Description
1988 Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk2 – 1781cc – Small Bumper – Rebuilt Engine & Gearbox – Huge History File
163, 283 miles | Silver | Petrol | MOT until 11 November 2026
I have owned this Golf GTi for a number of years now, and it's been a genuine labour of love rather than a project bought to sell on.
This is a "small bumper" Mk2, running the 1781cc 8-valve engine producing 110bhp, and it drives exactly as a well-sorted GTi of this era should – tight, eager, and full of character.
The Big Picture
The car's mileage reads 170, 283, but the story behind that number is what makes this Golf special. Back in 2007/ 08, with the car at around 146, 000 miles, the previous owner (who kept the car for many years) had the engine fully rebuilt by Tim Stiles of TSR Performance in Bridgwater – then regarded as the GTi engine specialist.
The top end was breathed on, the injectors were reconditioned, and the gearbox was rebuilt at the same time. In other words, of the 170k on the clock, only around 20, 000–25, 000 miles have been covered since that rebuild. The clutch remains good throughout.
The car has had roughly four owners from new, and I have the original build sheet, receipts, and a thick history file dating back to the 1990s, plus a full spreadsheet log of every job I've done myself.
What's Been Done Recently
I don't do things by halves, and the list of work carried out is extensive:
Full uprated Larkspeed performance suspension - Koni shocks
Minor welding to the sills
Complete bare-metal-style respray with the glass removed
New windscreen and window rubbers all round
New front wings and a new rear panel (rust repair, not accident damage)
A new set of wheels and tyres with only around 3, 000 miles of use
Full replacement brake system, including the desirable Mk4 Golf rear caliper conversion, new handbrake cables and new brake hydraulics throughout (bar the master cylinder, which is original and in perfect working order)
New front bumper (correct small-bumper item)
Full service with all new fluids, including antifreeze and oil
Brand new battery (fitted two weeks ago, four-year guarantee)
New top suspension mounts – a common weak point on these cars
New heater matrix, with the heater control flaps also repaired – a big job, properly done
New dashboard fitted (the original had cracked) – there is one small crack that I'll happily point out, in the interests of full transparency
Driver's seat refurbished with new bolsters, and covers still in excellent condition
New roof lining, professionally fitted and correctly finished to the existing headboard
Full stainless steel cat-back exhaust system (from the manifold back) – it has a bit of a boom to it, which suits the car nicely. The original exhaust is included and stored in the boot
16v-style rear light clusters, tinted
An aftermarket steering wheel is currently fitted, but the original leather-rimmed wheel comes with the car for those who want to return it to standard.
MOT & Running Gear
The car carried a current MOT until 11 November 2026. The only advisory was surface corrosion on the nearside front subframe mounting area, noted as not excessive and unchanged since it was first flagged.
This has now (August 2026) been rectified, and the new 12-month MOT is clear.
The car will be eligible for historic vehicle tax exemption in around 18 months.
Honest Negatives
In the interest of full disclosure, here's everything I know isn't perfect:
A water level warning light on the dash flashes continuously rather than clearing after 5–10 seconds. I've checked the sensors and believe the fault lies with the dash cluster itself rather than the cooling system.
The interior blower fan is intermittent—likely the speed controller rather than the motor, which tested fine when removed from the car.
The rear screen wash doesn't work – there's a break in the pipe between the bottle and the tailgate, so it's currently blocked off to stop fluid from coming into the car.
A period single-wiper conversion has been fitted in place of the original twin-wiper system. It works perfectly and suits the car's period feel.
An aftermarket period alarm with central locking is fitted; both key fobs and both original keys are included, and the car uses one key for everything.
Why I'm Selling
This car was rescued and restored out of genuine enthusiasm rather than for profit, and it's been enjoyed rather than left to sit. It's just had a fresh battery and a full service, and it drives brilliantly – a proper, honest, well-documented Mk2 GTi with a rebuilt heart and the paperwork to prove it.
Viewing is highly recommended – this is a car that needs to be seen (and heard) in person to be fully appreciated. The full history file, build sheet, receipts, and spreadsheet of work are all available to inspect.
Genuine reason for sale- I have too many classic cars and am cutting down. Any inspection welcome.
