Golf GTI Pirelli

When I purchased my Golf GTI back in 2014 I wouldn't have thought to ever be so nuts to start a full resto. Yet, here we are. I am nearly halfway the process - saying I've got an empty shell already. Currently at the body shop to start welding and get a fresh coat of paint.

I have never done a topic about this car so in this first post I'll write some stuff starting from when I purchased it. Click here to skip the intro and head over to the actual resto.



Visit to Scotland, 2015


But let us rewind back to May 2014. With a couple of lads we went to the famous Wörthersee Treffen in Austria. Between all those cars there was just one that stood out for me - you guessed it. Couldn't even tell the difference between an MK1 and MK2 - but solely that the smaller one was one heck of beauty… Yeah, I didn't really care about cars back then. Well.. I came home and started searching the web. After some time I found one. Long story short I drove an MK1 GTI myself by the end of that year! It became this 1983 Golf 1 GTI.





Imported from Germany in 1995. KR engine fitted somewhere in the '00. By the looks of it that was the last service date as well… Incredibly poor maintenance.

While still studying by the time I bought the MK1 I drove it as a
I was still studying at the time so as a student it became my daily for about a year.

Through time I changed some stuff:

There was a little rust on the A pillar and some minor spots around the sunroof…




…At one time I thought it would be cool to fit Porsche seats and a Lupo 3L steering wheel…




…I apperently wanted a new paint job…




…and attended a high peformance car rallye. Sure those JDM-guys gazed at how quick that purple little thing was!�


Valve buffers left the chat so after I swapped the old KR with a new rebuilt one.



Felt like the Golf now was used to new parts, it decided to toss out all other old parts by breaking down one by one. Ran 2k KM fine when the driveshaft bolts broke loose; Had to replaced every single ignition component at least twice; Fuel leak; Melting wiring loom.

As mentioned earlier I highly doubt the previous owners took any care. Poor maintenance eventually caught up with me. Haven't heard the pops and bangs of the KR since 2018. After sitting in other people's garages saying "they’ll get the Golf running within a week" I decided now was the perfect time for a complete restoration. And that is where we were in July 2020. One last look before the GTI will be taken apart.

First on the list was to remove the Quartett kit.





While working on the boot also found some rust on the upper corner of the boot.



Sound proofing was pretty nasty. Fortunately we all have (dust) masks laying around now…



Removing the dash unveiled the electric issues I had for the past years. Wasn’t much left of the initial wiring layout. Bunch of harnesses soldered together.





At the local scrapyard an MK1 came in. Went straight on to get as much as I could take. This lad arrived right after I left. Sorry mate, not much in there for you…:



As seen on the pics my Golf has an aftermarket sunroof. It is unknown to me if the Golf ever had the optional steel sunroof. Nevertheless I was looking for the OEM sunroof to replace the Webasto. Unable to find one, I decided to weld up the roof. Discussing this w/ the paint shop they advised me to get a roof from another Golf to weld up the hole. So, back to the scarpyard.




Next up was the engine. Always a puzzle. Dropped in one piece. I remember from last time refitting is easier engine first gearbox second, no?





Couple of weeks / months went by. It is Januari '21. Due to some personal stuff I wasn't able to work on the car. The paint shop came to pick up wat was left.



In their workshop they disassembled the last bits.




Back to the story with the sunroof. I said they were nowere to be found. Well, recently I bought this '83 Golf LX Diesel with… an OEM sunroof! Doesn't brake, runs poorly but the roof is in good nick.



Meanwhile at the paint shop the Golf was sent away for pyrolytic paint removal. First the shell went in the oven. After being baked to death they blasted off all burned paint, filler, isolation, tectyl coating, etc.








Bunch of new body parts ordered to restore the GTI to factory-new. Next up will be all the welding. Very excited how it will transform in the next coming months.

Some build mate ! looking good, where abouts in scotland was the photo taken is it the rest and be thankful?

000dave000 said

Some build mate ! looking good, where abouts in scotland was the photo taken is it the rest and be thankful?

Been almost six years now. Somewhere between Loch Lomond and Fort William, I guess. It was on our way from Glasgow to Eilean Donan Castle. 

Yeh looks very like arrochar way, some cracking views only 30
Mins from where I live if it is 

Haven't posted here in almost a full year. Nevertheless quite some progress has been made. First off all the rust and patchwork was tackled.

Most noticeable were the poorly welded improvised brackets of the Quartett bumper kit.






Both sides suffered from rust in the sills.














Replaced floor panel and dented out faulty jacking attempts. Also fitted a new bracket for the steering column. When the GTI had its KR swap the former owner cut away a chunk of the bracket in order to fit the MK2 cockpit.




Roof of the LX fitted on the GTI.








As well as the rear…




Ever since I had the GTI I've always noticed the front was a bit off. Appeared the front was once re-fitted in a slight angle. Just ordered a good as new 4-light grill just in time to check the alignment of the front panels

Some serious work going in to this. Will be stunning when it is all finished!

J

All bodywork done, ready to prep for some paint.






Guess the colour…

Looks like some good work.Good to get the sunroof sorted properly! Top Job