R32GUY's - B16YUG 1993 Rivage Project

Thought I'd start a thread on my second mk1 cabriolet for those of interest.

Bit of background…
I've been in or around the VAG club and show scene for 18 years - mainly with Corrado ownership in my younger years however I'd always hankered after a mk1 since I was a wee lad.
It was during a road trip to Worthersee in 2004 in my R32 (then sporting AmD Stage 3 305bhp), going at a substantial rate on the autobahn 3 up when 'Whoosh…. a certain Black Cabriolet belonging to Darren from VW Enterprises came past" - I was smitten for one ever since.

A couple of years ago during a vodka fuelled evening I got a bit 'bid happy' on ebay and ended up buying a 1989 Gti Cabriloet - without even seeing it!
In the pictures and on paper it was a great car, low miles (80k, new roof etc..) but in the flesh the bodywork was very tatty and had been painted by a blind gimp. - Ok I though I'd just enjoy it and drive it about in the sun. How wrong I was, as I quickly started spending too much money putting it to my standards. New carpet, door cards, windscreen, coilovers, stainless exhaust, better interior etc…
I soon got to thinking about the tatty bodywork and how black really let the side down, the doors were dinged, some rot in the rear quarter buy the roof so I went to see my trusted paint man Keith @ Morden Coachworks and he said 'It's going to be a bare metal spray to sort and cut the rot out'.

It's doesn't look bad in the pictures…



Anyway that was on a Thursday during a day off, the following Sunday I was down in Worthing visiting friends and happened to see an advert on ebay for a nice blue Rivage that looked clean, had low owners, mileage and sounded like it had been owned by enthusiasts.

So a drive over to Portsmouth, a test drive an offer agreed a quick direct bank transfer and I was driving away in my new purchase: so here it is on the day I bought it:










And what it looks like this weekend with my RS's fitted: (Taken in Leake Street near Waterloo if anyone is interested)



Originally registered in the Isle of Man - May 1993, 5 former keepers and plenty of history. Quite an unsual car by all accounts, made with blue cloth interior then dealer (IOM) fitted or VAG UK fitted with the beige leather.

You can see the gallery here:

http://s603.photobucke…2GUY/Rivage%20-%20B16YUG/

I've already fitted my Momo Race wheel, clear side repeaters and the BBS RS's…. so sorry for the Rivage purists out there but I do plan to improve this car in my own way..
The immediate mod and repair list is as follows:

1. Dint repair, get the dent magician out (bodywork is in good condition and will be touched up where needed) but a few dings on the bonnet and rear drivers side quarter.
2. Clean and prep the leather for paint, fit new plasic guides to the drivers seat.
3. Fit full closure and central locking kit sourced from right click.
4. Wire in new JBL speakers and get the tweeters working as well as Bluetooth and Ipod to the stereo.
5. Remove Wolfsberg number plate surrounds…. annoys me that people don't know these were built in Osnabruk by Karmann. (new plate to be fitted soon as just got V5 back from DVLA)
6. Havair 4 way Air Suspension & remote (deposit paid… kit should be ready end of September)  Ouch = how much, but I'm too old for the bounce of firm coilovers these days.
7. Tidy up engine bay, new bolts, remove / treat rust and fit new rocker cover / check cam belt for wear etc.
8. Remove front bumper, prep bumper bar / remove surface rust and hammerite before re-fitting and trying to source a pair of clear front indicators for a big bumper kit.
9. Get a custom Stainless Exhaust fitted for a bit of a growl :-)
10. Fix door window rattles (is there a guide fix?)

To be continued… Anyone got a set of front clear indicators that will fit a big bumper model they would like to part with?
Thanks in advance.

Watch this thread for build progress / improvements I make over the coming months. - Need to work out why my pictures aren't showing for some reason!

Hi fella,

you need to go back to photobucket.

Go to the pic you want, hover over the pic till the drop down box appears, go to

Ahh - I worked it out - thanks Carl :-) Don't tell anyone I work in IT.

Lol, No worries.

Your hood straps are snapped or not fitted, they pull the hood in concertina fashion when folded down so you don't get the baggy bit flopping out the rear.

Open halfway lift hood up and see if the straps are there.
These go from the hood to the frame fastened with a rivet and back washer.



PS what size are the front door speakers that go into the pockets?
 
I need some new ones and don't know what size…


cheers

Chortle

I was going to ask you about that Carl - The roof isn't in the best of condition but probably just needs tightening or the straps repairing.
Shame the roof swap isn't easy or I would have taken the black mohair off my Black cabby.
I'll have a look for the straps / rivot you mention, and know who I can ask if I get stuck. - Are you going to Edition 38 by any chance and you could show me what to look for?
Ta Guy

No going E38 fella, besides no wheels on my car as it's undergoing work at the moment, repainted the arches etc, so just trying to get it ready for the stone foils and Rivage decals to go on.

It's my resto thread..
http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=117775&highlight=

Just got my cabby back from having a full respray and it is seriously beautiful…
 





 

More pictures available here:
http://s603.photobucket.com/user/R32GUY/media/Rivage%20-%20B16YUG/

The work was carried out by Shadbolts http://www.shadboltsaccidentrepair.co.uk/ in Sutton to a very high standard - I would thoroughly recommend them!

I now need to find someone that will do me a full leather retrim and repair my heated seats as well as fit replacement carpet and new headliner / roof.  Anyone recommend anyone, as the chaps at Car Hoods direct are moving to France now and can't do the job for me.

Wow, great paint job, not surprised you are pleased  

Looks very smart fella.
Get the "Rivage" Decals on mate finish her off a treat.

You can get leather kits for the seats etc one of the guys djfruss had the kit and fitted it himself.
Can't remember the name of the place now.

I'll try and dig it out.
Generally if the heater wire in the seats is broken you can bridge the gap by soldering.
most issues though come from the under seat controllers being damp and manked up. I'm not sure if those from a MK3 set up would work but IIRC the part numbers was same. I think corrado ones same too.

Kerching..

just found it auto letahers give them a call

http://www.autoleathers.co.uk/

That paintwork looks top notch dude

Thanks Chorlte, reminded me I had bought the decals off you last year!  Must be somewhere in my spare room or loft. I also got the arch spats protectors if I remember correctly too.

Any recommendations for carpet or getting a new hood and liner fitted, along with some of the door seals greatly appreciated.

thinking about a newton commercial carpet set in Blue fit that myself.

Got the pleasure of refitting the trim and badges this evening so I'll post some more pictures when complete.

Stone foils should go on the arch covers before refitting.
Those have the OEM tabs that folds round the back of the arch.
 carpet wise in the LTH it should be a beige colour, they show the muck up unless you have over mats in place.

From what I've discovered most of the carpets that are pre  moulded are not the same quality as the OEM being a thinner.
If you want an OEM material hood then Prestige Auto trim do them. Sonnerland Classic material costs about £500.00 for the top alone without anything else.

Been a long time since I updated this thread…oops!
So over interim years, quite a few 'improvements' have been made.

1. fitted G60 front discs and brakes and larger mk2 cylinder
2. completed a disc conversion on the rear beam.
3. installed a VIAAIR 4 way air ride kit (thanks HAVAIR)
4. Installed Eibach anti-roll bars front and rear
5. acquired a set of BBM RM's and had those refurbed/centres pained classic blue pearl and 2" rear dish.
6. Installed a mk2mania Corsa electric power steering kit.
7. Purchased a set of mk2 golf front electric Recaros, then Lavished a complete MJ interiors retrim in Cream Leather, alcantra cappings, headlining with a new Brown Mohair roof.
8. Jan 2017 - a CrazyQuiffs 2.0TFSI, and 6 speed LSD conversion.

This for me is almost the perfect car now…  got to sort some dashboard rattles out but it's time to start enjoying it more and more!

Some snaps…














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Wow!!!!  

That's just Lush!

That's a hell of a car!  


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Wowzers..  That's amazing!