My first golf and its a mk1...

Hello all. My names Steve and i'm a golfaholic….. I'm just kidding. Its a nice looking setup you've(we've) got here. About me; I'm 25 and live in the lovely (hmmm) town of basingstoke, hampshire and currently work in security but am retraining to become a telecoms network engineer.
I have joined as I have just acquired my first golf and I paid the princely sum of nothing for it. I have moved it off a family friends drive as their son now lives in london and for the last two years, it has been sat there being started and run up to temperature, nothing more. All the local garages and scrappies (its ok pick yourself up of the floor I have no intension of it ending up there!!) wanted ?100 to take it away.
I being the selfless individual that I am offered to take it away for free which all were happy about??!!?!?? Any way I'll let you know more about it later when I actually get to see it in the flesh as it was picked up by an uncle with a recovery truck yesterday and I have been working day shifts and will be until wednesday…… I just want to go see it!! .
I first joined to find out any problems or things to look out for on the mk1 other than thier infamous weak brakes, as when I first got offered the car the idea was fix her up and sell it on but the more I think about it the more I want to keep it.

welcome mate
keep it
tin top or floppy?

Welcome on board mate, I know Basingstoke. A mate used to live down there years ago. I'll never forget being served homemade beer and warm avocado quiche for dinner once (random) :mrgreen:

What Mk1 have you got then, we'll need to see some pictures asap.

Tian :wink:

Its a tin top and red. I have a feeling its got the huge rear screen but not knowing much about them yet I can't tell you alot till I get down to the nans place to have a gander. She got a lot of land and plenty of working space to get her going if she needs it. I'll get more detail up when I know it and some pics too. As it says above I have stumbled upon it completely by accident but I'm well impressed by the bargin price and retro cool of a mk1!! 8)

A bit more info. Its a series 2 1983 1093cc little red beastie. It'll need a little attention to make her good again but seeing some of the projects on here I'm very tempted to have a good bash at something a little different. Does anyone know if rwd has been done explored etc. We have a rover v8 sitting around at our garage….. :wink:  :twisted: Pics to follow shortly

Welcome aboard!!

Rover V8 :eh: Well if your good at fabricating, very good, anythings possible.  A mamouth task tho.

skirmish998 said

A bit more info. Its a series 2 1983 1093cc little red beastie. It'll need a little attention to make her good again but seeing some of the projects on here I'm very tempted to have a good bash at something a little different. Does anyone know if rwd has been done explored etc. We have a rover v8 sitting around at our garage….. :wink:  :twisted: Pics to follow shortly

V8 hmm tight but has been done before using a Porsche 928 engine(He widened his car to fit it!! 8O ) Good luck would love to see this come to life 8)  8)

I was looking at Rover V8s, I'd have thought its possible but you'd have to change the car to inline engine and RWD, so that means possibly custom or adapted propshaft, rear axle and suspension. Which would also mean, a custom fuel tank and relocating the spare wheel too, and significant bulkhead (and then possibly dashboard) mods. The trickiest aspect would probably be relocating and aligning the steering, since the rack would be in the way in its current position.

If you do decide to go ahead, keep us posted and let us know how it goes.

If I did go down the v8 route it would be mid mount to try and keep the weight between the axles. Be funny though wouldn't it!! Scary but funny!! v8 might be a bit weighty so maybe a vag v6 might sit better. I'll tidy here up for now and get more info on weights, sizes and power/gains available of the engines before anything definate. There is always the huyabusa/busa turbo mid mount rwd route…
Anyone know of a rwd mk1 or who has does it for some tips

Some pics of a v8 mk1 build HERE

Welcome to the site and good luck…

there's a local MK1 meet just up the A33…

Have fun and enjoy…

I've seen the page. jekyll and hyde is a great pub and I'll have to pop up when i have her road legal again. thanks for the welcome everyone. I think the v8 is out though, far to heavy and used to be in a dicovery so not the right sort of rover v8. So many other options to look into so it hasn't put me of a conversion yet.

hi there and welcome to the site  

Had a good look round the outside on Wednesday and mostly good, has general green staining from being sat in the open for the last two years. It also looks like it has had a small bump at the front drivers corner and had an interesting repair to say the least.
Had to replace part of a fuel hose to get it running around the yard. Reg forms sent off and ebay being searched for replacement parts. Currently thinking of ripping out the tired and battered interior and going from there with new suspension, engine replacement if needed being a baby 1096cc, wider wheels for better grip and a respray/body resto in keeping with its original look.
As far as getting it back to its former glory I think it would take alot ot time and more importantly money to do…unfortunately I for one can't afford to do that. hopefully get picks tomorrow.
Laters and thanks again for the welcome