New to Mk1 family...help required

Hi,
I am a bit of a VW nut and currently restoring a 1997 MK3 VR6 AUTO HIGHLINE at the minute and I am just about to buy my first MK1. It is a 1982 GTI CABRIO which is in excellent condition, but I do have a couple of questions if anyone can help. I have looked at loads of pictures of this model and they all seem to have the 3 VDO gauges and bucket seats, now the car I am looking at does not have the gauges and I dont think it has the seats. Does anyone know if this is correct or should it have the above items and I was also wondering if it is not actually a GTI. The paperwork does indicate it as a GTI but the spec looks more like a GL/CL. The chassis number is: 15DK003301 Engine no: DX009266 if anyone can tell from these numbers if there is a specific code which lets me know. I am looking forward to hearing your responses and look forward to a long and happy experience with you all.
Thanks

Welcome to the site!

The DX engine code tells you its a GTI engine. The cabriolets were always trimmed a bit less sporty than the hatchback GTIs, in fact the earlier models were badged as GLi to reflect its GL trim but with an injection engine. Around 82 they changed the badging to GTI (probably to ride the marketing wave of success generated by the hatchback) but didn't really change the trim that much!

3 centre console gauges were always a dealer option - the standard GTI came with just the one, an oil temperature gauge, until the MFA came along and then it wouldn't even have had this (since oil temp is incorporated into the MFA display).

Cabriolets never had the same trim seats, some of them had "sports seats" which had the raised sides on the base (not really a bucket seat, but more supportive than the standard seat) but the trim wouldn't have been the iconic hatchback GTI stripes.

Cheers for the advice you helped a great deal…..looks like my new baby will be home with on monday.
Many thanks