Should I buy this Mk1?

Or should i say would you buy it!?

I'm new to mk1 golfs, and i was looking around for a car as i needed one, and came across this one. and i know its cheesy, but i fell in love with it…! I've had a good look around it and noted the main problems i could see.
It's a 1979 GL and i think a 1.3l. its had 2 owners, a reverend and an old couple. it has a FSH with the man who has it now. he is the local mechanic in the village, and bought the car new - sold it to the other people. (so 3 owners really) mileage is 36846, and the last service was at 29997 in january 1997. it was always garaged by its owners, but when they died, it was put outside his warehouse and has been there since and only used occasionaly (he says about 500 miles per year). problems i can see are:

passenger door has dropped a bit (and rusted)


rear arch has been repaired (badly)


the left front corner seems to have had a knock


the bonnet was resprayed, but has faded


underneath all looks well, and other than quite a few areas of surface rust, the body is good too. on the suspension towers in the engine bay, theres loads of silicon type stuff slapped all around them, and painted over. is this normal? the car is very dirty inside and out (dog hair all over the seats   )



the brakes are a bit unsafe (can't lock up the decades old michelins in the dry) would it be better to fix them, or fit gti items?

basically could someone tell me how much time/money/difficulty would be involved in fixing the problems mentioned, and whether it would be worth it. Ive got a broken arm atm, so i have 5 weeks off work and would like to get it sorted by then. the guy is looking for around ?400-500, and then i have about ?500 left to spend on fixing.

Thanks in advance

Joe

i'd say for any car thats been sat around for some time that its quite normal for the breaks to be a lil dodgy, just need wearing back in carefully

as for the rest, the door drop can easily be sorted out with a shim/washer in the bottom hinge or by opening the window and lifting it with your shoulder

everything else sound superficial, nothing a little time and a bit of that extra cash will sort out no-end (t-cut n polish the bonnet etc)

i'd see if he'd let it go for 350, but if 400's what he wants it could be a bargain

p.s, sounds like the sealant around the suspension towers is normal, it just protects the seams (seam sealer), but the guys here will confirm

i was hoping i could t cut the bonnet, as i didn't really want to spray it.
price wise i spoke to his daughter and she says he has no use for it, so offer him 250 and he'll double it! so heres hoping shes right.  

I'd buy it   so I reckon it's worth a shot! but then it's always hard going by pictures

service it, sort the brakes out and get it through an MOT  :wink:  the rest is just a bit of a tidy up which wouldn't take much during the summer

have you checked all the common rust areas? especially the rear axle mounting area, inner wings, floor, rear seat belt mounting point (drivers side is the one that usually goes)

i would buy it looking for an s1

JoeB said

i know its cheesy, but i fell in love with it…!

answered your own question there

wooders said

JoeB said

i know its cheesy, but i fell in love with it…!

answered your own question there

too right, love at first sight mate! go for it!!  :y:

Buy it man, cos if u dont some other lucky bugger will!!! and they dont come around, in that condition very pften especially 79 MK1's!!!!

that is an absolute steal mate

look like thats sorted then… it will be mine!  best thing is, because i live in a tiny village, and every1 is really friendly, the guy will let me keep it where it is and will help me work on it when hes not busy! nowheresville ftw!

JoeB said

look like thats sorted then… it will be mine!  best thing is, because i live in a tiny village, and every1 is really friendly, the guy will let me keep it where it is and will help me work on it when hes not busy! nowheresville ftw!

where do live mate?

a village called Membury in Devon. about 25 miles from exeter

PM'd you.

JoeB said

a village called Membury in Devon. about 25 miles from exeter

"Membury"   I know the roads very well out that way an old girl friend lives out that way!!  :wink:   

Go for it, at that kind of money, its worth it in parts alone!, although vw did'nt produce a 1300 engined mk1 until 1980, yours is 1978 registered, and as you say its a gl, i would guess its a 1500-1600gls? , i would have said it should have chrome bumpers to. everything else seems to be there and it looks a very straight original car from the pics, best of luck buying her! if it seals the deal, a very nice 30,000 1978 5 door auto in diamond silver met. paint sold for ?3,250 on ebay a few short months back, you have a little gem there mate, don't let it get away! Tom :wink:

one thing i would e wary of is the drop in the door just make sure its not rust related as if it is rusty in that area could also be rust in the inner wings or under the windscreen as this has happened to my mates 78. if theres no major rot i would say its a steal at that price!

by the way, this was originally posted months ago! and yes i have bought it for the pricely sum of ?350! i've gone through it and there are absoloutly no holes in it, just a bit of surface. It was made in Feb '79 so the bumpers are correct, although i will get chrome ones when i can afford them. and its nearly its 30th! its going to be getting an expensive birthday present in the form of a fresh lick of paint! just a quick question, when its running, theres a kind of whiny rubbing noise that seems to come from the water pump. anyone know what could be wrong? oh and its a 1.1.

Joe

Bearings, maybe try tensioning it up? for the price of a new water pump i would buy a new one and do the timing belt at the same time, i miss my old small block, nice engines to work on. Tom :wink:

ok thanks will do.
Joe

This is great enoug for me. It is depend whether you really like it ot not, if yes, then you can consider t buy it