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Life on Mars... 83 Resto

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Life on Mars... 83 Resto

This is my first post on this site so please go easy on me.
After finally getting rid of my sister in laws 66 splitscreen that i'd been working on in my garage for the last 2 or 3 years. I decided I needed something to fill the empty space.
 I saw an advert for an 83 gti which sounded promising, so contacted the seller and went for a look.
A sad looking golf rotting away in a BMW graveyard





The guy had owned the car for over 22 years and used daily until 1997 when a company car arrived. It had been dry stored ready for the day when he could find the time to restore it. However a house move and change in circumstances ment it was now languishing outside and needed to be sold before it was to late.
The car is a completely original 1.8 GTI 5 speed that has not been modified in any way.
It has a factory steel sunroof, double lamp grill, green glass all round and the origonal 13s to go with the mk2 steels it now sits on.

After a nervous wait for the auction to end, I'd brought myself a golf.

Almost burnt the clutch out on my mates 307 trailering it home







Not been turned over for 15 years!

I will try to keep this thread updated as I go, already have had plenty of insperation just flicking through some of the builds on this site.
Regards
Lee

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I saw this on ebay and thought it looked like an honest original car.

What are your plans? Keep it original or modified?

Look forward to see your progress. Keep the updates coming!

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Hi mate,looks very straight and original!
Nice car  :wink:

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As the car is 99% origonal, the plan is to keep it stock. Iam going to remove any rot and do most of the prep work myself.
the idea is to spend a couple of grand on decent paint job in my mates body shop.
The engine and running gear will probably require a total overhaul and stripdown aswell but for now I will concentrate on the body work.
Iam in no rush and will just plod on with it slowly
Thats the plan anyhow.


In the Garage ready for the strip down






Floors and wheel well dont look to bad




Has the option code sticker in the boot, Does anyone know what these option codes are?


Regards

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Started to strip down the off side to see the extent of the rust







Going to source some genuine wings, so this one has to go.



The wing I removed was genuine and judging by all the sealer and wax it was stuck on by was probably origonal.
Looks like the under seal has done its job as the inner wing is nice and solid.

Not sure about the door, will probably needs to skin the bottom 6 inches and it has some nasty pitting in one area.
Might be easyer to source a solid second hand one.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers

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I've certainly seen worse! very good find!

What's the mileage on it?



1983 Golf 1.3 Driver:  

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Was that the only rot on the bottom of the wing? Don't bin that as it is easily repairable if it was.

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Your a lucky man, id give my right arm to find that! Looks in brilliant nick for how long its been sat about!

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Been a while since I updated
Decieded to go down the full resto route and give the golf what it deserves
All glass out, engine out, new wings, front and rear panel all genuine Vw Audi.
Managed to source all the panels, had to pay good money for a genuine front panel






Got my mate coming round this week who owns his own body shop and will hopefully take on the rest of the body work and paint job.

Seen a few nice mk1s about this summer which spurs me to crack on and get the old girl back on the road.

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Where did you get the genuine wings from?

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and the genuine front panel?



Wanted: Front Bumper, DESPERATELY NEED A DRIVERS WING!

MY Build Thread

My Facebook Build Page #Project83
 

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looking good and great result sourcing the orignal replacement panels, be great to follow this and see if come together

rich

SOUTHWEST Regional Host. Bristol Meet - 1st Friday of the month - Toby Carvery Bradely Stoke Bristol Bristol Region Facebook Group
1.8T CABBY
TINTOP THREAD (SOLD 2016) SPORTLINE THREAD (SOLD 2015) CLIPPER THREAD (SOLD 2012) Banner

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good work so far :) keep it up!

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Ok, its been a while so heres a small update
Car is all most ready for the body shop,
and ive been collecting a few parts
Picked up a set of Mk1 slots and had them completely striped, refurbed and powder coated to (hopefully) the exact colour they left the factory in.

I tracked down the last touch up spray can vw had, and then had the paint scanned and made up to a paint suitable for powder coating

I have 8 alloys in total, 5 have been done and the other 3 are ready for collection
Managed to get hold of 8 centre caps with raised lettering which i am in the process of refurbing 

These things cost more than the wheels!
Heres one Ive done 
Stripped down and refurbed the starter motor



Sourced a genuine Brian Ricketts Motorsport Strut Brace

Thats is it for now,

Got plenty to get on with.

Regards

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Nice project mate, got any pics of the bodywork now that it's ready for bodyshop?

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Great refurb done on the P-Slots. Where did you get that done?

Andy

LINCOLNSHIRE REGION - https://www.facebook.com/groups/467122313360002/

1983 MK1 Golf GTI Campaign Model - Under (looooong) resto!
1962 Rover P4 80
2002 BMW 745i
2008 BMW Z4 2.5Si

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Excellent work you're doing there. Wish I had a garage.

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OK… Been a while, a long while.

Usual excuses.. Too Busy,  Lack of time,  Kids, Mrs, Money,

But now we are back on track,  dropped car in body shop today and we are talking over our options including dipping.

I am looking for a full engine rebuild, so I would like some advice on a recommended specialist in the Hampshire area.

As prices seem to have risen quite a bit over the last few years, I don't mind spending a bit to get the car back to its best.

Any advice will be appreciated

I will add some pictures to keep the thread alive

ps. wheels were done be The Wheel Specialist in Fareham

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I don't know anyone local to you but Crazyquiff is worth chatting to if you don't mind travelling ;)

Andy

LINCOLNSHIRE REGION - https://www.facebook.com/groups/467122313360002/

1983 MK1 Golf GTI Campaign Model - Under (looooong) resto!
1962 Rover P4 80
2002 BMW 745i
2008 BMW Z4 2.5Si

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OK…. things have been moving on…. slowly,

Deceided against dipping after weighing up all the pros and cons, just far to instrusive.

Sent the shell away to be media blasted and pretty pleased with the results.
IMG_2451.JPG IMG_2452.JPG IMG_2453.JPG IMG_2454.JPG IMG_2455.JPG IMG_2456.JPG

The Engine has now been completely stripped and is now in the process of being rebuilt.

Don't hold your breath.. its taken me 5 years to get this far
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