Full Restoration 81 cabriolet

Hi
Well my project has arrived today and wow… where to start with it!  It's a 1980 mk1 cabriolet GLS. First glances, body is straight and reasonably solid.  Roof is shot, interior - well… Engine… hmmm Wiring… oh dear. And haven't looked underneath yet but guess it's a similar story.  At least I'm in no rush.
 Question is where do I start?
What do I save and what gets binned? Do I rebuild the engine or put a 1.8 in?

Well good luck with the this one! 👍

First of all you have to decide whether to keep it standard or Mod it to death?

Either way I would do the body first and while you are doing that you've got time to think about it the rest. 😉

Personally I keep it original with one or two personal touches but that's just my opinion. 👍

Happy Easter! 🐣

Sent from my Smartphone 📱

Given where it is and how, erm, how do I put this politely?, erm, used it is, I think I'd mod it.

It'll take so much to get it back to standard that there's probably better places to start from.

I reckon you should have it done by the end of the week.  

Ian

borednow said

Given where it is and how, erm, how do I put this politely?, erm, used it is, I think I'd mod it.

It'll take so much to get it back to standard that there's probably better places to start from.

I reckon you should have it done by the end of the week.  

Ian

borednow
Ian, it is Easter 🐣 the resurrection.
"Let he who has not sinned cast the first body panel" or something like that. 😂👍

The ugly duckling etc…. 🤔
And my wife didn't turn out to bad, yeah ok the maintenance costs are higher but she's a vintage model now! 😂👍🐣

Ha ha 
Thanks Mike & Ian, for the price I paid I expected worse…
Ok couldn't get much worse. 
I'm tempted to do a bit of both. Put a 1.8 gti engine in, lower it with stiffer roll bars and coil overs. Upgrade the brakes front & rear. 
Repaint it, but keep it black, new hood and a GTI interior. Have found some snowflake wheels that I'll get restored. 
Yet finish this year
Long term project. 
First job, strip it, bin or eBay the bits I'm not keeping - yes that interior will go… the rear bench is a mess 
Dave

Well just over a month and a bit of progress has been made.
A lot of of no what have I done! Has been said. 

So update. Interior is out, and now back in - until either someone takes it off my hands or it ends up in the dump. 

Those mk2 bumpers have come off, had intended to sell but well, no that did happen. They had been attached with nails glued to the heads of m8 Bolts then in turn glued to the plastic bumper so they could be bolted to the strengthening bars. 

So the bumpers are in the dump
The strengthening bars are heading there as well due to a mixture of rot and interesting welding. 

Started having a look at the engine, initially though it could be salvaged, it maybe possible still but definitely needs a complete overhaul. 

Brakes are ok but going to redo the lines and up rate them so that's the next job, along with cleaning the inside, hand painting, sound deadening, new carpet, reprint the dash, new loom which I'm in the process of making, and gti seats courtesy of eBay. 

Hopefully in a months time the interior will be in and new brake lines in. 

After a 1.8 fuel injected engine with manual box if anyone knows of one. Both will be stripped and rebuilt so not concerned on condition 

Fun times!!! 

We'll progress has been slow. Starting to strip the engine down, and am prepping the inside for painting 
Reached a point where I need advice really. 
Do I do this properly? Make it how it used to be
Or…
Do I mod the hell out of it? 

Sadly I am leaning to the later. 

Why? 
Every panel is shot. Every panel needs replacing. The hood is shot. Really there isn't much that will be original when it's finished. 
Looking at the expense. I sadly feel it's not worth saving. ☹️

Personally I'd say, it's your car, do what you want with it. If it was in good nick, maybe return to standard, but if it's rotten, get creative and create something new and marvellous