• Immaculate interior and hood • Much admired Mars Red bodywork
• Sensible upgrades for reliable motoring
THE APPEAL
The MKI Golf is undoubtedly a 1980’s icon and is renowned for its superb build quality, agile and fun driving prowess.
The cabriolet retains most of the tin top’s sporting credentials and was the first car in its class to feature a fixed roll bar and offers four full-sized seats and a simple to operate soft-top roof design.
This very low mileage example was professionally recommissioned in 2019 at a cost of £2,654.42 and has benefitted from some paintwork enhancement, a new quality mohair hood and numerous new mechanical parts.
According to the online site ‘How many are left’, just 41 GL Auto Cabriolet models are currently road registered in the UK.
First registered on the 11th February 1986, this GL specification Golf appears to have resided in London and Kent areas until the current owner purchased it at a Barons auction on the 12th March 2019.
The V5 is present in the owners name and a relatively new MOT is valid until the 4th January 2023. Online records indicate that the mileage was 39,000 in 2005. The tax runs until the 1st September 2022.
Happily, the original service book is present and contains regular Volkswagen service stamps and a few independent garage stamps (see photos).
• All electrical equipment is said to be in working order
• Very clean boot space
The entire interior is in excellent condition.
The familiar MKI Golf steering wheel and dashboard are highly original and very presentable with just a couple of tiny splits to the dash . The fabric upholstery, door cards, trim and carpeting are also in tip-top condition with minimal signs of use.
We are assured that all the standard electrical equipment functions as it should and the car features a Blaupunkt sound system with bluetooth connectivity and DAB.
The boot space is surprisingly spacious for a convertible and contains a very clean carpet and the original space saving spare wheel and jack. There are no signs of accident damage or visible rust.
• Paintwork refresh work carried out during 2020 and 2021 at a total cost of £1,454.03 • Mars Red - Widely considered the best colour
• New Mohair hood supplied and fitted by J.Mussell & Son in July 2019 at a cost of £1,780.00
Looking resplendent in glossy Mars Red, this VW cabriolet has clearly been well cared for over the years and has also had some bodywork and cosmetic improvements undertaken during the last couple of years. These include:
• Windscreen surround repainted due to some bubbling
• The removal of a few minor dents from everyday usage
• New door trim finishers
• Under bonnet and boot lid repainted
• New bonnet support struts fitted
• New straight rear bumper bar fitted underneath the original plastic
Overall, the bodywork, glass, lights, rubber fittings and plastic trim are up together. The front bumper has a slight indent on the nearside and there is room for paint improvement at sill level - although nothing major.
Looking underneath, the floor pan looks clean and with a with a relatively new MOT in place, should also be structurally sound.
The original steel wheels and chrome hub caps are perfectly fine but would benefit from a refurbishment if you wish. Hankook tyres sit up front and new Avon ones at the rear.
• Mechanical recommissioning carried during 2019 by RM Motors, Ropley, Hampshire (see photo of invoices)
• Recent cambelt change
• The last service was carried out in January 2022 • Professionally fitted Weber carb upgrade
This very low mileage 1600cc engine appears to be in good order and is housed in a wonderfully clean engine bay.
The naturally aspirated 4-cylinder 8 valve should produce around 90bhp and is mated to a 3-speed automatic box which the owner tells us is smooth and responsive.
A new (more reliable) Weber carburettor undoubtedly helps with the lively performance and the front McPherson suspension and all-round coil springs should keep this nimble little Golf glued to the road.
Since 2019, the extensive new parts list includes:
When the sun shines what could be better than enjoying the delights of this trendy Cabriolet. You will probably be hard pushed to find another is such good condition and being rare and easy to maintain, it is also extremely desirable.
Having had plenty of time and money lavished on it lately, the current owner assures us that this stunning V-dub Golf is on the button and ready to go.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
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1986 Volkswagen Golf MKI Cabriolet GL Auto
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