Campaigns - Are they really THAT Special?

Been reading a few posts on here lately and just thought I'd start a debate about Campaigns and if people really think they're special and maybe even worth more money than a stock GTI.

I own a lovely silver Campaign, but I personally dont see it as any better than any other non Campaign golf. After all it is only the run-off model and probably the only reason it was made was to get rid of all the optional extras that were not bought over the years? Well I know thats probably not the reason but it's one theory.

I'd much rather own a mint OG series one golf, be that a GTI or not, just cos I think the older the car is the cooler it is. But thats only my opinion so thought I'd see what everyone else thinks……………………………

I don't think they're anything special over the non-Campaign, but obviously each extra adds that little bit of appeal. For me, the ones worth having are:

Tinted glass
MFA
Leather steering wheel
1800cc engine

The ones I can't see much point in having:

Steel sliding sunroof
P-slot 14" alloys
Fuel filler flap
Door pins
4 headlamp grille with foglights

Also bear in mind, Atlas Grey and Helios Blue GTIs would have been Campaign only, it would be nice to have either of those colours, just for an added touch of exclusivity.

Historically, the Campaign register started out (and I know a lot of the founder members are here) and set about to differentiate them from non-Campaigns. This led to some anomolies such as allowing Pirelli edition cars (similar to the Campaign, available on the continent) in, but keeping UK-registered non-Campaigns (but maybe with all the options) out, based on the chassis number alone. And also there were plenty of people who 'bumped' up the perceived value of the car by fitting Campaign features, or simply by misdescribing the car as a campaign.

Nowadays with more freely available information, these controversies have been addressed and there are in fact 9 other "special sales campaign" models/option codes listed for the 1984 model year. All of these other 9, have more significant differences than the GTI Campaign as we know it.

Anyway, its very much a case of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" so Campaign owners should still feel their car is special to them.

My Golf C looks up to the GTIs as "Daddy"

golf1 said

My Golf C looks up to the GTIs as "Daddy"

Mine doesnt  

paul_c said

I don't think they're anything special over the non-Campaign, but obviously each extra adds that little bit of appeal. For me, the ones worth having are:

Tinted glass
MFA
Leather steering wheel
1800cc engine

The ones I can't see much point in having:

Steel sliding sunroof
P-slot 14" alloys
Fuel filler flap
Door pins
4 headlamp grille with foglights

The only features unique to the Campaign were the P-slots and the leather steering wheel.

Tinted glass and sunroof were options on all GTis.

1800 engine (all GTI from '82 on), MFA (all GTI from '82 on), fuel filler flap (late cabrios), late door pins (all GTI from '83 on) and foglights (standard on GX, Driver) were all features of other Mk1s.

I am not a fan of P-slots and can live without the leather steering wheel. So personally I would rather have an original car with a rust free shell no matter what the age.

No sunroof does it for me  :wink:
Bert

paul_c said

IAlso bear in mind, Atlas Grey and Helios Blue GTIs would have been Campaign only, it would be nice to have either of those colours, just for an added touch of exclusivity.

ahem! 'wooders the exclusive'. i like it.

 yes they are special, but who's mk1 isn't?

What about the A-Pillar wind deflectors? THey were an option on earlier Golfs but standard on Campaigns.

While we're on that subject, are they actually supposed to do anything or what? :dontknow:

Nev said

What about the A-Pillar wind deflectors? THey were an option on earlier Golfs but standard on Campaigns.

While we're on that subject, are they actually supposed to do anything or what? :dontknow:

They were standard on GTIs from 1983 (I think) onwards, so they're not a Campaign only item. They apparently help high speed stability.

in my opinion no, they arent that special. Maybe at the time you could feel a bit more affluent compared to your fellow gti owner who was a mere peasant to have a standard gti not a 'get rid of all the mk1 bits left in the parts bin before the mk2 comes along' campaign model.

Nowadays with parts being swapped between cars so frequently by over 20 years of enthusiasts the more solid metal on your car the more special it is!!

maybe if it was owned by hitler, the pope, the first or last in production, but other than that its just another gti

Nev said

What about the A-Pillar wind deflectors? THey were an option on earlier Golfs but standard on Campaigns.

While we're on that subject, are they actually supposed to do anything or what? :dontknow:

both my 83 non campaign gti's have them one has a sunroof and dorr pins and a campaign grill

All MK1'S are special  :y:

golf1 said

My Golf C looks up to the GTIs as "Daddy"

how funny, my daddy gti looks down on golf Cs

wooders said

golf1 said

My Golf C looks up to the GTIs as "Daddy"

how funny, my daddy gti looks down on golf Cs

Other GTIs look up at my GTI (maybe?)

Irrespective of the campaign debate, all mk1 golf are something special.  Most of the campaign extras are just cosmetic, but surely the low profile 14" wheels improve the driving characteristics of an already fantastic car.

I've owned a Helios Campaign, and i think that colour is absolutely awesome.  If i ever find another mint one for sale, i'd remortgage the bloody house if i had to :wink:

What gets me though is the number of people that actually believe there are Y reg Campaigns out there.  They were built Aug-Sept 1983 so wouldn't be available on a Y plate.  Some were non-campaigns are found on A plates and some are made up to look like campaigns.  I've seen one B reg campaign - lhasa green on ebay.  I believe there is even a D plate one somewhere 8O

There is something about the sigle headlight grille esp on black GTIs :roll:

Just my 2p worth

kriss said

Irrespective of the campaign debate, all mk1 golf are something special.  Most of the campaign extras are just cosmetic, but surely the low profile 14" wheels improve the driving characteristics of an already fantastic car.

I've owned a Helios Campaign, and i think that colour is absolutely awesome.  If i ever find another mint one for sale, i'd remortgage the bloody house if i had to :wink:

What gets me though is the number of people that actually believe there are Y reg Campaigns out there.  They were built Aug-Sept 1983 so wouldn't be available on a Y plate.  Some were non-campaigns are found on A plates and some are made up to look like campaigns.  I've seen one B reg campaign - lhasa green on ebay.  I believe there is even a D plate one somewhere 8O

There is something about the sigle headlight grille esp on black GTIs :roll:

Just my 2p worth

Campaign is defined by options code S707, this was available from chassis number DW448319, this chassis was manufactured at/around 1/4/1983. Y registration was available from 1/8/1982 to 31/7/1983. So its possible that an early Campaign (as defined by options code S707) is on a Y plate, even given the 4-6 weeks to build and import/deliver/register a car.

When I updated the Campaign pages, I checked & double checked this and asked for comments, nobody challenged the 'official' definition and dubboy independently confirmed my research.

Ok cheers, thanks for that but i thought DW chassis numbered cars weren't intended for the uk and are 'imports'?  Are these not 'pirelli editions' and therefore technically NOT campaigns as campaigns were uk EW chassis numbered cars only :dontknow:

Sorry for my ignorance ops:

kriss said

Ok cheers, thanks for that but i thought DW chassis numbered cars weren't intended for the uk and are 'imports'?  Are these not 'pirelli editions' and therefore technically NOT campaigns as campaigns were uk EW chassis numbered cars only :dontknow:

Sorry for my ignorance ops:

No, DW simply defines (1) the car is a 1983 model year (produced Aug 1982-July 1983) and (2) is built in Wolfsburg. The EW chassis code simply defines the year, not the fact that its a campaign or not. eg you can have a car with an EW chassis code, and its a Golf C or a Golf GL, or something.

ok, i understand now but why then is it possible to buy a A reg non-campaign but also a Y reg Campaign :dontknow:  

Anyway anyone that owns a mk1 Golf is a lucky person :mrgreen:

kriss said

ok, i understand now but why then is it possible to buy a A reg non-campaign but also a Y reg Campaign :dontknow:  

Anyway anyone that owns a mk1 Golf is a lucky person :mrgreen:

Y reg Campaign - see explanation above
A reg GTI non Campaign - it didn't have option code S707 and the stuff that went with it (well, not all of it). Whether this actually ever happened is not known, since the dealers were encouraged to sell the Campaign (after all, inside VW it was called "special sales campaign" at the time) and VW themselves (I believe) shuffled things around to align the late Mk1s with the high specification. For example they stockpiled some bodyshells which had been produced with a steel sunroof, for a couple of weeks or so.