MK1 lust!

Howdy!

I've just joined the forum after googling 'MK1 Golf GTi' as I'm having some odd cravings to get back behind the wheel of a GTi as a treat to myself, for (nearly!) giving up smoking!

I have a small rented workshop where I restore and customise Opel Manta's (my all time favorite car). I have pretty much enough mechanical knowledge and experience to rebuild and tune most engines and I have paintwork and welding facilities, so I'm in an ideal situation to take on projects for a bit of fun.

I owned an A-reg GTi when I was married and living the good life about 6-7 years ago and the car certainly had a lasting impression and I really regret having to have sold it (even though it had fallen apart!) So, as it's a strange time of year and with all this economic waffle, I'm going to try to hunt down a bargain Mk1 project car. I've posted in the wanted section if you can help? Assuming I find the right car, I'll be posting up on here for some more info and technical help and of course join the club once I've finished as I'd want to show the car 'orf!

Thanks, Rick.

Welcome to the forum Rick! I hope you find yourself back behind the wheel of a MK1 soon :wink:

Hopefully you shouldn't have too much trouble finding something. Check out our registers too to see if your old MK1 is listed - you may find it?!

There's good buying guides here if you need them and ask away with plenty of questions

Keep us posted how you get on

Cheers
Andy

Opal Mantas eh!!! Interesting and unusual choice of car their, you certainly don't see many of them around.

Good luck in your MK1 hunt, I think you're gonna be pushed to get a bargain even at this time of year unless you're after a Cabby. Lot's of MK1s are off the road for winter and therefore not costing anything in ownership. You never know though if you're handy with a spanner you could get a fixer-upper to occupy your time through the poor weather!

Good luck and check out the buying guide.

T

Hi Rick… welcome to the site mate… I'd love to have a little rented workshop to do mine… sadly it'll just be everything sprawled out on the drive  8O !!

Good to see your looking for a gti mate!!  In my opinion people are being made redundant, bills are up etc so you probably will get more for your money now than you would have 6 months ago.

Hope to hear you've bought one mate and when you do… stick those photo's up  :wink:

They are out there if you look around.

I picked up this little number for the Grand sum of ?250

I don't know if thats good or bad, but it doesn't seem like a lot of money, for a lot of car.

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=52613

Its absolutly solid underneath, its virtually rust free.

I'm aiming to get it roadworthy and looking like somthing I'd be proud to be seen in for less than ?1k

Now thats cheap motoring in anybody's book.

Good luck with the search

Thanks for the replies and welcome messages. I'll keep you posted on any developments.

hey welcome to the best site on the net :mrgreen:

Hi and welcome to the site would be good if you could make it to one of our many meets we have even if your not in a mk1 just good to meet folk and see their cars  

Woohoo! There's a Golf on the cards for me, all going well I should have it in the next week or two. It does need a lot of work, well mainly parts actually but hopefully I could get it ready for the summer show season.

I'll be joining the club if I get it as it'd be a nice change as I live and breathe Opel Mantas but haven't got anywhere recently. Tell me, do you guys have a national meeting and a concourse for original and modified cars? Also how easily can I get replacement doors, wings, bumpers, red borderd grill and a windscreen? Just a few things I need to start :mrgreen:

Thanks, Rick.

Hi Rick,

Where abouts in oxford area are you?

I have a few bits kicking around that i can help you with, also try crazyquiff for any bits you need.

hi rick welcome along to the site

looks forward to seeing some piccies when you have sorted yourself out a mk1

as raul has said try crazyquiff for parts….

Thanks for the help, ahh phew I'm glad there is still reasonable supply of bits. I'm in Witney so I'm just outside Oxford.

looks forward to seeing some piccies when you have sorted yourself out a mk1

Of me or the car!?!

Rick-Manta said

looks forward to seeing some piccies when you have sorted yourself out a mk1

Of me or the car!?!

   

Rick-Manta said

Howdy!
. I've posted in the wanted section if you can help? Assuming I find the right car, I'll be posting up on here for some more info and technical help and of course join the club once I've finished as I'd want to show the car 'orf!

Thanks, Rick.

howdy Rick

Welcome aboard

Why wait till the cars finished before joining… :dontknow:
Join up now and reep the benefits, discounts etc…

We have an annual show ourselves, this year its at Coombe abbey, see thread in national events!!

Crazyquiffs is the best place for parts and advice, based just outside oxford too, wallingford, you'll be there loads  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen: hence joiningup for the discount he offers..

We alos have a monthly mee, closest to you tho is probably the berkshire one..

Dont be scared to ask should you have any questions…

Rick-Manta said

Thanks for the help, ahh phew I'm glad there is still reasonable supply of bits. I'm in Witney so I'm just outside Oxford.


Thats where i'm at! Small world!! I'm in Deer Park.

Deer Park! That's where I am, I live right next to the Tesco Express shop 'tis a small world. You may have seen a few Opel Mantas parked up around there before I got my workshop in Standlake! I will have the Golf here but only for one day as I only have a days insurance.

I'm not waiting to join when the cars finished, I'll join when I've got the base car this Thursday fingers crossed. Coombe Abbey, I think that's Coventry way so that's not far at all, bloody good job since the GTi I'm buying has almost 300,000 on the clock, but it'd take me a a while to restore the Golf as I'm way behind with a '77 Manta as it's too bloody cold and I can't decide on what engine to fit. I'm heavily involved with the Opel Manta Owners Club but I'll certainly try to get to the occasional local meet too.

Hopefully be pestering you guys for some parts and advise very soon

Cheers, Rick.

Yeah yeah, now you mention it i do recall a couple of Mantas round by T Express.
Cool, tap me up if you need anything.

I have spare alloys and bumpers etc, nothing special but may help.

Ross  (Raul).

Right, everyone can relax I've got the car now. She's a little beasty but to be honest I'm surprised it even made the trip! The whole electrical system is shot and to be honest I'm not much cop with electrics and it's the worst problem. Nothing works, the odometer is reading a quater million but that's been broke for ages and it's been confirmed that it's done way over 300,000 with its original engine 8O . To my surprise, it still accelerates like a rocket. A powerful 8 valve is fantastic for consistant from low revs delivery, basically the car is just like my last one only with arthritus!

At present, I'm going to wash the Golf in the next few minutes, take it to my workshops yard and stick a weather cover on her until such time I can start the project. I will join the club this weekend, it's a promise!

From a glance it needs:-

OSF wing
Both Doors
Bumpers
Grill
3x Pirelli wheel caps
Gear linkage bushes
Set of wheel bearings (the noise is unbelievable!)
New wiring loom/harness (good God! :roll: )
Drivers seat with blue stripe cloth
Engine gasket set
Windscreen
Boot and door seals
5 litres of paint and primer and a square metre of sheet steel!!!

Rick-Manta said

Right, everyone can relax I've got the car now. She's a little beasty but to be honest I'm surprised it even made the trip! The whole electrical system is shot and to be honest I'm not much cop with electrics and it's the worst problem. Nothing works, the odometer is reading a quater million but that's been broke for ages and it's been confirmed that it's done way over 300,000 with its original engine 8O . To my surprise, it still accelerates like a rocket. A powerful 8 valve is fantastic for consistant from low revs delivery, basically the car is just like my last one only with arthritus!

At present, I'm going to wash the Golf in the next few minutes, take it to my workshops yard and stick a weather cover on her until such time I can start the project. I will join the club this weekend, it's a promise!

From a glance it needs:-

OSF wing
Both Doors
Bumpers
Grill
3x Pirelli wheel caps
Gear linkage bushes
Set of wheel bearings (the noise is unbelievable!)
New wiring loom/harness (good God! :roll: )
Drivers seat with blue stripe cloth
Engine gasket set
Windscreen
Boot and door seals
5 litres of paint and primer and a square metre of sheet steel!!!

sounds like you have got yourself quite a project.. why not keep us posted on your progress but starting a project thread.

good to hear that you will be joining as a member…