1989 GTI Cabrio Restoration

Well here it is, Bought off here, a 1989 Cabrio GTI with Clipper Kit.




So far i have fixed all the running problems, and found a few other major problems needing doing. But she is off to the body shop next sat to get all tarted up for the show season.

Im hoping to make a low retro Cabrio….

first job was to blast all the rust off the cam cover and rocker cover, while checking cam shaft condition and cambelt



Next big problem was water leak from somewhere. 4 of us couldent pinpoint the leak area so i overhauled the whole front coolant system. NEW; rad,all pipework,exchange waterpump,switches etc all from vw

p.s i reckon the leak was from the waterpump "O" ring, looking at the state of the block sealing face before i cleaned it all up

Water Pump

Inlet housing

New Pump


Next mission to tackle was the dash…..what was left of it anyhow
Changed all the dash lamps and sorted out the radio wireing (more pics to come)


Then all the interior was removed and cleaned and new carpet underlay put down

Next was the roof…..yeah, i have removed the old one, and sorced a replacement, however im not going to refit untill ufter the paintjob next week.






So next off to lowering. Hottunings coilovers




Next the wheels… I hate TSW's, nevermind they were alpines!!!!!!
P.s no comments on the blue calipers or drums…they are black and all lovely now!


So i sourced ATS Cups for retro fun (14" of corse)

p.s dont tell the mrs i washed them in the bath!!!!

Then the expensive bit, getting 195/45 tyres!!



Oh and a more legal looking set of alloy stamped number plates

And up to date, outside the paint shop for a quote yesterday




I have also just got ahold of some very nice VW centercaps for the ats wheels that look mint, but dont think you can see them in the photos at the paint shop?

Sorry for the skippy and missing pictures, i was meaning to keep a good photo diary of the refurb, but never got round to putting the post up in here till late, and i cant find some of the pictures. Will post them up as i find them.

Rich

Ok found some more, the cups need a refurb but you get the idea with the center caps


Also i wanted a red pinstripe grill, and the guy at vdub told me the cabrio only ever came with a chrome surround…..so with a can of mars red and some spare time i made my own.

late clippers never had the red or chrome strip grille, but looks good

funk-star said

late clippers never had the red or chrome strip grille, but looks good

Yeah thats what the guy at vdub said, tho he did comment that imported models had a chrome strip…..and that part was not available anymore…..just like the karmann badges   

Someone takes the time to fit a genuine kit, but forgets the badges :dontknow:

The kit would have been fitted from factory. im guessing the badges have been removed over the years.

Think ihave a few but not sure how good the chrome is.

In the logbook it says Golf 1.8 GTI Cabriolet making me think it wasn't a special type. Do you think it is a genuine Karman then?

And let me know on the badges, I can chrome them at work!  

On a G plate it will be a clipper and they were all karmann's

Karmann is not the edition its just the guy that designed it. :wink:

You didnt hang about! Is this Ansar's old cabby?

Sure is. Looks a bit different huh? Was a bit touch and go whether to bother or not but she got me home safe from Birmingham and I thought I may as well. Cost a fair bit but it's for the love, innit? lol

Nice one, look forward to seeing it sorted :wink:

Hairyarse said

Nice one, look forward to seeing it sorted :wink:

Other than the dodgy paint job on the cabrio it all checks out solid enough, so with all the work we have put into her she will be a nice show car.

Didn't Ansar own this car. :dontknow:
Keep the pictures coming mate.Its looking Good :clap:

nice read up kinder had me a little creeped out as i also live in ipswich and also have the same colour g reged golf lol

hey richy, glad your gettin the cabby sorted, and its allways nice to see your old car on the forum. :wink:

ans4r said

hey richy, glad your gettin the cabby sorted, and its allways nice to see your old car on the forum. :wink:

Yeah man, its already cost me over ?1000 in parts…now just the body issues to sort out. How's yours comming along?

Richy8v said

 How's yours comming along?

still just sittin in the garage, hopefully soon it will get done..            

Would you belive i already have a guy wanting to buy the cabrio off me once its outta the body shop!!!!

More pics up tonight hopefully after i go down and see how far on the painters have got!

Rich

Richy8v said

Would you belive i already have a guy wanting to buy the cabrio off me once its outta the body shop!!!!

More pics up tonight hopefully after i go down and see how far on the painters have got!

Rich

you gonna sell it :dontknow:

Moving to Nz this year, and import tax makes it not worth taking with me!

ans4r said

Richy8v said

Would you belive i already have a guy wanting to buy the cabrio off me once its outta the body shop!!!!

More pics up tonight hopefully after i go down and see how far on the painters have got!

Rich

you gonna sell it :dontknow:

how much did suffolk respray quote you for the work?? as i need my body kit repainted