As the title says I’m currently building a MK1

My History

Im 27, run my own company, got 2 kids and I'm from Edinburgh, Scotland.

I’ve had many MK1's over the years and quite a few other VW's. Currently I’ve got an X5 as the daily runner and the wee MK1 as a project car. Its a 1983 1.8 GTi, previously its been a show car and also graced the cover of the Golf+ mag

The Project

The car was originally restored and rammed with a big ass sound system back in 99/2000 (All Before I bought it) sadly in recent years its went a bit worse for wear. So the current plan is to fully restore the body with a few mods and change the colour, replace the Engine, running gear, interior and add a few trick extras to make it slightly different to the other MK1's around. It turned into a much bigger project than I first thought to be honest….

I’ve also created a website listed below, for the project. I do try to keep it up to date.

www.mk1golf.co.uk

Anyway below is the progress so far…………


After a brief strip down then house move which meant the car had to be rebuilt, I managed to get things moving again after I settled into the new house.

Unfortunately I’ve only got a single garage now, but can’t have everything.

Got the engine out and the new block up onto an Engine Stand to be re-con'd.















A big mate of mine owns a Valeting and car wash centre and he came up with some engine degreaser.

He foned and said "this stuff is the daddy, wait will you see it work" and he wasn’t joking. Honestly if I didn’t have such big plans for the car I wouldn’t bother painting the engine bay, it did such a good job. Quick spray and leave for 5 mins, then rinse it off job done.







We also did the New 2.0 16V engine :lol:




Stripped the first batch of parts to send to the company who are doing all the Chrome work.

I also finsihed stripping the engine bay all execpt the exhaust. Got the loom out Brake leavers, servo ect and removed the brake/fuel pipes.




Spent some time cleaning up the engine bay. I invested £100 in a Dewalt grinder and put it too good use.

Spot the difference, answers on a post card :lol:

Before



After



spent some time removing the Dynamat, which the car is covered in, from the engine bay area.

Also removed the Battery tray and washer bottle holder ect.

The car is covered in this stuff




After a good seeing to with a Heat Gun, scraper and a quick introduction to the grinder.....Job Done







Removed Battery Tray



The car prep'd and away to the paint shop :lol:

I was quite sad too see it go actually, got an empty garage now, but it should cum back all nice and painted 8)




Bought up all the panels for the body resto

Arch Repair Panels
Rear Valance
Front Valance
And the typical Filler Neck



After spending 2 days down the Garage things have finally moved on . The front and rear valance was removed, arches dressed back and corrosion cut out. The Doors wings, bonnet and tailgate preped. After many many hours I also managed to remove the Sound proofing from the WHOLE interior, which was a bloody nightmare. After a quick bit of filler and a seeing to from the orbital sander the interior will be good to go...... 8)










Found a crazy amount of corrosion around the filler neck area in both the inner arch and rear quarter.




Chassis legs have been trimmed in preperation for the pannels to flush them off





It’s in a sorry state but I'm sure weel get there, at least I hope so





Going forward, the engine bay needs to be finished few mods and then primed :P



Continued the work on the arches, it was a long slog but im sure you will agree it was worth the work.










Front and rear panels have been welded up in place, the rear quarter had been repaired along with the inner arches.












I’ve seen a few people remove the underseal and paint the inner arch but most seem to stone chip then paint, however I wanted to go for as good a finish on the inner arch as the rest of the car. So there was no choice but to fill and smooth off, took ages and trying to recreate the lines to retain the original look was a nightmare.









The chassis legs have also been flushed off, templates took ages to make up but look the business when welded in.







Also been buying up brand new parts, everything is being replaced with new, from fuse box to seals and grommets

I’ve waited for ages for this picture, dreaming what the bay would look like when flushed off. The chassis legs are coming on now, still a little bit of work to go but not million miles away. The lines look so good and suit the engine bay I think, need to see how it looks in paint right enough but for now in over the moon.

Pics aint the best but you'll get the idea












Had some lengthy work to do in order to get the new seats in, passenger side was slightly easier than that of the driver’s side. On both sides the runners were removed along with the cross box section, on the drivers side wee needed to take an inch out of the tunnel in order to fit the seat in. Once they were bolted up the looked the duggies and really suit the car, I can’t wait to get the interior painted and get the seats trimmed and fitted now.










Also removed the box section for the rear seats from the top of the rear arch, as it’s no longer required, plus it will clean up the inside





The rear pannel is also all welded up and filled ready for primer




The car is coming along nicely. In the mean time got my front braking solution delivered and I'm very happy indeed. 8)









The cars just about ready for Primer at the moment hopefully be in primer b4 the new year :lol: .

The underside has all been stripped back filled and smoothed ect, the pics aint the best, the catty is the wrong colour for my camera :roll:








The inside is close to being finished aswell, again all repaired filled and rubbed down :lol:




Transcal have the seats nearly done and are looking spot on IMO. The first pic is closer to the colour (Think my flash was playing up). I wanted the BMW leather, but the supplier was sold out, so Robert at Transcal managed to get me a really close match with the Bentley Creama, which is more expensive but looks minted

Did someone say Chrome?
























They need a good polish and the pics aint the best but im sure ull get the idea 8)

I’ve been having a few issues with the guy doing the chrome work so I was glad that they arrived. I’m not however 100% on the quality of a few of the items so the saga continues. On the plus side I've found someone else to finish the remaining chrome work that has come highly recommended

OK so I bowed to the pressure and stumped up for a new roof. It was the best decision in the long run and I'm glad I did it now......

See pics














Also the inside has been finished and re soundproofed in the front. This stuff is the best money can buy and its can be primered and painted. Doesn’t look the best just now, but after a clean and a few coats of paint and primer I’m sure it will be spot on.







I’ve also taken a few extra of the engine bay




And that boys and girls is where I am now, still hundreds of decisions to make and even more to buy. Oh an all to do in the next few months……

PS: the cars going into the Golf+ In the March Issue (Out Start of Feb) for the first of its 5 monthly features, which will end with the finished product, if I get it finished that is LOL…. :lol:

Wow, very nice work from the Highlands, gonna follow this one!
Keep posting!

And welcome btw.

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FAHRVERGNÜGEN!

that's a massive project... mad expensive probably aswell.
absolutely love it though. i'm not a showcar guy myself (appreciate them but would/could never build one) but if you build a showcar, all out like you're doing is the only way to go....

very impressed

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Im not in the highlands.......... supose compaired to yourself its the highlands

Dude that's a nasty project. I'm following this one!

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My Swallowtail

Flake It!

whow nice project..keep us updated!

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BBB Build by Boekes Site - Custom Wheels

Very nice project, will look stunningly beautifull when its finished...

(although I'm not a showcar type-a-guy myself)

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Mijn project, '77 audi 50

Cheers Guys

I know its not everyones cup of tea, but ive had many MK1's over the years which were all daily runners. So now that im in a position to do a full on show queen ive gotta get it out of my system

that's serious stuff!
very nice job..keep us posteed here.. nice to
follow such big projects here..

Wow.. it took me like forever to look at all the pics.. but damn!

Looks very promissing! Very impressive!


So I guess the X5 down the road is yours?

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Cheers and yes the thats the daily runner

Like your licence plate

I'm curious about the new color ....

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Passat B1 LS
Passat B8 Businessline R

Great project and work already!! Good luck on this one, keep us posted

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Ull just ahve to wait

Those dents in the new roof,.. are no problem at all?

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No No 2 min job

what kind of van is that?? looks nice

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bus looks 'eastern-european-ish'

Zastava, Wolga, Fiat, dunno...




PS: X5 PEA: if those dents were a 2 minute job,.. could you spare me an hour or so..

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i was thinking old leyland sherpa or something

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Welcome to the internet:
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