Series 1 1980 restoring.

Hi everyone. I have just bought a series 1 first registered on 1/1/1980. It is all original and intact. It has been barn stored since 1996. I have started stripping it to assess the work involved. Took all the windows out today.It needs welding in the following places….

nearside rear wheel arch/ inner arch (filled with chicken wire and filler)
offside rear inner arch
under both rear side windows( a few big holes)
roof and sunroof channels( tea bag)
front nearside wing( holes in top)
I intend to keep the original wings and repair them as I dont want to use pattern parts if possible. I will need a rear nearside wheel arch though as its so far gone. Underneath it needs the rear beam taking out and a couple of holes addressing and the floor seams need straightening as they were bent when lifted off of a container with a forklift by the previous owner.
The rest looks really good with only the odd rust spot here and there.

I will strip each panel to see if there is any filler/ bad repairs so I will find any demons lurking beneath the shiny paint.
The panel beneath the windscreen is mint with not a spot of rust/ old repairs which I was amazed at. I think it has had the rear panel replaced at some point.

I will post pics soon to show my progress if anyone is interested. It looks the same as dubboy's 1979 series 1. It has 43k on the clock.

I intend to do all the work myself including the respray.

Lots to do then. Should be done in a couple of days or so(lol).

Pics soon.

Sounds like a good project. Is that the black one that was on Ebay not long ago?

Yes it is. The one on the container.

Some pics…

Hole under rear side window

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/Big_Ash/Golfseries1009.jpg

Cut out the rust

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/Big_Ash/Golfseries1012.jpg


Weld it up


http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/Big_Ash/Golfseries1015.jpg

Smear of filler. Needs sanding yet.

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/Big_Ash/Golfseries1021.jpg


Thats what I managed today with little time and a dodgy welder. I will post up each bit I do including the respray. Bit by bit I will finish my 1st restoration!

Well thats one bit welded! Good to see its gone to a good home and getting repaired properly. :y:

BigAsh said

Some pics…

Hole under rear side window



Cut out the rust




Weld it up




Smear of filler. Needs sanding yet.




Thats what I managed today with little time and a dodgy welder. I will post up each bit I do including the respray. Bit by bit I will finish my 1st restoration!

Thought I'd get your pics to display…

Saw your thread on buying this and was intriuged - my 81 GTI had sat in a garage for 10 years too before I got it going.

Looks like a great project 8)

Rich

Thanks Mcscrew. How do I get my pics to display?

Does anyone know of a NOS left wheel arch repair panel I can buy? I dont want to use pattern parts if possible. Any ideas anyone?

nos stuff is pritty rare but i have seen them on ebay sometimes

give crazyquiffs a ring he might be able to sort you out

or GPC in luton have NOS stuff like rear and front panel but not seen any archs

hth

BigAsh said

Thanks Mcscrew. How do I get my pics to display?

No worries - just put around the image URL (but without any spaces)

It's probably worth resizing future pics too - I usually use 800 x 600 pixels, as they fit nicely on the screen…

HTH

Rich

Thanks for that mate. Ill try and work out how to resize them too. I assume I can do that at photobucket? Still learning this computer stuff!

Thanks Jelly belly by the way