Hinge design

I'm trying to restore a '78 GTi. Its registered as a 1978 but i suspect it may be a 1979. Its registered in Australia but it was a private import from Germany (LHD). I got a 1978 donor car but the door hinge is welded to the door pillar on the east-west part of the pillar not the north-south side. Did this change from '78 to '79 or with the chrome bumper to plastic bumper update? Or is it only on the Australia assembled Golfs?
thanx in advance

Hmm, I'm not sure that the Australian assembles Mk1 came from Wolfsburg in Germany.  I suspect it more likely they were build by VW of America which, if true, means that from 1976 they were built outside the more strict controls of the German built ones.  Not 100% sure on that though…

My GTI is originally german as i imported it myself in 1984. The registration people declared it was a 1978 model even though it had big bunpers and a vin starting with 179xxxxxxx. Its a 1600cc 4-spd. They said all 1979 models were 5-spd???  My donor car is a 1978 model but has the doors attached differently. i'm just trying to sort out exactly what a 1979 model should have for a 100% restoration

I'd be surpised if the doors on your 1979 car weren't correct.  What I was getting at was that the donar car may be none German, if you know what I mean…