Prices?

Are the rising prices of mk1s pricing out genuine enthusiasts , who luv the cars for what they are, and attracting people who see them as an investment, and keep them locked away most of the time?

There are a few things at play here;

Since the 2008 crash the govt have been 'quantative easing', i.e. printing money, £billions of it. This has to go somewhere and saving accounts interest are near zero % and stockmarkets can be risky, anyone with shares in the big High St chains or the airline industry will testify. This money has to go somewhere and nice tax free investments like paintings, cellars full of wine or old cars are attractive. This produces an upwards spiral, big increases in value attracting more investors into a limited supply driving up returns and prices which inturn attract even more demand.

Another advantage of older cars is that you can actually use them, compared to the normal experience of new cars depreiating £'000s a year it may actually increase in value. This increases demand of usable classic like FWD hatches with 100+hp compared to 60s minis and Beetles with 35hp and 70 mph-engine-screaming top speed after 2 mins getting there.

The 3rd point is that people in their late 40s, 50s and 60s are finding themselves in the position of being cash rich. Kids left home, mortgage paid off, endowments paying out, coming into retirement with lump sum payments. This has benefited 80s classics, cars they lusted after when in their youth but due to lack of money or other more pressing housing/family commitments couldn't afford or justify spending on. Now they can. This has moved the the market on from the 50s/60s bread and butter MGs/TRs and Austin/Morris's to 80s/90s Fords, VWs etc. In another generation it will be Subarus and Mitsubishis.

So in summary depends on what you consider affordable to enthusiats. Yes some MK1s esp early GTi's, Campaigns and anything minty tiny mileage immaculate condition will attract high values and end up too expensive to use and more of an investment parked in a garage for years. However Golfs were produced in large numbers and so are still available at affordable prices albiet more expensive than in the past due to the above.