My MK1 Golf GTI Cab

Hi Everyone,

My name is Gareth, I'm a 25 year old mechanic from Belfast. I currently drive a MK6 GTD and these last few months I've really taken a fancy to owning an old VW. So when my friend got a MK2, I thought it was time for me to get something myself.

Having spoken to my dad he suggested that we both get a MK1 as something we could work on together. Then by coincidence the next day a MK1 Golf Cabriolet Clipper arrived into our workshop. It was then we decided that a MK1 Golf Cabriolet was the car we wanted to buy. Having looked in the classic car papers and on gumtree over the last few weeks the choices were few and far between, Especially here in Northern Ireland. The first one I went to see at the other side of Belfast was a navy blue GTI, Wasn't very impressed needed a lot of work doing for the price!

Then last Friday there was a White Golf Cabriolet CC for sale in Coleraine and we travelled the 60 odd mile trip up to see it, again was not impressed, in all honestly the car needed a full respray, a roof and full interior. I didn't mind buying a car that needed a bit of work, but I didn't want to buy a car that was needing all that work. The fella was a nice man, we told him the car wasn't for us and walked away.

Then I seen another one on Gumtree, the pictures didn't really excite me but we decided to make the short journey out of Belfast to see it anyway, seeing as it was one of the last in the country on Gumtree. Got there to see it as we entered the gentleman's grand driveway he opened up his electric door on his garage to show us a near mint 1986 GTI Cabriolet with 79k on the clock.










The pictures on the advert really did not do the car any justice what so ever! The fella who was selling it was a nice man and he'd only owned it for the last four months having bought it to do bits and pieces with and it ended up sitting in his garage on the trickle charger. He had previously bought it from a gentleman who was seriously ill up in Coleraine in Jan of this year. It was only MOT'd in feb, had a full service, an oil seal replaced and a timing belt done. Having seen the condition of the car on the outside in comparison to the one's I had gone and visited it was already 100 times better.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a huge fan of the white on white. But it is growing on me. The wheels need changed because I think they are hideous! Will have to source some BBS wheels for it. Not a huge fan of the interior either, but it is more or less perfect bar a little wear on the driver side bolster.

There is a little dent on the passenger side quarter panel (Can see in one of the pics) that I am going to get pulled out this week. There's a scab on the driver side of the A pillar that is into the paint. There's a little scrap on the rear bumper that someone has touched up white. But I have plans for it and will be getting that sorted over winter. But they are the only issues with the 29 year old vehicle. Oh, it does need a back box and I will order one from TPS this week. I need new window winder handles as someone has put two set of horrible ones on. Also will be needing mud flaps as where I live is very close of a country lane on one end and a building site on the other, can never keep a car clean.

We picked the little car up tonight and have already put it on the ramp to check the underside of it. Thankfully not a drop of rust, which in fairness to the condition of the vehicle on the outside I never doubted. It is a dirty in places and still has some sort of previous sealer applied. But I am wanting to clean and reseal all the under side and wheel arches.

We have a few plans for the little car. Wheels are on next, then electric power steering. Plan is to then enjoy it for the summer, then in winter a mohair roof and then buy the conversion stuff from Eurowise and fit the 2.9 VR6 I have had sitting in my garage waiting to put in a project car for a while and then a rear disc conversion which I do have some of the parts that will fit it.

What a find, shows you were right to avoid the others and wait for the right one to come along.

I think there is an original white cloth interior on here somewhere recently fior sale, looked in really good condition if i remember.

What a find, looks clean and tidy.
Agree with you on the wheels….
I would not put on power steering as you lose the true feel of driving one of these cars. You can tell what the tyres are doing and if you are going to lose grip through the steering wheel. If you have big fat wheels the steering will feel heavier than standard size wheels. Once moving I can drive mine with a thumb and finger holding the steering wheel so check camber and tracking.  

Many thanks for the replys!

@ Richard : I'm not to worried about the interior atm. But it is something that will be done in time I think.

@ Mark : Yea the wheels are really annoying me atm take look of the car. Really don't know which ones to buy either. On the power steering, it's something I have thought about and having drove a few of these before I do think at some stage I will do it. I live down a few small roads which you constantly have to slow down on. Also it will mainly be going back and forward at the weekends to the caravan, again some small tight roads.

Suppose what will really make my mind up is driving it back and forward a few times first of all.

With out power steering you get a free workout!  Just don't try and turn the steering wheel while the car is stopped, you need to be moving even very slowly to turn the wheel.

Have you thought about the Avus wheels (also called snow flakes) they may of been what was fitted to the car when it was made.
The link is to some black ones but you can get white and there is a company making bigger ones if that's your thing…..
Not the cheapest in this link so shop around…
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14-VW-SNOWFLAKE-AVUS-alloy-wheels-4x100-Golf-GTI-polo-6N-caddy-lupo-arosa-MX5-/321743264991
 

LOVE IT !!!
 

Gareth_wv_05  just a tip  you want to send a personal notification to someone, dont put a space between the @ and the username, then what happens as you type the selection of usernames appears in a pull down and you click on the one you want.

Thanks for all the replys guys!!

Unfortunately things have changed and I've decided that I want to open my own business. So with a heavy heart the cars have to go!

The MK6 is long gone, so just the MK1 left to try and shift to free up some money.

Since ownership, I've not driven the little car anymore than 200 miles. I had kept the car stored in my fathers workshop, it's currently sitting in a show room that belongs to a friend since the middle of august when I was going on my holidays.

I've enjoyed the time I've owned the little car, but I get no use from it and it deserves to be owned by someone who will drive it more.