Oh God What Have I Done Now / VR6 Project

So 15 years ago I sold my beloved MK1 Mars Red golf to pay for a wedding, with this 'deal' that after the wedding I would borrow a chunk of cash and buy and build the MK1 I had always wanted; TSR engine, leather interior, big wheels - you know the drill.  However in between the wedding and this happening I managed to fall into  a new job with a company car - so apparently no need for a MK1 Golf when we were trying to buy our first house etc….

Fast Forward 15 years, one divorce behind me and a conversation at work that lead to a 'settlement' - meaning my joys of driving Peugeot 508's, Ford Mondeo's and Vectra's were now going to be a distant nightmare (three and a half years in a Scirocco GT apart)
A new job with no car, and a new GF who loved the idea of me having a project led me to seek out a new MK1 Golf.

 - The ad on the internet looked promising, unfinished VR6 project with all the engine and transmission complete plus power steering fitted. I was maybe a bit excitable at the time as I had just proposed at the top of Blackpool tower and been offered a new job so I was possibly a bit optimistic on the call to the seller when he told me he had run out of time and it just needed a weekends work to finish, the rear brakes need connecting and it needs an exhaust, didn't sound too bad even to a rank amateur like me -  a deal was done on the phone and I started buying VW magazines for the first time in a decade and a half dreaming of owning the holy grail of a VR6 engine Mk1.

The transporter was hired and by now full of flu I made the trek from (very) rural Herefordshire, with my now fiancé who insisted on accompanying me in case I flaked out on the M40, to the garage in West London where the seller had his restoration business.

It did look a bit 'urban' I found the entrance and met the owner and his four mates - three of whom appeared to have arms bigger than my legs.

The owner was an affable guy  - but made it clear he had had a change of heart, and that had I not been travelling so far he would have cancelled the sale - he told me he had owned the car since he was 11 and learned to drive in it, after driving a VR6 he was converted and bought a VR6 lump before it was more common and with his dad's mate fitted the engine and gearbox. He had always said it would be the only one he would never sell but with 20 odd projects on the go it was getting too much.

First, it was a bit more tatty than had been described, and the interior was stripped to the point where I couldn't tell what was there and what wasn't, although a fair bit of trim and parts were piled in the boot.  However the engine work did look good so my enthusiasm was not dented sufficiently to turn my back on it.
Until he told me he had no idea where the log book was…
I looked at his back street garage, and at the car, and the absence of any sort of ownership proof or paperwork..

I was tired, I had hired a transporter, I had driven for 4 hours, I had man - Flu and was streaming snot all over his workshop floor, I had a large wad of cash in my pocket……The voice in my head said; 'Risk it for a biscuit Burkey, whats the worst that happen ? You live in the middle of nowhere, stick it in a barn and you can reshell it or something'

So…Against my better judgement, and that's saying something - I handed over the wad and he showed me a 1969 Pontiac the cash was going to be spent on,

The guy's helped me strap it on the transporter and another four arduous hours later it was on my drive.

'A weekends work to get it back on the road' - maybe for Mike Brewers mate off wheeler dealers but I wasn't quite so optimistic…..

It needs an exhaust fabricating and it needs a battery just see if it runs. It needs the rear brakes connecting, it clearly needs suspension as when I took off the front wheel the hub dropped right down.

I have looked at it and been tempted to let it go to someone with more advanced skills than mine. But it's not a Lamborghini, I have a Haynes manual, I have patience and youtube.

great intro, can't wait for the story to continue

Really looking forward to see how this pans out for you. We have the same Haynes manual/YouTube approach, I'm not so great with the patience however best of luck!! 

Good luck - I think quite a few of us are Haynes/Youtubers! This club and the forum are definitely the best source of advice and inspiration.

Plenty of eejits on this site, including me    sure you'll be fine, good luck with the project  

Matt