Description
For sale is my fairly rare ( I have never seen another this colour) VW Golf GTI 1. 8 Mk1 Cabriolet - 88, 000miles. Now registered as a classic car so MOT exempt and road tax is free.
This car was featured on Episode 1, series 8 of Bangers & Cash. I believe the car was bought in the 80's as a gift for someone's wife (second owner), she used it for days out & to take her kids out in the summer. The car was always garaged, however when the children grew older and left home, then the husband sadly died, the car was left unused in the garage for years before being uncovered and auctioned on the show. The guy that bought it and spent a small fortune on recommissioning the car, Brian, a real golf GTI fan (he had a tin top series one also) is who l I bought it from.
To say Brian was fastidious is an understatement. I have an enormous file of photographs (over 300 from Rust Republic of the whole car) and invoices from Brian to go with the car, totaling over £4500 for works such as new fuel lines, fuel pumps, tank, brakes, complete wheel refurb (they look new), brand new tyres, exhaust, period radio cassette etc. He took the car straight from the auction to a classic car garage (Rust Republic) and had them go through the whole car. The only thing I have done is driven it a bit and had Crazy Quiff's change a blowing manifold and re-tune (£500).
It is in, quite frankly, amazing condition for a 40+ year old car, no welding or rust, the paintwork isn't dull at all and looks fantastic when given a bit of a polish. The roof still looks incredible and isn't dirty or worn. Everything works as it should, heater, dash computer etc (although I'm not sure what its supposed to tell you!). Engine bay is all clean and free from corrosion and mess too.
I have a copy of the original Golf GTI Cabriolet brochure for the car and it is the exact same spec as this one, bronze with a cream roof and tweed interior. Most of the old MOT's are there plus the original invoice when the chap bought it for his wife. You'll notice that the front seats were recovered at some point in tan leather/ vinyl? I have been searching for a replacement pair or some matching fabric (a bit half heartedly to be honest) for a while but have yet to find anything. I can't think of or find anything that the car needs apart from the front seat re-trim and maybe some period car mats in brown. I noticed a similar age, blue cabriolet a while back at a VW show that had previously won Best of Show, mine, I believe, is as good, if not better than that one!
The engine is so smooth and drives brilliantly, it only has 88, 000 miles on so I'm not really surprised, no smoke, lumpiness or issues at all, gearbox feels perfect (5-speed). It still puts a smile on your face when you accelerate hard through the gears, especially with the roof down.
So there it is, a lovely, completely unmolested original 1. 8 Golf GTI Cabriolet in a rare colour, original paint and hood, drives and performs like it should. I'm selling as I don't really use it, bought it on a whim ( I'm really a late 50's Beetle kind of person). It just sits there doing nothing in the garage and gets pushed out for a wash and a spin around the block every couple of months.
In no rush to sell, please, please no silly offers, it's so frustrating - This car will only go up in value sitting in the garage! Come and have a look if you are serious, you won't be disappointed, it's a fantastic car.
