1983 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1

Highlights 

• Factory standard car with original dealer-fitted BBS body kit

• Full service history (mostly VW dealer)

• Mechanically sound

• In the same ownership for 41 years

• Full, glass-out respray in 2001

Overview

A Mk1 Golf GTI could very well be the last car you'll ever need. Agile, practical and able to dish out enough cool points without even turning a wheel it's rightly revered as revolutionary and one of the best hot hatches to grace tarmac. Period.  

After breaking cover at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1975 it would become the car by which all other spicy hatchbacks were to be judged. Featuring a 1.6-litre, fuel injected four-cylinder engine that boosted the boggo Golf's output to 108bhp, the Mk1 GTI immediately captured the hearts and minds of the car buying public. By the time this car was produced, the 1.6 had been replaced by a 1.8 litre unit, producing just a little more power at 110 bhp and providing more torque for better day to day flexibility.

The original Golf was designed by the inimitable Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign, with the GTI version sporting uprated suspension and a more muscular aesthetic, further setting it apart from the standard car and creating a new benchmark for fruity family runabouts in the process.

An absolute icon, the original Golf GTI still very much rides its own wave in a sea of boring, identical econoboxes. Add to that the wonderfully analogue nature of the car and it remains an incredibly engaging and enjoyable experience, at any speed.  

This particular example further stands out from the crowd thanks to its genuine BBS body kit that was fitted by the dealer at the time of original purchase, not to mention the full glass out respray that it was treated to in 2001. The car is in great condition overall with only a few blemishes commensurate with the car's age but it is over 40 now and wholly original so we can afford to cut it some slack!

The car starts, runs and drives as well as any self-respecting Mk1 GTI should and comes with full service history for added peace of mind, so if you have a Golf shaped hole to fill then this handsome little bunny could be just the ticket. 

History and documentation

• UK V5C in the name of the vendor

• HPI Clear

• Originally purchased in 1983 from Arthur Price VW in Loughborough with BBS body kit and tow-bar fitted by the dealer

• Original bill of sale

• Purchased in 1984 by the current owner, remaining in this ownership ever since (41 years)

• The seller tells us that there is a full documented service history with original stamped service book

• Original book pack

Interior

• Completely original apart from a Sony stereo head unit and JBL GTO628 parcel shelf speakers

• The driver's seat bolster is worn through along with a few other signs of wear, including a non-functioning tilt mechanism and some stretching of the seat fabric

• Dashboard, headlining and door cards in good condition

• Spare wheel present and correct

• New tailgate struts

• Overall, it’s very usable but with opportunities to smarten it a little

Exterior

• Dealer fitted BBS body kit and tow-bar with electric hookup

• Panel gaps appear straight

• OZ alloy wheels present well and are all clad in matching Uniroyal Rainsport 5 tyres

• Underside appears in good order

• The seller tells us that the car was resprayed in 2001

• Prior welding to the rear shock towers and seat belt anchor points

• Some mild imperfections

• Small areas of localised paint issues, including surface rust around the fuel filler neck and some crackling to the paint on the front valance

• Again, in all it’s very presentable but with a few small areas that could be improved

Mechanical

• Original 1.8-litre, transverse mounted inline four

• Mechanical fuel injection

• 110bhp

• 0-62mph in 9.1 secs

• Original five-speed manual gearbox

• Brand new battery 

• Well-serviced, main dealer maintained car in seemingly excellent mechanical order with only a small oil leak to report

Summary

Not all Mk1 Golf GTIs are created equal and this one certainly has an ace up its sleeve thanks to those genuine and oh so wonderfully '80s BBS accoutrements. Underneath its bolstered body though still beats the heart of a bona fide legend and the Mk1 VW Golf GTI will forever be remembered by many as the archetypal hot hatch.

Seriously sought after in today's classic car market the Golf GTI can be all things to all people. Yes, there are a few minor spots to tidy here and there with this particular car but we see that as an opportunity rather than a vulnerability. Mechanically sound this GTI is ripe for some light refurbishment, all the while furnishing you with a perma-grin from ear to ear as you go.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.