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Safety

Ahoy

I am considering buying an Mk1 cab, but have some quite boring questions about safety.

Does the Mk1 cab come with airbags and if so, were these introduced after a certain date?

Also are there any other big safety issues to look out for when buying one of these?

Keen to hear from enthused drivers so I can get involved in this exciting community.

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Hi, welcome to the forum.

No MK1 has airbags fitted and another safety issue is that the rear seat belts were only lap belts in Cabriolets  but the good news here is that a kit is available to convert to three point belts.

No car designed in the 70's is going to do particularly well in terms of accident safety compared to more modern cars I am afraid, I would certainly though prefer to be in a VW of that era than any other make of the same age


Golf GTI Campaign 1983 Mars Red, Ford S-Max 2015, Audi TT 180 quattro 2003, Fiat 500C 2013, Golf GTE MK7.5

image.jpeg
 

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As Richard said above but also the Cabrio weighs 200kg more than a tintop for a very good reason.

Doors are heavily reinforced and don't forget that whooping anti rollover bar. I've heard of them rolling over and I've seen pictures where the passengers have received light to moderate injuries.

But I'd bet that it's the same for many of Cabrios.

I'm happy to do 90 - 100mph on the Autobahns with the top down and never give it a thought! 👍

Sent by a smartphone and not a smartperson!

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Mike

There's me building mine 28 years ago, almost finished!        
  
001.JPG       
                                 
Be proud of your VW Golf Mk1, it's very special!

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Unfortunately a friend of mine pulled straight out  in front of a brand new saab turbo on its first journey from new:oabout 10 years ago.
Due to the extra bracing /sills/roll bar of the cabriolet he survived though suffered severe bruising and cuts but the golf held together. The Saab was destroyed. Had he have been in a tin top I think the outcome would have been quite different.
Don't let all this put you off. As already said, no cars were anywhere near the standard safety wise of today's 'lumps'.
If  you do choose to go down the route of owning a classic car then perhaps the cabby is the way to go. There are 1000's and 1000's of 'classic cars on the road and to be an owner in reality you  have to accept that risk- or stick to modern stuff if not.
I Hope this helps as it would be a shame to miss all that we enjoy in this club.
Marcus.
 

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And back in the day if you had a collision you would probably hit another 700kg tinfoil car, these days its likely to be a 2tonne SUV with a RSJ behind the plastic front bumper.......

1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
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