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Mk1 Jetta Rarity and value

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In the process of a mk1 jetta build and although plenty of conversations receive the response 'oh wow you have a jetta? you don't see many of them any more', but how rare are they actually getting and what are peoples thoughts on price points? I never saw the Jettas as a really rare car, but there are barely any clean examples for sale - of course, this could also mean, maybe nobody cares enough about the car to buy/sell it

A general search of the interweb doesn't throw up a whole load of 4 doors for sale, and I can't find any fully restored, clean with engine conversions up for sale or sold at all and so have no idea how I will value mine once built!

What are peoples opinions?

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It's a tough one.

In the past Usually valued less than 3 door hatch, probably more in line with 5 door backs but as tastes and fashion change so will values i would imagine.

As you say rarity is on its side but then sometimes that doesn't help as people don't know it exists, so no one 'wants' one.

There's plenty of cars out there that are rare but also virtually worthless.

I have a Derby, it's mint with some undoable mods with only 50k on it and family owned from new before me. It's the top of the range but still not worth much much as no one knows about them. If it was a gti in the same condition I'd be laughing!

If you like it, do you want you want. Remember even if it was a gti, it's still going to be worth less with mods……….

Modified cars used to worth more, these days the factory spec cars are where the money is. Like I say fashion and tastes change.

Don't think I actually helped there at all, did I?

Ian

Cornish Host.
1980 VW Derby
Clive the Cabby
Ujum the Invisible
Mynx the  Tintop

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Yup… a car is only worth what someone will pay so I'd use car and classic or a car sales site to see where yours sits.

As with any car, the problem is they can look amazing in pics then rotten through etc in real life so you are making a judgment call.

What model and trim level is yours?  What mileage and history if any? Is it clean and what is the conversion?

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I used to be at Hull college in the 1980s ;(1983 to 1985) with a lad who's dad owned a VAG franchise. He used to come in all sorts to swap cars over in Hull for servicing/loan cars etc to take them back to the garage.

Remember all wonderful stuff as i used to go with him.
Mk1 Golfs ( GTI/other trims)as new,  even an Audi 200 turbo on a B reg ( if memory serves me right) and early Audi Quattro (guess non UR then). Very early MK2 Golf GTIs featured a lot - ahhhh memories.

Anyway back to thread he had a  newish VW Jetta GLi (W reg plate) which was a Golf GTI in sheep's clothing. Early GTI alloys, pale green metallic. Never seen one since. If any survive they must be up there price wise ☺️

MK1 Golf GTi Campaign:Alpine White, Vauxhall Omega MV6, Alpina B10 3.3 Touring, Dolomite Sprint, MG ZT V6, Volvo T5 R estate  6C2B5B6F-1CA5-44CA-A93C-6B7F5206CD7F.jpeg

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borednow said

It's a tough one.

In the past Usually valued less than 3 door hatch, probably more in line with 5 door backs but as tastes and fashion change so will values i would imagine.

As you say rarity is on its side but then sometimes that doesn't help as people don't know it exists, so no one 'wants' one.

There's plenty of cars out there that are rare but also virtually worthless.

I have a Derby, it's mint with some undoable mods with only 50k on it and family owned from new before me. It's the top of the range but still not worth much much as no one knows about them. If it was a gti in the same condition I'd be laughing!

If you like it, do you want you want. Remember even if it was a gti, it's still going to be worth less with mods……….

Modified cars used to worth more, these days the factory spec cars are where the money is. Like I say fashion and tastes change.

Don't think I actually helped there at all, did I?

Ian

No, you were plenty of help mate! Besides, like spud has said I agree that things are only worth what people are willing to pay and so I'm more so interested in opinions on whether the jetta is even a rare car at all, for all I know, the south has a mk1 jetta parked on every street corner and I refuse to ever be one of those guys that chop up genuine rare classics.

Derbys are great cars, would fancy one myself!

Personally never really dreamed of owning a jetta like I have my caddy and when I did go and pick mine up I had a clear idea of exactly what I wanted to do with it - swap the front end for a later mk1 golf with the round headlights, RWD, lock kit and the whole works to create a monstrously fast sideways sliding VW but my mates think it best to leave as close to standard as possible.





Spudfingers said

Yup… a car is only worth what someone will pay so I'd use car and classic or a car sales site to see where yours sits.

As with any car, the problem is they can look amazing in pics then rotten through etc in real life so you are making a judgment call.

What model and trim level is yours?  What mileage and history if any? Is it clean and what is the conversion?


I believe mine is a GL, unsure of the trim level as it came without the original interior however the chrome door stripes and chrome trimmed grill, are there any indicators to point me towards the trim level? its a 84' so a late one

I currently have it as a bare shell, in the process of repairing a small couple of rust patches and replacing a roof skin. Currently still has all the factory underseal which doesn't seem bad at all. Shell has approx 120k from the Last MOT in 2008, the engine has 40k

The car is clean as heck, came with a stack of paperwork with 5 owners however the first owner is also the 4th owner so it somehow worked its way back to the original owner!

The plans for it at the moment is to restore the shell fully using as much original metal as possible, repaint (more than likely not stock colour as the black is really not my cup of tea, possibly a variation of pargas blue), its getting a fresh retrimmed interior, yet to decide the colour but will be getting my recaro fishnets in it. Already has coilovers so will have a nice stand on a set of 15" BBS RS I have. Looking into the possibility/availability of a nice spoiler and louvre window combination to finish it off. Will be taking an AGU engine with a ko3s turbo, nothing mad on the power just something fast thats useable with the usual g60 brakes, 9 inch servo and 24mm mc.

The car will be as clean as heck considering my OCD is crazy with a clean, but unshaven, engine bay

Have been talked out of hacking the front end for a round headlight front and the tunnel to convert to rwd, for now anyway

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How many left gives you an idea how many are on the road and sorn…

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=Volkswagen+Jetta

My 1978 Mk1 Scirocco is a rare car with just only approx 20 on the roads but as for value if it was a Mk1 Golf then it would be worth more… Not a chance I'm going to sell it so to me it does not matter  :thumbs:  Edit…. I just checked mine and the number went up this summer with 33 on the road so not as rare as I thought.. :lol:

Last edit: by mark1gls


1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Personally I like the standard look.  I also wouldn't go chopping it mate.  I appreciate anything retro with subtle mods if any at all… they stand the test of time and are easier to sell down the line.  That said, bigger engine… same interior but retrimmed in a different colour with a nod to the 80's… gets my vote.  All personal preference but chopping it would be changing its identity bud 🤷‍♂️

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mark1gls said

How many left gives you an idea how many are on the road and sorn…

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q=Volkswagen+Jetta

My 1978 Mk1 Scirocco is a rare car with just only approx 20 on the roads but as for value if it was a Mk1 Golf then it would be worth more… Not a chance I'm going to sell it so to me it does not matter  :thumbs:  Edit…. I just checked mine and the number went up this summer with 33 on the road so not as rare as I thought.. :lol:

wow. supposedly only 23 Jetta GL's on the road, of course this wouldnt include all the sorn ones but cool site definitely interesting!



Spudfingers said

Personally I like the standard look.  I also wouldn't go chopping it mate.  I appreciate anything retro with subtle mods if any at all… they stand the test of time and are easier to sell down the line.  That said, bigger engine… same interior but retrimmed in a different colour with a nod to the 80's… gets my vote.  All personal preference but chopping it would be changing its identity bud 🤷‍♂️

I think Im in agreement with you there, the chopping at rwd idea came from the fact I paid pennies for it and so in my eyes, was reasonably worthless.
Will get a build thread up on here at some point when Ive made enough progress to justify it, OEM+ ones are always the best builds whenever I go to shows

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Not many of them about yhen mate so your entrusted with bringing the best out of it…. no pressure lol.  You'll do a cracking job on it.  Let me know when the build thread is up and I'll watch it 👍

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If you wanted something different, you could source some golf 3dr shell, cut that up, then on the Jetta move the B pillar back abit and create a coupe……….   :lol:   :lol:   :lol:

Or maybe not.

I think it is a rare car. but that said they made more than one and I'm sure there's one in the Wolfsburg museum so crack on and modify away. Just make sure it's returnable in the future in case prices skyrocket  :thumbs:

Ian

Cornish Host.
1980 VW Derby
Clive the Cabby
Ujum the Invisible
Mynx the  Tintop

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If I was in the market personally I'd perfer a jetta over a 5-door Mk1

In Mk2 guise I'd prefer a Jetta over the Golf and in Mk3 guise the Vento is definitely better than the golf

The booted models seem to fetch less money than hatches but are a rarer commodity so to the right buyer would command a higher value

It all depends what your plans are really, to own and use or sell

Current rides:

2003 BMW 330d Manual Saloon Msport
1985 GTI cabriolet black edition (42k miles)
1999 Triumph Daytona 955i Post apocalyptic, rat, brat, scrambler, steam punk, cafe racer

IMG_20190803_123357.jpg

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Just stumbled on this post… whilst looking for lower sill trims randomly. I have a mk1 jetta gl. Immaculate with a 20vt in… hi friend 🤣 chris meyer on fb. Add me if you want to talk jetta im ready for moting mine after a full bare shell rebuild. Running a k04-064 hybrid 430. So shes a wolf in sheeps clothing. Looks boggo clean mk1 jetta on outside. 🤣
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