… prioritise getting the shell as mint as possible and go from there…

For the Chrome bits you'll just have to keep an eye on various forum classifieds, ebay etc.

Good luck with it!