Barn find Mk1 1.1 5dr (DR.PEPPER) - Now with MOT!!!!!!

Its overdue but here you go - its my latest project car. Enjoy!

I started this thread on the 1st of this month! Here goes::::::

I was busy working on a Beetle the other day (sold, just fettling it for the new owner) and on my return home was flagged down by a Maxxd user (slysicars) who told me about an old Golf Mk1 nearby that was up for grabs.

To be honest I wasn't that interested till he mentioned the low low price and the condition of it. I've been trying hard to get rid of some cars (3 down in the last 2 months and another going by the weekend) so buying one wasn't really in my plans.

Despite this I went to check it out and do some tyrekicking, expecting masses of rot and a seized engine at the very least. What I found though was a scruffy, but solid car needing minor mechanical work, a good clean/mop and a vacuum. The car has had 3 owners from new, has covered only 46k miles and has been locked up in a garage/off the road since 1989. The keys, log book and original bill of sale were all present too.

It's a 1981 Mk1 Golf 1.1'L' 5 door in Gambia Red.



The interior is very tidy, though scruffy where local idiots have sat in it at night (a good valet will sort that out) and needs only a glovebox lid and parcel shelf bracket to make it mint.



The boot floor is astounding - like a new car in a dealership it shines so much.



Outside it needs a new screen, front bib spoiler and a door mirror. Apart from a 50p sized scuff on the bonnet, minor rust on one door edge and a small dent on the rear wheelarch the car is straight and pretty rust free. The paint has faded due to lack of care whilst it was stored. The front and rear aprons gleam like new, despite having not being cleaned for 19 years.



Mechanically it needs new spark plugs, a battery and a plug for the ignition wires (ragged off by twoccers, but luckily the barrel is unharmed). I stuck a battery on and the lights, heater etc all work and the engine turns over a treat - some fuel and a service will have it running in a day I think.

Should be collecting it in the next 2 days and my plan is to chuck a ?100 at it to fix the damage/tidy the minor rust/dent and polish all the paint and chrome up, then MOT it. Once its tested a set of springs and some shiny retro rims will smarten it up a treat.

Anyone who could advise/assist in getting the paint shiny again please get in touch!

Should make a crackin retro daily driver for the missus and as a 1.1 with classic insurance it will be cheaps as chips to run too.

Oh and we've named it 'Dr.Pepper' because its the same colour as the drinks cans :razz:

Photoshop rules!



I used Dubmodder to get base image for the Golf. Unfortunately it doesn't do 5drs or offer much choice in steelies so they have had to be played with.

I used the 'Dr.Pepper' theme with the existing colours and graphics to add a true retro feel on the outside, perhaps this could be complemented with furry dice and dice wheel valve caps etc too - whats your opinion guys and girls?

Day 1; Photoshop vision complete, collecting Golf, parts to source, deadline set!

I've set myself the mad challenge of getting it roadworthy and modified to a degree for the Dubdayz show - promoting the club for the weekend. That's 20 days to get it running, MOT'd AND modified.

I fancy getting the back window and or bonnet kitted out with a full width Dubliminal sticker as well as a small one on the sunstrip promoting Run To The Hills. Some Maxxd stickers around the car would be nice too, maybe in the windows etc?

Hoping to collect it later today, give it a wash and maybe get it running. Lets hope the battery, plugs and fuel is the extent of whats needed. Half an hour cleaning/tidying the ignitio should help but its not bad at all under the bonnet. No nasty oil anywhere and a steam clean will do it a world of good.

Today I am hunting down some parts to fix up the faults on the 'Doc'.

Here's a list of parts needed. If anyone can help please PM or call me on 07798746534. I don't expect to get anything for free but  if you have any old retro shizzle that might suit the car donations are always welcome  ;D

Shopping List
Windscreen
Glovebox (black, complete) - now sorted
Ignition loom wiring (the multiplug to the back of the ignition barrel)
Parcel shelf bracket (drivers side, pensioner caramel colour)
Door card (drivers side, pensioner caramel colour, vinyl) - now sorted
Bib spoiler (Driver/GTi spec)
185/60R14 tyresx4 (part worn would be fine) - now sorted
Retro radio/cassette - now sorted
Chrome steering wheel
Gearknob - now sorted
Retro roofrack (Desmo etc) - now sorted
Tinting spray for taillights (red/black/both)

Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. It really inspires me to make this work.

I know its a damn tight deadline for a barn find but a target is something to really go for and I do mean to try my hardest. Here's an update:

Day 1, Evening update; Rims sourced, retro cool coming, service items ordered.

Took a trip to Auto Cruise this morning as the owner is a fellow dubber and he often has some gems of retro in his emporium. A chrome fuel cap and some furry dice have been purchased and service parts (including plugs, leads, dizzy cap,rotor and condensor, oil and water filters) ordered. These should arrive tomorrow.

Swung back to Busfreaks to check out whether my camper brakes are sorted and managed to pick up a retro car radio for a few quid. Nice aged chrome pushbutton jobbie to fill the hole in the dash. Might even work?

At my storage unit I checked out the GTi steelies I had saved from the old Jetta. Verdict is YES! Firstly they are 14", an inch bigger than the ones on the Golf, they are wider and kind of cool with simple holes round the rim. The real plus point is they have 4 good tyres in 185/60R14 pattern - low profile (for the '80s anyway) but not so low it looks wrong. Going to get them cleaned and repainted as per the Photoshop tomorrow if possible.

Also located in the garage of doom:
-Pirelli style 'golf ball' gearknob in chrome
-Chrome tax disc holder
-Chrome handbrake cover
-Chrome Audi window winders (fit Golf)
-Chrome Beetle door pull handles (fit Golf)
-Stereo blanking panel
-Stereo under dash mounting panel
-Porsche gauges (voltage, analogue clock, oil temp)
-Ektor steering wheel boss

Day 2; Service parts, keys and documents collected.

Picked up the service parts from Auto Cruise today. Seems like some of the ignition parts are obselete and will need a bit more chasing but I have enough to make it a runner hopefully. Was hoping to have had it home but other peoples timetables have conspired against me so tomorrow is the landing date.

Got myself some cleaning products to sort the interior and get the muck off before the big facial scrub. With that in mind I have ordered some compound and a new mop head ready for the mammoth polishing session ahead of me.

Off to collect some freebie rear lowering springs tonight - just got to get some fronts to match now.

Looks like I might have sorted a retro Desmo roofrack too.

Pics of the rims and garage stash:

Day 3; It's alive.

Just a quick post today.

Went down to collect it but we couldn't find anywhere to put a bar on my truck.

Instead, a little cheesed off I decided to swap the spark plugs and check for a spark. After much fiddling I discovered a cracked dizzy cap so decided to order one (GSF couldn't supply one and the rotor arm they did supply was the wrong one!). SAF dropped one  off, I cleaned the old rotor arm, refitted the ropey old plug leads and some fresh fuel pipe to the carb.

You'd expect some major hassle from a car thats been stood for just under 20yrs and the stuff above (mainly GSF's usleless parts) were beginning to piss me off. Despite this we dropped some fuel in, fiddled with the dizzy setting and 10 minutes later the old beast roared into life. I say roared and I mean it - the exhaust downpipe has rotted away!

The heavens decided to open and we got saoked so while everyone else was sheltering I got out the bucket and sponge and washed it down a bit. The amount of crap (mainly bird shit and mould) that has come off is amazing and for the largest part the car has a shine on half the panels already so the G6 and mop I now have should see it gleam once more. The bonnet is a bit far gone where the bird shit has eaten into it so a repaint in black as planned will sort that.

Anyway, now it starts first flick of the hotwired ignition and I am well chuffed. Going to finish the ignition tomorrow, swap the oil and filter and hopefully get it home at last.

Off now to order a windscreen. Later……

Day 4; Racked up.

As I am leaving today for BVF (British Volkswagen Festival, Malvern) there isn't a lot to say. I'm not around but my sis is staying over and feeding the cat LOL. I'm going for a weekend of booze, burgers, gazebo football and of course DUBS! Won't be any posts over the weekend as I have no net access but I will keep you informed when I return Sunday.

Hoping to pick up some chrome for the Golf and maybe some parts for the truck (expect an update on that one midweek coming).

Went to Arnold today to fetch some new glasses and on my return from the opticians I walked round to the car park and saw a pikey scrap van - with a retro roofrack on it.

Anyway I offered the guy a fiver and he let me take it for free -SCORE!

This car is blessed I tell ya :-)

Day 5; Parts bitch

At BVF I scoured the trade stalls for parts. I tried to shorten tyhe neeeded list and managed to pick up:

Glovebox (complete)
Center console (for the VDO gauges)
GL door cards in cream and carpetted kick panels (with speaker pods and door pockets) with brown furniture
GL Ashtray/aux socket (need it for phones/Ipod charging etc)
Hawaiian Garland to dangle round the interior mirror for that So-Cal/retro shizzle

Day 7; Its home.

Got the old beast home. This highlighted a couple of issues I will need to attend to for the MOT and to get it 100% original and complete.

#Starter motor is dead (easy to swap as it's in a cool place)
#Brakes binding (handbrake shoes seem to be sticking a bit)
#Tailgate strut weak (replace)
#Exhaust rotten (where the downpipe mets the manifold air collector its got a hole as big as a 50p piece. Going to bin it for a GTi obe)

Cleaned out the minging interior of paper, Rizlas and sand/dust to reveal a decent carpet and underneath it mint, shiny floorpans.



The dash has shone up a treat and after a wash theres even a shine on some of the panels. The paint is not quite as 'dead' as I thought . Bonnet will be painted satin black for sure though.



Cleaned the door shuts and sprayed some degreaser under the bonnet - should be very clean once its seen a steam cleaner.



Pics as of tonight, apologies for the quality but its not my camera.

Now up to date. More tomorrow ppl!

looks good for the year, how many miles it done? change the cambelt asap if its been standing a while.

Its done just over 46k. It was stored up in '89 and had only covered 2k since '87.

PM sent!

that Dr Pepper theme rocks!

hope the car looks as good when finished, good luck!

Day 8; Interior refit/goodies.

Haven't had much time today but I got a few hours and removed the gearlever trim.

Then I fitted the GTi style centre console with gauges (not yet wired in) along with that chrome golfball gearknob. It's OEM look - with bling!

I've fixed the glovebox (new one fitted) and upgraded the ashtray panel with one that has an auxiliary power socket.

The plug for the ignition barrel came so I rewired the underdash loom and I now have a working ignition barrel and electrics as VW intended.

All daft little jobs, but I suppose it's progress of a kind.

Day 9; Spend, spend, spend.

Another dull day. The weather is holding me back and it's getting to me.
I've ordered new leads, rotor arm, air filter, timing belt and fan belt from SAF. As GSF screwed up my order I have gone elsewhere.

Also managed to locate a starter motor and exhaust manifold secondhand. These will be on their way tomorrow and I really can't wait to get them on, get it serviced and running right at last. A full oil change is a must and the service will involve timing being reset - giving the little 1.1 as much chance of producing some horses as possible.

Tried pricing a windscreen as well. Auto Windscreens and Superglass UK came in around the ?130 mark but when I tried Autoglass they quoted ?320. When I asked why I was told it was as they had a lifetime guarantee.

Sorry, but the original screen has lasted 27 years to date without a guarantee - think I will try and locate a used one locally before using valuable suspension funds on an overpriced window.

Started cleaning up the Desmo rack. Needs some ploishing to get the aluminium to shine but its coming up OK. Going to get some scratch pads to speed the process up. Needs adjustment but its looking like a good freebie.

Had a go at cleaning up the GTi wheels. They would look amazing in plain old bright silver, but ideas of black with shiny rim or all, white have been going through my mind. If I can afford it I would like to get them blasted and powdercoated as they really need the best finish.

Like the DP theme - give me a shout if you need any bits.

Cheers

Rich

Hi Rich. You have a PM m8.

Looking great. Love the DP idea.




<<Just realised this is my 100th post!

Nice find! All the best with your project!;-)