Restore or Don't Restore

Hello Folks, I'm after a little bit of your combined wisdom.

I've just purchased my 3rd Golf GTi (first was an 83 1.6 Mk1 back 89 - it was brilliant, second was an 89 MK2 1.8 8v in 92 again brilliant) - and now many many years later I've bought a 1.8 MK1 in what looks like *good condition.

My question is this, if you could, would you restore her ? - strip to the shell and put is close as possible to factory OR leave totally as is and keep in original condition..

I've seen a couple of projects on here of people doing the shell upwards rebuild and I think they look excellent - but I'd appreciate your thoughts

Thanks

Dave

 

I would not restore it if it does not need doing, I think a car is worth more if it's been untouched and is solid compared to a car which has been taken apart and put back together no matter now shiny it is.

Depends what you want from the car and whether you plan on keeping it or not, what your restoration budget is, your skill set? ie. do you need to pay someone to restore it? Is it an investment purchase? Etc Etc..
If you want something to win trophies at shows and have the wow factor then its lots of time and lots of money. Since the the values of GTI's have risen dramatically in the last 10 years there's been lots 'restored' already. If your car is still carrying its original paint and is respectable I'd leave it as it is and just maintain. If its already had paint then its already lost that "total originality".

For me it is about what you want to do with it in the long term. If going to keep it as your own hobby then you need to decide what you like more. Super pristine cars or totally original. For me I like them not quite standard. Looking largely the same but some upgrades like suspension, wheels light lens colours etc. I like keeping the right engine in them but don't mind adding cams exhaust etc. I like to think of them as good as new plus some improvements. If I could afford it I would have stripped mine to the bare bones and had it dipped, etched, galvanised, painted and rebuilt as clean and solid as possible replacing steel with stainless where possible and make it last for the next millennium. But I don't have huge reserves of cash so had the body fixed up and will be improving the rest over time. 2020 is my target for engine bay strip and repainted but knowing me will be more like 2120. One thing no matter what you do, do it well a poor resto is worse than no resto at all in my view.  


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Thanks guys, i will post some photos soon. I'm split too. If i did a resto it would be down to the shell and all original parts (where possible) restored but I see the value of both routes.

Cheers
Dave

Which ever way you want to go you have 50+ years of some of the best experience around today in the Mk1 world above to think about so I'm not going to even start what I think but repeat this comment.

Yomp said in his first sentence, "Depends what you want from the car and whether you plan on keeping it or not, what your restoration budget is, your skill set?".

That sentence says it all for me and so whichever way you go just make sure that under normal circumstances you can finish what you start.

If not, then leave it alone because this restoration business is not for the faint hearted with a quid in their pocket. 😉👍🏼

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To restore, or not to restore, that is the question; whether it is nobler in the mind to fully, partially, or impartially restore ones ride is fraught with the differences one has a mind to.

There is the time, the tools, and the skills needed to partake such a journey, not to mention monies, and the search of the elusive unicorn-cornucopia of parts one is want of.

Getting a ride to OEM status is the bane and mistress of us all.  Understanding wives, girlfriends, and significant others who's time is also want for attention that you will be diverting to your new mistress.  

You new mistress can suck the breath, strength, and monies out of you faster than the Tax man.. Your wife
will crave the attention that you have bestowed on your new toy, and can make your life unbearable.

But on the other hand it could be your respite, your refuge, your daily therapy….nothing is better after a blistering day toiling on your 9-5, suffering the slings and arrows from your co-workers, and idiots that one must deal with daily….. Beating your metal, or cutting with a saw, torch or grinder, can add years to your career, life and marriage.

Be ready which-ever way your go to be ridiculed (never from us, unless you do something really god-forbid stupid.) chastised, teased and name-called.  

Be ready with the 100 smiles per liter that you get when you have finished your restore….and the looks from blokes you know, and don't know as you drive it down the street.  

To oem, better than oem, that is the 200,000 pound questions.  

The one thing you have to remember, is no matter how much time and effort that you put into your dream, it can and will be crushed by some stupid twit texting while motoring….. So insure well. Drive it like you stole it, and who the hell cares about any of this other than you.

It is your dream, you have to follow your dream, but it will be daunting,

Thanks again for the responses, much appreciated.
Luckily the wife is onboard with the project and skills are fair (ex race mechanic (many many moons back)), pockets not endlessly deep but the budget is OK too.

I will take some pics as soon she arrives here a couple of days from now.

I like the "follow your dream" comment - I could talk about cars having soul here! The wife says I should write a book.


 

It will only be original once, if it is in nice and pretty much rot free -well certainly in the visible areas - then keeping it in a nice dry garage, using it on nice days and getting it protected underneath and in all the cavities with something such as waxoyl, it shouldn't deteriorate much.  If it ever did you can always do the restoration then.

"write a book" well why not, just document everything you do, think and how you do it of course. All in great detail with pictures and you can use your post as a reference point! 😉

The more stored information you have to source from the better.

Mind you it's a case of do what as I say and not as what I do!
Because my wife and son want me to write a book about the GAP Competition.

They keep on at me but I've always pushed back saying yeah when I'm retired but now I'm being forced into retirement so um!

Oh bűgger. 😂👍🏼

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If I wrote a book on GAP it would be a book about failure and confusion. Good luck with that one


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Backinblack said

If I wrote a book on GAP it would be a book about failure and confusion. Good luck with that one


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😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

Thank God someone understands because even I don't!
Nice one Ian. 😉👍🏼

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Ok guys, went see the golf today. The photos of it by the seller showed it's better side (shall we say) but . Engine sounded good, lines all straight. Front end look pretty rust free. Wing tops, below the screen, chassis legs, battery housing all good. Front arches good, floor pans looked ok from a quick glance.

Rear valance a little rusty, especially where it meets the spare tyre well.
Sill on n/s a little rusty + n/s door panel a little rusty at bottom
Rear arches where they meet the sills rusty, could push through if I tried. I expect when I take arch covers off it's going to be bleak.

So this car needs some proper TLC but, with these rust areas -  what do we think ? Massive expense - don't touch or sounds normal for the age ???