Upper rear panel replacement dilemma

Hi there, I'm reposting this as I couldn't see the replies on the first attempt.

I'm Jo,  I have just started working on my new to me Mk1

The lower edge of the hatch on my 1983 Golf GX is rusted and full of holes, as you can see in the pictures, so I've been looking for a panel to replace it. I've found lower rear panel replacements that go no higher than the brake lights, but nothing that goes up to the hatch. Does anyone know where I can get the replacement panel that I'm after?

  I have been able to find a full rear panel replacement which includes the bottom edge of the hatch, however, it's for the earlier smaller brake light models. Ignoring the brake light holes, does the rest of the panel match the big brake light models, could I just splice my brake light surrounds into this replacement rear panel and then replace my full rear panel (which needs replacing anyway)? If not, does the section above the brake lights match up could i just cut that bit out of the new panel?

Any advice would be a great help, thanks.

I was in the same dilema and ended up managing to find 2 panels in Italy at great expense to ship and pay the VAT. The spare I have is not for sale sorry but it does seem that they have run out here in the UK. I have managed to repair this edge on a previous job but the rest of the panel was OK so it seemed the logical thing to do. I'd guess its as much work to swap the lights out as repairing this bit. If you repair the lip the inner is not seen whereas doing he lights both sides are seen ie from inside the boot and the numer plate part is flat so trying to stop that warping too much will be tricky. Either way its not a straightforward nor for the faint hearted.  When I did my lip repair I got a local sheet fabrication company to fold  a tight c section for the underside and then I formed a jig from 12mm square bar and formed it into the curve and then teased the c section over it to curve that too. The key would be making tooling to form the shapes it requires.

I don't think that panel exists, I have had exactly the same problem and I ended up, cutting and welding small lengths in and grinding them down as I went. it took me about a week to do. The bend can be made by bending it round the correct size of rod and welding it on the underside in the "groove" it's pretty much invisible