A Few Questions.

Im new here and have just brought my Golf Gti Cabrio on the cheap as a restoration project. Only body work mainly as the engine is sound apparently.

Anyways my few questions are:

I have blocky arches on my car, here is a pic of her:


And im not too sure on them. So firstly does anyone know what they are?

Secondly, I would much prefer flared arches and small bumper, like this:



(Sorry to who evers car I just used a pic of)

How would I go about doing that? And what kit is that?


My second question is,

Whats the best place for:

A: A full interior re-trim.
And how much am I looking at paying roughly for that?

and

B. A new hood.
What is the best type of hood to go for as I understand there are different types.
Also how much am I looking to pay for this? Its manual if that helps?

My third and final question is,

On the front end, im currently working with this:


Now I personally am not liking that so I have brought myself a MK1 VW badge for the front and will be buying the GTI badge soon. However, I really like the red GTI grill surround and was wondering if this can be brought also?
If so, how much and where from?


Thanks v.much in advance to anyone that can answer any of the above  :wink:

(ps. if this is in wrong section apologies)

the kit you have, is a zender kit. the one you want, is a clipper kit. with the right colour and wheels, the zender kit can look pretty good.

the red grille surround is very hard to source. they seem to go for a few quid on ebay.

wooders said

the kit you have, is a zender kit. the one you want, is a clipper kit. with the right colour and wheels, the zender kit can look pretty good.

It looks more like a Kamei one to me

got a book here called 'volkswagen golf GTI; the enthusiast's companion'

all about the mk1 and (early) mk2 gti, published in 1985 - so has all the body kits in it.

lists that one as a zender, as far as i can see.

going by the front splitter and square arches

although bbs did do a square kit (not shown in the book, round one is shown, with reference to the square kit)

the bbs square arch kit didnt have side skirts

mk1john said

got a book here called 'volkswagen golf GTI; the enthusiast's companion'

all about the mk1 and (early) mk2 gti, published in 1985 - so has all the body kits in it.

lists that one as a zender, as far as i can see.

going by the front splitter and square arches

although bbs did do a square kit (not shown in the book, round one is shown, with reference to the square kit)

Ahhh but look at the ribbing on the leading edges of the front arches where they go over the bumpers. In some ways it looks like the kamei X1 kit and yet the front spoiler is more BBS

Body kits not my cup of tea, but its of its time and looks OK. I think if you try and swap to a clipper kit you'll end up with holes in the wings that aren't covered up etc

If you really don't like it that much sell it and get a clipper, most cabrios left now will be clippers, so easy to find.

good point Mike, there's always some confusion when bodykits turn up.

rememeber the red/pink tin top? can't remember what the final outcome of that was.

had a look and it only lists the x1 for the mk2, and that doesn't have ribbing on the arches, but could well have on the mk1 kit

who knows   :dontknow:

Cheers for the response chaps. Does anybody have any answers to my other issues at all?

I think you've already got the metal trim around your grille but it looks like it's been painted the same colour as your body. If it is on there then you can take it off the grille (just gently bend the metal 'tabs' back and pull it off) and then rub it down smooth, prime it and paint it VW mars red.

As per hoods there's two types. Vinyl and mohair. I think vinyl comes in a bit cheaper but some people reckon it doesn't last as long as mohair and doesn't look as good. There's a thread about hoods on here, I'll get a link in a mo.

As for the interior, I guess it depends on what you want to have done as to how much it'll cost. I think the best thing to do is to look up a few places and get quotes because prices (and quality) can vary between places.

Hope that helps you.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…viewtopic&t=39408&start=0

There we are, that should give you an indication of prices.:y:

DubPartz said

It looks more like a Kamei one to me

very very possible

yradave said

I think you've already got the metal trim around your grille but it looks like it's been painted the same colour as your body. If it is on there then you can take it off the grille (just gently bend the metal 'tabs' back and pull it off) and then rub it down smooth, prime it and paint it VW mars red.

As per hoods there's two types. Vinyl and mohair. I think vinyl comes in a bit cheaper but some people reckon it doesn't last as long as mohair and doesn't look as good. There's a thread about hoods on here, I'll get a link in a mo.

As for the interior, I guess it depends on what you want to have done as to how much it'll cost. I think the best thing to do is to look up a few places and get quotes because prices (and quality) can vary between places.

Hope that helps you.

Wow, this is a big help. Cheers buddy.
And for everyone else, I have contacted the guy im buying it off and he informs me its the Karman model with a BBS bodykit?

Might go for a clipper kit and see if I can get a quote for a bodyshop to fit it properly and smooth it in whilst its getting its respray. (Might be going VW alpine white now)

Anyone's thoughts on the above idea with the Clipper kit and color?  :dontknow:

by all means change it to alpine white, thatll look nice

but it think you should keep the curent kit, its a bit of 80s history and they are quite rare

think it looks quite cool

Personally I would keep the body kit it has at the moment.

You see a relatively large number of late cabbys knocking around and quite a lot of them have the clipper kits. I can't remember the last time I saw a pre-'84 cabby so they are a bit more special in my eyes. To put a clipper kit on would, and I'm trying not to say it but would make it look like just another late cabby.

Hmmm, I know what I mean there :scratch: . I guess I'm trying to say that I'd keep an early model looking 'older' and a late model looking 'newer'

Oh and because it's just that bit different and that's what it's all about for me. :wink:

yradave said

Personally I would keep the body kit it has at the moment.

You see a relatively large number of late cabbys knocking around and quite a lot of them have the clipper kits. I can't remember the last time I saw a pre-'84 cabby so they are a bit more special in my eyes. To put a clipper kit on would, and I'm trying not to say it but would make it look like just another late cabby.

Hmmm, I know what I mean there :scratch: . I guess I'm trying to say that I'd keep an early model looking 'older' and a late model looking 'newer'

Oh and because it's just that bit different and that's what it's all about for me. :wink:

Yeah this makes a good bit of sense to me. May do that then. And as for the Alpine White respray?
Im open to any colors at this stage  

Keep it the original colour. There is nothing more naffff than a respray in a different colour with the original showing in door shuts, under bonnet etc. The only way to change the colour is to strip every last nut and bolt from the shell and paint inside, outside, underneath....

Early-1800 said

Keep it the original colour. There is nothing more naffff than a respray in a different colour with the original showing in door shuts, under bonnet etc. The only way to change the colour is to strip every last nut and bolt from the shell and paint inside, outside, underneath….

Even with a FULL respray as you are talking about? Decided on keeping that kit on it now