My 1980 VW Golf GTI from New Zealand

Hey Guys, this is my Mk1 GTI:



 

Looks really nice - cant beat Red and yours is definatelt very red.  are there many MK1's in NZ and do they still suffer from rust like here in UK?

Nice looking car  

Is there a story to her?

Matt

Welcome RSZWEI  - nice looking MK1  

RichardHall said

Looks really nice - cant beat Red and yours is definatelt very red.  are there many MK1's in NZ and do they still suffer from rust like here in UK?

No, not many Mk1 GTI's or Mk1 in general. Some 1100cc 5 doors were made here in the 70's. But the GTI's are the real deal.
I guess there might have been around 30-40 Mk1 GTI's sold in NZ? Then about the same amount of UK imports.
Rust isnt really an issue here as we dont have salt on our roads.

pazwaa said

Nice looking car  

Is there a story to her?

Matt

I guess. Its my first car,  Ive owned it since High School,  I guess Ive owned it coming up 20 years? Sh!t that makes me feel old, haha.

We are a family of Mk1 GTI owners. I have just the one, but Dad has a 1 owner 81 GTI, and a 82 DX race car. My Borther also has 2 Mk1 GTI's, a road car and a track car.

My car is 1980 so the half way model - early dash/trim/rear lights, wheels but 5 speed and the later plastic bumpers.
It wasnt in great nick when I got it, no rust but faded paint and a black guard on the passengers side. Ive had it repainted twice in Mars Red, 3 different suspension kits, different wheels etc. Even a Mk2 16V front spoiler that I brought back from the UK between my legs for god knows how many hours!
Engine wise Its had 2 1600 GTI engines, then a 1800 Mk2 engine which I had balanced and blue printed, lightened flywheel by 2Kg. Then I got a flowed head and schrick 288 cam from South Africa. The car was my daily driver for 10 years before I changed jobs and had to get something more respectable (got a Mk3 VR6 manual).
Over the years Ive done a heap of track days, now the car has a rollcage seat seats etc etc.

Its my Baby so Ill never sell it.

Perfect, its so red.

Hi there were are you in NZ  my mk1 gti cabriolet gets here by container on Sunday and hopefully I may have it in the next 10 days once it has been through MAF etc.  I have just emigrated here from the uk. Living in Howick East Auckland.  

Marts v dub said

Hi there were are you in NZ  my mk1 gti cabriolet gets here by container on Sunday and hopefully I may have it in the next 10 days once it has been through MAF etc.  I have just emigrated here from the uk. Living in Howick East Auckland.  

I live in Napier.
I hope you Cab is rust free, the NZTA is very tough on rust.

We have a local (NZ) forum, vask.org.nz

A warm welcome to the Club!
Nice Mk1 GTi you have there, lets see some more pictures of it please!  

This is what my Mk1 sounds like at idle:

VW Golf GTI Mk1 Starting P&P head, Schrick 288 - YouTube

Fruity!  

Don't know if you're still on this post but my dad has a 1980 mk1 gti that carjam says is 1 of 2 in New Zealand. Do you think yours would be the other 1?

Gooolf said

Don't know if you're still on this post but my dad has a 1980 mk1 gti that carjam says is 1 of 2 in New Zealand. Do you think yours would be the other 1?

Gooolf, carjam is not accurate. Between my brother and I we own 5 NZ new Golf GTI Mk1's - Plus we have had others.
All our cars are genuine GTI's, however some are egistered "Golf GT1's", Golf GTI's and juts Golf's.