1981 MK1 Golf Gti Project Originality!

Hi All,

Have today picked myself up an August 1981 Mars Red GTi.  Am proper excited!!  I went for this as I wanted something that hadn't been heavily modified, and this fits the bill.  Its a bit crusty on the front and rear valance, and the drivers inner wing is going to need some love, but its pretty solid.  I know the obvious stuff like the petrol cap, wheels (15') and bee sting aerial aren't standard, but what about the twin lights?  Should they be the single headlight arrangement on this car? (Inner lamps are foglights).  Also can anyone point out anything it's missing?!  I am new to the VW world, so bow to your knowledge!!!



Hope you like it, and i hope to be posting lots of updates and gaining lots of knowledge here!

Cheers

Paul

 

Looks like a good project.

Your inner lamps are spots and were an optional extra. - Down to choice.

Your steering wheel is wrong.
Top radiator card is missing.
Duck bill front spoiler missing
Wrong intake pipe between metering head and manifold.
Red trim around the grill missing.
Front indicators wrong lenses.
Your red trim around the dash is correct. This was a very limited run on cars around this age.
Chrome front badge should be black
Bonnet stay missing.
Windscreen washer pipe looks like it comes through the plastic scuttle panel - it should lay along the top of it.
Later type oil filler cap fitted.
Strut top cap missing.
The rear wiper arm looks phat!
Wrong tail pipe. If your going standard the 1600 has a round back box where as the 1800 has an oval back box

I guess that's enough for now!! You did ask!I had a Jetta with the same SBW number plate. Oxfordshire registered  - and then I saw the invoice in the photo!




 

Cheers Yomp!

When did the steering wheel change? I was expecting the 4 button one but do like this one!  I'm so unsure about the lights, I think I prefer single lights!

The front bumper is knackered, so will be replacing the whole thing with correct lenses (and replacing grill too)!  The exhaust is a straight through system and sounds bloody horrible!  This will be rectified!

I look forward to the day when I can be in the detail of the rest of it!  Great knowledge sir!!!  I picked it up from Gloucester, but its been mainly in Oxfordshire, with a bit of time on the south coast in-between!

 

Can't really add much to what Yomp has pointed out, but if your going to repaint it, then there needs to be a black stripe accross the bottom edge of the tailgate, plus the side stripes look too small. The centre console has been a bit butcherd as there should be a blanking plate in the hole you have, and underneath it is usually the three holes for fitting guages if needed. Looks like you have got a good car to start off your project with, good luck.

Incorrect HVAC controls
No immobiliser should be fitted
Missing oil temp gauge
Wrong alloy wheels
Wrong and missing srut top caps
Painted bonnet catch rivets and cable clip

Cheers Dubboy. The HVAC controls are like a stainless steel which I thought was wrong.  They should just be black shouldn't they?  The immobiliser is CAT2 so that will stay!  All 3 centre gauges are missing, and I hate the wheels!!  It also has these 'beauties'



The internal door locks have been changed to aluminium too, but fortunately the originals were in the ashtray!

Cheers for your feedback, I am loving the knowledge in this place!

Yes, just black winders.  Looks like you may have some aftermarket speaker chopped into the door cards there too.  Great looking project base, good luck!

wrong fuel filler cap  

just wanted to join in  

looks a steady base though, nothing that cant be sorted easy

Cheers EW.  They is Infinity speakers tho innit blood so they is gonna sound well dench.  Or something like that….  I'll be keeping an eye out for some untouched cards!  It has an Alpine iPod connected CD player too, but I don't think I can revert to a 1981 MW/LW radio.  Maybe I can buy one of those covers that looks like a period unit for if I end up doing any shows!

Brad. said

wrong fuel filler cap  

just wanted to join in  

looks a steady base though, nothing that cant be sorted easy

The guy obviously loved a bit of bling judging by the wheels (although there are receipts in the file for 17" tyres, so bet that handled a treat!), the petrol cap, window winders and HVAC controls.

It shall all be gone!!!

metering unit is a 1.8 a 1.6 was alloy not black. rare though.

Don't bin the stuff that's been picked up by the anoraks as most can be offloaded onto eBay (or the forum classifieds) as there is still a market for people ruining MK1 Golfs unfortunately.

Nice project, I like the way it is heading and well done for being brave and asking what's wrong with your pride and joy

litlekris said

Don't bin the stuff that's been picked up by the anoraks as most can be offloaded onto eBay (or the forum classifieds) as there is still a market for people ruining MK1 Golfs unfortunately.

Nice project, I like the way it is heading and well done for being brave and asking what's wrong with your pride and joy

Oh I won't bin anything, just because it's not right for me doesn't mean it's not worth something to someone else!  And I'm open to everyone elses expertise, I want it to be right so need the wrong stuff pointing out!

That looks a great base and not too hard to put back fully original if that's what you're after. The list may look long but it shouldn't be too tricky!

The Wolfsburg steering wheel is worth a few quid!   

Cheers Hairyarse, I'm not desperate to get it all done at once, it will definitely be a rolling project as I can't see me getting rid of it unless I get offered a MK1 Escort Mexico for less than £2k!

I love the wheel, and was chuffed when I picked it up and it had it.  It may be wrong, but I won't be changing it!

The tarantulas have arrived now so I can get the BBS up for sale.  Any guidance from anyone as to a value of them?

I was looking for a similar set of wheels last year and prices varied from £175 upto £400 really depended on condition - yours look like they have been painted a slightly darker colour, but could have been needed a good clean when you picked car up.

Tyres make a difference to what you can get, if they are good make and lots of tread then worth more as it could cost you £300 to go and get a decent set of new tyres.

The only thing looking at yours is from the pictures they don't seem to look the right profile, they should be 195/50, but 185/55 or even 195/45 would be okay - the tyre wall on yours look a bit high which could cause issues if fitted to a car with non std suspension.

It's all over for me  Front inner wing and front panel no problem at all.  Rear seat belt mount point and around filler cap too much for a man of my talents and lack of workshop

Anyone handy with a welder want a original project?  It even sits on tarantulas now!

 

Oh that's a real shame and so soon   Have you had any quotes to do it, you may find someone who can do it locally without charging the earth for it.

You've only just got it!

I know  One thing I have learnt over the years sodding about on old cars though is when a job is too much for me, and uneconomical for paying someone else to do!

If I had a garage and could strip it all back, i'd do it, but unfortunately I haven't so it really is a none starter to be cutting out a rotten rear quarter in the back garden at this time of year. (more damp, no light to work on it during the week etc)

Luckily I've got a friend of a friend who is VW mad, has said skills and space and is coming to look at it this morning, as he has been looking for a project., so fingers crossed he will take it and I can start again.  It's definitely salvageable, just not by me