mk1 Golf CL 1.1 - Gambia Red

Hi everyone,

I'm new(ish) on the forum. I've been lurking for ages but never really got involved. This is actually my fourth car from the mk1 series. I started off with a Jetta mk1 way back in 2006 and have since had two small block Golfs. I'm originally from the South-West near Bristol, living in London for a while too.

Long story short I moved to Berlin, Germany, nearly two years ago and ever since I moved I've had a hankering for another Golf. So back in April I started having a look for one and I came across and absolute gem of a car in Northern Germany, near Hamburg. It had been off the road and dry stored in a lockup since 2003 and only had 44km (c.27k miles) on the clock. It had one owner from new and upon inspection it was clear that it was a bit of a minter. No visible rust anywhere on the car and completely unmodified. The only thing I noticed about the car was that it came with 4 colour coded snowflake wheels. After I got it back to Berlin it has been in storage for a couple of months, but I'm getting ready to get it on the road again.


A couple of photos after a quick wash (better photos soon!):


Original radio


My plans for the car are pretty simple. I want to give it a thorough recommissioning (both mechanical and cosmetic) and put it back as close to standard as possible with two small exceptions; coilovers and slightly wider stock steel wheels (the current 4.5j wheels are just too skinny to feel safe driving), probably the 5.5j's off of the B1 Passat or something. Given the condition and mileage on the car, I think I might be doing it a disservice by modifying any more than this.

Few things I have noticed need sorting on the car is:

- Basic mechanical service
- Correct windscreen seal and chrome trim
- New standard back box
- Replacing a few bits of perished rubber here and there
- Sourcing the correct plastic bumpers with the two strips of chrome trim
- Sourcing an original interior colour matched parcel shelf

Hopefully I'll get these sorted and the car taxed and ticketed in the next few weeks.

Thanks for checking the thread out and I hope to have some progress to report soon.

Laurence  

Brilliant find!

Nice work already, and like your plan of keeping it very near to original

Inside looks in lovely condition.

Keep us updated!

Lovely looking car, has cleaned up nicely  

Think you plans are spot on too.

Matt

Nice little gem you got yourself!
Nice looking car

I bet you can't stop smiling, what a find, I hate you more then you know!  

Lovely car mate, congratulations.  

Yay! Another saved small block. It looks mint, nice find!  

Cheers everyone! I've been ploughing on with a few jobs, getting it ready to take its German MOT. It's all pretty sound, still haven't found any rust!

Scouring the german listed sections (they use a gumtree type classified thing here called Ebay-Kleinanzeigen) I picket up a set of super clean (passat?) steels with practically brand new winter tyres for 75 euros, which I was pretty pleased with:


Had some nice weather this afternoon, so decided to fit the coilovers I picked up recently. Started with a fresh set of Febi-Bilstein strut mounts:


And then swapped out the suspension:



More to follow soon!

Looks sweet

Whats next on the list?

Progress has been slow! Hectic work schedule means that I haven't had time to do some of the stuff I wanted to do on the car. Had a bit more time recently to do some bits.

Refurb the Golf badge lettering:



Replaced front windscreen with the chrome trim:




Sourced some Chrome trim bumpers:



Finally found a brown parcel shelf. Just needs a bit of a restoration…


Next up is getting the car through its historical test, here in Germany.

Nice example you have there and I like your plans to keep it as original as possible, as you say would be a shame to modify it too much, already plenty of modified examples around and not to many originals. Do you mind me asking why it has the tailpipe extension? Is it to cut down on the chances off exhaust fumes entering the car?

mk1newbie haven't the foggiest, I'm afraid. It's a add-on (I think for aesthetics) that was added by the previous owner. I should be replacing the exhaust in the next week or so, as it is the only part of the car that lets it down at the moment…

I have the same model same color, more modified. Yours looks great. Is the emblem lettering available or did you have it made?  Mine is in pretty sad shape.

Heya! I had the lettering made by someone as I couldn't find a CL lettering available for a MK1. I have a spare sticker set (see pic above) that you can take off my hands for £5, if you are interested? Feel free to drop me a PM. Laurence