Identify original vehicle spec

Evening all,

I've got a 1983 1.8 GTi that has most of the easily added features of a campaign but lacks the more difficult ones to replicate like tinted glass etc. so I'm pretty sure it's just a cosmetic attempt made from aftermarket parts.

Does anyone happen to know how to find out what the original spec actually was? And by that I mean (in an ideal world) the original order sheet or at least a decent guess at what I've got rolled off the line looking like?

I'm not one for pretending I've got something I haven't and it's already a Mk1 GTi so it really doesn't need to try any harder than that anyway!

Any help much appreciated.

Just to clarify, I'm not trying to find out if it's a campaign model as the VIN doesn't match and it's pre August 1983, I'm just hoping to find out what it's supposed to look like, like if it should have twin or single lights etc

Do you still have the sticker in the boot or owners manual?

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=bodywork-fittings-and_2%2Foption-codes-that-can_2

Also the problem with the last of the Mk1 Golfs is dealers trying to sell them off before they got the Mk2s in stock so they fitted all sorts of extras like extra lights, different radios/cassette players etc so they looked more appealing on the forecourt.

I did think that all GTi should of had tinned glass and it was just the very base model, Golf L had clear glass?

My early (late 1982) 1.8 GTI has clear glass.

Use this form 

Certificate and Data Sheets

And it will give you the date it was made, paint colours, engine, interior trim and options.
It's not cheap but is nice to have with the car and May answer a lot of your questions. 

I've just got mine so I can prove the 40 year old part for zero Road tax next April. 

Early-1800 said

My early (late 1982) 1.8 GTI has clear glass.

Every days a school day…
I know with the UK spec Scirocco Mk1 and Mk2 it's only the base model which had clear glass so thought it would be the same with the tin top Golf…. But I guess not.

When I was buying my 81 Rabbit Diesel LS in 1980 The LS had Tinted Windows all way around, Where the L had only the front windscreen, and the base or C model had none.   

 

Sadly no boot sticker or owners manual. 10 owners down the line and I'm not sure how much of what I do have was part of the car when it came off the line, but that doesn't bother me a bit, I like some of the add ons, it's all bits of the cars history. My man issue, and I know there's fans of both, is twin or single lights. It's got twins but I'm not convinced they're original and I'm tempted by singles.

I think all later cars came with the twin lights and it was the early series 1 that came with the single lights but again I'm probably wrong…

If it your car in the picture near your name then the grill should have the red trim around the grill.

More info and pictures here.

UK Golf Hatchback - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club


edit… just had a look through the brochures and it shows a GTi with single lights but it’s got a 1.6 engine so perhaps the 1.8 cane with twin lights and the 1.6 with single lights?

mark1gls said

I think all later cars came with the twin lights and it was the early series 1 that came with the single lights but again I'm probably wrong…

If it your car in the picture near your name then the grill should have the red trim around the grill.

More info and pictures here.

UK Golf Hatchback - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club


edit… just had a look through the brochures and it shows a GTi with single lights but it’s got a 1.6 engine so perhaps the 1.8 cane with twin lights and the 1.6 with single lights?

run out Campaigns/Drivers/GX had factory front fog lights in the grille. The 82/83 UK brochure shows GTis with single headlamps but I'm sure many were upgrade at the dealers or later

Apply to VW and they'll give you the build date and spec….. but you'll have to pay out. 

If you just want the build date certificate of conformity (free) for dvla etc vw UK have an email address. Maybe as well (ask nicely) other stuff…
Vw classic parts-Germany will charge.
The vw museum@ dieselstrasse no longer deals with this.

I'd love to get an idea of what the car actually looked like when new in terms of spec etc to bear in mind during restoration, so I'd be incredibly grateful for anything you've got in that respect, and obviously very interested in any other info you might have too!

I get the feeling that the old girl has had a few aftermarket additions to 'enhance' the spec over the years and I'd happily dispense with most of them to keep the car as honest as possible. 

Any records or info that you've got that could help would be amazing.

When the weather's good could you take some photos and post them up. 

The eagled eyed members will have something to work with then. 

They really won't need to be very eagle eyed at all to spot the mods that I'm working on!



And there's numerous others just as obvious.

I'm not trying to get it back to pure original, this is planned to be my every day runner in London so it's going to get some practical upgrades, but I've got twin lights, campaign wheel, p-slots etc, etc and I'd love to know if any of that is legit or if it's a sheep in wolfs clothing!

The dodgy multi coloured panel where the ashtray was is just a test fit for size BTW, before I fabricate a custom surround and move the heater controls there.