Descrizione
LBD295V is one of two Golf GTi’s that were brought to the UK in October 1979 by Volkswagen (GB) Ltd to be given to the press to promote the new 1980 Golf GTI model with the new 5 speed gearbox and alloy wheels as standard.
An image of LBD295V featured in VW’s marketing leaflets and features in many books when the marque was written about. It also featured in the 1980 March edition of the AA’s Drive magazine. It’s sister car LBD273V featured in more magazines but not used for VW’s own press photos.
After 8 months with VW, the car was sold to a well-known motoring journalist and author, Brian Laban. Brian had test driven the car and liked it so much that he had to have it. Brian then used the car as his daily driver for many years often travelling to Le Mans to report on the 24hr race before laying it up in 1999 with 122, 000 miles on the odometer. In 1996 the car featured in “Golf” magazine and Brian wrote a detailed piece about his long-term ownership with the car.
Following Brian’s death in late 2016 I was lucky enough to acquire the car, and became the third owner. Having been laid up for 20 years the car was in need of a full overhaul and underwent a full nut and bolt restoration which accumulated in over 800 hours of labour. A detailed photographic record of the work undertaken was recorded throughout the restoration which included an engine and gearbox rebuild, re trim of the tartan seats, a full body overhaul and all parts brought back to their original finishes. Following the completion of the restoration in 2019 the car won a few concours trophies at various VW events and featured on the front cover of Practical Magazine in October 2019.
I’ve been using the car regularly in the summers for the last 3 years and the odometer is now showing 131, 000 miles. The car does now show signs of a bit of use but is very much an immaculate and usable early Series 1 1600cc Golf GTI with a great piece of motoring history that is a pleasure to drive.
Being over 40 years old it is now MOT exempt but I will be happy to put a 12 month MOT on it should the new owner want one.
The car will come with its original service history (incomplete) along with copies of the books and magazines that I manged to find that it featured in, many other magazines featuring its sister car, an original press photo of this car and the restoration information.
