The BEST Mk1 Golf GTI IN THE WORLD?!

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In this video I take a look at possibly the best Mk1 Golf GTI remaining in the world. This is 100% original and unrestored which is crucial, I know there will be perfect nut & bolt rebuild cars out there but in my book anyway, originality counts for a lot more.
I show you the outside, inside and underneath of this incredible car before we go for the climax, a test drive on a classic British B road!
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This is the intro music;
• Happy 80s Pop 1 Vict...

[@alanbooth7280]

Fantastic. Brings back many memories of my first car which was a white MK1 Golf GTi tin top 1600cc MGK 478Y. It went like stink for the period and I popped some Pirelli P slot alloys on it, a Jetex exhaust and K and N filter. I must have done about 100k miles in it. Did all my own mechanics on it as that was easy back in the day.

[@volkswizard]

Those were the days Alan 😎

[@ThisIsDaxter]

11,000 miles, and in absolutely outstanding condition too. I can't figure out who's more lucky you, or the car. Great Vid mate 👌 A true classic legend.

[@volkswizard]

It's true ThisIsLiamJones, it's been a very lucky car, especially considering the brakes!

[@pheasantpluckersson2138]

I have Just restored my paprika red/grey hooded 1990 cabriolet Gti, my 8th Mk1, the oldest being a 78 V series 1 4 speed Gti a really early car, the newest being a 1992 Sportline cabriolet, all the “purists” bleating about tintops being the best 😂 the Mk1 golf is special no matter the version You could argue that the cabriolet far outlived the original car by 10 years, I’m not so much a fan of the triple white and early styling of this car but it’s a fantastic example for sure. Tonneau cover! I just had a stroke of luck finding a grey one for mine, and It is illegal on the continent not to use it when the roofs down, safety apparently, not sure why? as any pedestrian you have hit that ended up there is not going to be having a good day 😂 Great car 👍🏻

[@Islaharris.12405]

Great video. A real trip down memory lane as my mum had the exact same car in the 80 ‘s

[@wynhughes9072]

A bit late coming to the party regarding this video. I have the exact same car, except mine has done 106,000 miles. I have owned it for the last 36 years. Unfortunately it's been locked away in my garage for the last 5years ( need to do something about that ) but I do start it every few months,but I can't use it because it has no MoT ( Need to do something about that as well) Regarding your statement about the aux.driving lights they were aftermarket in 1983 the car came standard with the two light at up. Great video all the same. It may now inspire me to get mine back on the road

[@robtt997]

Could not agree more about the digifant fuel injection, I ran a new mk2 Gti (C reg) for just over three years and replaced it with a new F reg Gti . I was really disappointed with the second Gti and the way it went . It was not comparable with the earlier Golf. I got rid of it within two years.I have now come back to Gti with a mk7. Which I love .

[@garryhill3025]

I bought, and still have, my immaculate mk 1 gti cabriolet on 1st August 1983 from Scott of Sloane Square, London. It's the same Alpine White campaign model as your feature. You had to order from a picture only and had to join a UK list to try and buy one of these Campaign models as only 200 were available for UK. The list was massively oversubscribed and I was one of the lucky guys to have his name 'drawn out of a hat" to get one. I think a similar limited number (200) were available for other European countries. My original invoice shows it cost me over £9000 - a lot of money for a car in 1983! Mine has done 77,000 miles all in summer weather and always garaged. I've been advised that mine may be the only "one owner from new" and without any modifications. I love it. GH

[@andyhall8937]

Really great review Andrew and cracking car with a local history. I still prefer the original hard top mk1. Notice you’d had a trim since last video as well was that especially for the convertible ! 😂

[@volkswizard]

Did you expect me to actually drive it with the roof down?! I had a trim because my hair was annoying me and it was too warm to wear my hat (as seen in ACF50 video). However today it's so cold and my hair so much shorter I am feeling the cold so hat is back on, good old UK summer

[@samanthamorgan-harris9401]

I had an "A" reg identical to this for 8 years. It had done more miles than this one and it absolutely flew if you dropped it from 4th to 3rd gear to overtake. Mine had a red stripe around the front grill and the same two sets of headlights. Never had trouble turning the wheel though - and I'm a girl....haha 😊

[@sparkford04]

I had one of the first GOLF GTi mk1 Hot Hatches in the UK, in my younger years, my car was met silver, had steel wheels. Ironically it had a 4 speed gearbox within months I believe VW upgraded new cars to a 5 speed gearbox. Andrew can you confirm that my memory is not failing me, regarding the original gearbox & then the upgrade. Brought back some good memories after my apprentice venture with my Beetle 1200cc & VW to my first adventure in GTi mk1. Happy Days👍

[@volkswizard]

Yes Keith! Not sure when it changed but 4 speed on first GTIs was right. Steel wheels too and single headlights and smaller rear lights. I love the early cars but they did seem to rust more readily than the later ones.

[@malcolmscott4150]

Wine bar cruiser lol - I drove a 93 version in late 90s in Oz - very popular here due to iconic shape although 1.8 on 91 Ron unleaded produced about 77 kw. Was an auto also with AC power steer and electric roof - lovely tight car with torquey 8v engine although dangerously slow by modern standards and sun here led to massive dash cracking and fading roof and seat trim. Great video - also would be great too see the yellow Seat in the underneath shots in action :)

[@volkswizard]

You've got a point Malcolm, the Leon Cupra K1 is an interesting car for sure. Not as interesting as your Mk1 Cabro in Oz! Are cabrios popular out there? I'd have thought it would have been too hot?

[@malcolmscott4150]

Cabrios are somewhat popular in southern states as a bit cooler and AC on and top up if too hot. Oz market had mk1 cabrio and mk2 golf GTI 16v sold here from late 80s and early 90s in detuned form as we got ULP 91 Ron fuel from 86. The Mk 3 Golf rebuilt brand here after withdrawal from car market here in 1982. Mk 1 became too expensive - last model - the GLD - sold out in 83 with moulded bumpers but original taillights. I’ve since owned 2 mini cabrios here - a 2006 Cooper S and 2011 Cooper S - ultimately inert dynamically and both had engine issues - my current 2014 Megane RS265 Cup best car I’ve ever owned as 100% issue free (except for 83 Alfasud Twin Carb 1.5 which was great to drive and very average to maintain).

[@davonpointer2310]

Love the 80’s ‘esque’ intro music. 😉

[@volkswizard]

I'm glad you noticed Davon! I searched Epidemic Sounds for 80s and that was the first one that came up. I tried a few others but that was by far the best so I tried it and it seemed to gel with the car so it go used 👍

[@964tractorboy]

112bhp? I remember it being 110. Of course it's 112PS which we'd never heard of back then. Well, Autocar hadn't. Yeah, those white seats are a challenge. That wax looks like an add-on to me as it's on the paintwork behind the rear bumper and did I spot some on the driver's door-card? Still, no denying it's a time-capsule job.

[@djhatstand7312]

The earlier 1588cc engine had 110bhp, the later 1781cc engine had 112bhp

[@wolfpackrides_vw]

You should definitely do mk2 mk3 mk4 gti too, I have. Owned mk2 golf gti in my early 20s the 16v had mk3 vr6 mk3 gti and cousin has his mk1 gti ! Glad I bought another mk2 Golf gti and my daily mk4 golf r32

[@edinburghtumuran916]

Wonderfully explained video! The Cabrio is pefect!

[@garysimpson3900]

Thanks,really enjoyed this article. My second car was a Mk1 GTI 1.8 none convertible, Y registered 1983? Watching this review brought it all back. Just wished I had kept it but at the time we all want the "next best thing" so off it went for a new BMW 3 series. Looking on the DVLA site, while there is no MOT history it survived till 2005 as it says "Tax Due 1st February 2005". Having watched your article I would love to know what happened to it between 1988-2005.

[@leewilliams8146]

Thanks for a great vid. Rare car in unbelievable condition. Wouldn't be surprised if VW show an interest in that beauty. 🙂

[@volkswizard]

The owner actually offered it to VW UK but they said no and it was a lot cheaper back then, £10k I think. VW don't appear to have the heritage fleet budget that Audi do, I don't think they've even got a Mk2 Golf GTI 16v!

[@taylorhaddock2782]

It has to be a Tin top

[@volkswizard]

I'd like to a try a standard tin-top to see if it can really hold a candle to an Up! GTI

[@alistairpowers8129]

Andrew very interesting to see, very retro. I had a Mk1 tin top new in 1983 (Y Reg) - Lhasa Green, it was very quick in the day, very light too, I think my Wifes modern Polo is heavier. I purchased a Hella grill for it after market for the additional driving lamps. Brakes were awful, the servo was still on the left of the car meaning a long linkage to the Master Cylinder on the right!!! not very efficient. I loved in the day though, would I want one now? I have to say no.

[@volkswizard]

Wow Alistair, that must have been amazing having one new in 1983. I recorded two takes driving the car and the first which got canned explained the linkage issue, wonder what a left hand drive car is like then, could be normal which would make all the difference when it came to enjoyment. I recall BR Motorsport offered some sort of Rover based conversion which would have been sensible especially with more power from their tuned engines.

[@flyingcod14]

Love the small (swallow tail?) lights of the mk1.

[@rogerhudson9732]

Great car. In those days before power steering drivers used to get their shoulders involved in the control process. Likewise cadence braking with hard right foot action was normal. I had a Mk1 five door in the late 1970s. The thing is not to compare Mk1s with later cars but to compare them with other makes of the same era, most of which were terrible rubbish.

[@aian9597]

My dad had one identical back in the ‘80s. It had a great engine but a lot of different problems... that car was an exhaust eater, my dad changed about 4 exhausts in 8 years. Also, the radiator hadn’t any cover that protected it from damage. Basically you had to be aware of any debris on the road. Also, the coolant reservoir was placed really close to a metal lip of the fender. Basically what was happening was that the lip with the vibrations cut the plastic reservoir, causing a massive leak. My dad changed that car with less than 100.000km upset of all the problem he had with that car. You can’t daily drive a Golf MK1 GTI, unfortunately.

[@spandel100]

Owned a Mk1 Golf from new,manufactured in 1995(South Africa still manufactured till early 2000).Had it 24 years and still enjoy driving it everyday.I have driven numerous modern cars and have not found them engaging at all.All smooth,over engineered and plasticy.Had Kjet,then Mp9(big mistake),now I am busy installing a 36Weber.Its become costly to maintain but never gets boring.Here is to 25 more years driving this car :-)

[@ericanderson1691]

I daily drove my new 1981 Rabbit Convertible for ten years in California and Virginia to 140k miles. Manual steering was the only drag. I bought a 1989 Cabby survivor last summer with only 80k miles with power steering.

[@darrencottrell5541]

Stunning, nostalgic and classic. A wonderfully kept example. R8 or borrow the cabriolet for Sunday? 😉

[@volkswizard]

It's a nice car but I prefer looking at it to driving it. I don't think I could relax knowing what damage would occur if I had a mishap and with the standard of driving much lower than it was in the 80s and a lot more traffic on the road the risks would be far higher now than back then. It's a very cool car though like all good (not tarted up) classics and deserves to be in a museum once again, probably even more so than it did in 1983 (but I'd still take the R8 😉)

[@darrencottrell5541]

I totally understand that, and a pragmatic rationale response Andrew, as always.

[@DeanoM3Sport]

Cracking car... oh yes. Shame it hasn't got the original number plates... or have they been taken off? what about stock stereo too..? Blaupunkt usually... That being a Triple White, very nice. I've got an '87 Quartet.. original too.

[@quickdraw1216]

Great Video👍🏾👍🏾, thx for sharing the experience😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@volkswizard]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@mcjjordan]

My wifes got same car now but 1985. Fitted 16v servo & master cylinder totally transformed the brakes & must run it on super-unleaded & we use an additive to lubricate the k-jet. Underside Fuel pump components really corrode

[@ramarakeshv]

Hi Andrew. You used to have the best mk2 s please make a video on this car please. Thanks

[@volkswizard]

Hi Ramjet VW, you have a good memory! So do you want a video on the Mk2 Golf?

[@ramarakeshv]

@@volkswizard hi sir. Thank you. I know you had a red late mk2 16v and also a jetta 16v. Please do a video as its a great classic compared to the mk1. Great job by VW in house designer. I have 2 mk2 late big bumpers

[@ramarakeshv]

I hope to see your video of about the Mk2 gti

[@SteveM-ly7oy]

Thanks - this takes me back. I had a 1983 Mk1 Golf Gti in the late 90s, about 1997 so it was already 14 years' old. Crap brakes. But went well. So what you say about the car is pretty much spot on. It was stolen from University in 1999. If I find who stole it I will cut their .......... off. Bastards.

[@volkswizard]

I remember that era particularly well as I bought my first car (a Polo) in 1994, my first Golf (a Mk2 1.6 CL) in 1995 and my first GTI (Mk2 GTI 8v) in 1996 which was stolen within a month. Bastards indeed 😉

[@garysimpson3900]

Steve M I had the same. FLV445Y, the DVLA website suggests mine survived till 2005.

[@bardenegri21]

What a gem, brings a tear to the eye

[@volkswizard]

agreed!

[@db1410885]

That's a great review on a car that I'm going to view this Saturday of 1989 build. But I don't belive it has the same engine as the reviewed car in this clip 😢😢. It's must be one as mentioned with the carberators unfortunately.

[@volkswizard]

Carb cars were not GTis but Clippers (possibly other models too on older cars). They are OK but the carbs go off and over fuel the car which causes the engine to wear prematurely so make sure it runs ok hot and cold.

[@db1410885]

Had a few golf's back the years 1982,1984 Mark ones ,1990 Mark 2,all diseals ,and they were terrible in the scence ,that all of them blew they head gasket,warped the heads let oil into the coolant system.i think they were the 1595 cc engine version. Only when I bought a 1994 mark 3 ,1.9 diseal I had comfort and no problems what so ever. But in saying that we ran a 1987 vw caddy pickup ,1.6diseal also on farm for 8 years ,and that never gave any head gasket trouble ,but problem with that it's just rotted away underneath. Maybe a review on a mark 1 caddy sometime??☺. So looking forward to viewing the golf convertible today ,deffiently will be checking the bone structure underneat as you said 😀.genuinely taught all mark 1 convertibles were gti spec engine wise until I seen your video ,. Carbs are simple enough I supose to set ,just the bother of doing it .I don't know anything about gti fuel injection as never had one ,due to insurance reasons back in the day.gti are frowned upon here in Ireland by insurance companies ,especially when your young starting out.

[@garryhill3025]

I'm not sure your story line is quite correct. I bought a brand new limited edition alpine white 1st August 1983 from Scott's of Sloane Sqaure. It was advertised by Scotts as a limited edition "campaign" model, 200 only released in UK and you had to put your name forward to be entered into a draw to decide on the lucky 200 drawn from a hat! I was one of those lucky ones and still have the car as new. Probably the only 1 owner, immaculate, from new, limited edition mk 1 golf campaign cabriolet in the UK. Si, with respect, I think your utube clip isn't entirely accurate. Photos of mine are available at request. Also my original purchase invoice - staggeringly it cost around £9,500 in Aug 1983!! Largely because of being limited to just 200. factory fitted BBS skirts which I note the one in your story does not have. Also it came with a factory fitted Blaupunkt radio cassette player with a "pull up" non- electris aerial. You refer to an alpine set with electric aerial, I don't think that's original to a 1983 model.

[@itz_zeexiii9050]

Ahh yes soon my Dads mk1 GTI Will be mine soon since its been abandoned for 10 years so this year we are fixing it up and hopefully start driving it

[@whoisgoogle]

Wow so clean

[@volkswizard]

👍

[@mds2465]

it's interesting they have miles instead of kilometers on that car if it's overseas.

[@VW_Fan]

Did we decide if the lights are aftermarket?

[@stephenboyle3195]

we will have to see about that, as mine is under full rebuild....

[@harryjohn5022]

VW South Africa produced 300 MK 1 Golf GTi s' in 2007 with 10% more power than the original GTi . In fact Mk 1 production only ended in 2010 under the badge CitiGolf . The 2007 Mk 1 GTi was called the CitiGolf R line . Neil Birkitt when he was with VW Motoring magazine did a story of my very own South African 1994 Mk 1 Gti ( called the CTi ) . It had K jet injection and aircon too.

[@NiceGuyAidey]

There is one like this local to me, White Mk1 Golf Gti Cabriolet , The guy uses it like a van... fills it with bags of cement, sand, timber out the roof, i have tried to tell him but he does not give a damn , sad

[@tecdesigns8183]

Makes me miss my 79 t reg gti

[@volkswizard]

WOW, T reg was very early UK car, single headlight 😍

[@tecdesigns8183]

@@volkswizard yea 14 years ago though now didn't have the original engine and 4spd fitted they came with it, it had a tsr engine loved it

[@polopowered]

Same age as me. Crazy.

[@yellayomper4617]

needs to be a tin top to even be considered for possibly the best in the world.

[@volkswizard]

I agree, the term 'better' is ambiguous and subjective. I am talking in this case about general condition and originality.

[@maxlowsynth]

That engine dont have a look that match up to rest of the car, that rust on the top and only 11k ?

[@volkswizard]

It is more to do with the type of steel and whether it was protected by waxoyl. I suspect they got missed and in the 36 years of mainly inactivity corroded. Plus they get hot and cold a lot more than the other parts of the engine which will melt protective waxes. Common for those bits to rust. One concours man got his rocker cover powder coated, fitted it and the engine blew up as the breather gauze was full of powder which blocked the oil ways, ouch!

[@evian4566]

Mk1 cabrio is an GLI not an GTI ;)

[@volkswizard]

I get your drift, it would have made more sense but the marketing department got their way 😉

[@basabra]

Best golf 1 GTI isn't a cabrio though

[@volkswizard]

In this case 'best' means best original condition, I'd rather have a solid cabrio that a ropy tin-top and with the cabrio being undervalued it's quite possible they'd be the same price.

[@laurencemajury8422]

But it’s so white 🤢

[@volkswizard]

That sir, I can not argue with 😁