VW Golf GTI Mk 1 A Modern Day Classic

History / Overview

The Mk1 Golf GTI is becoming something of a classic car. As such it is currently in between being an old banger and a true classic.

Whilst it is an old car, in many ways it is very modern too. The Mk1 Golf GTI first arrived in around 1976 and featured the 1.6 engine, smaller rear lights, a plain but functional dashboard and rather garish tartan interior trim. Very quickly a 5-speed box arrived on the scene too. These cars were available between 1976 and 1980.

There are very few of them left, mostly due to inferior rust protection, road salting and general corrosion has killed most of them off.

• Post 1980 cars are considerably better protected, featuring inner wing liners, better treated metal and thicker paint.
• The 1980 model featured the more modern Mk1 dashboard, larger rear lights, more subdued stripy cloth interiors and the 5-speed box as standard.
• The 1.8 engine was available from September 1982. This also added the MFA trip computer.
• August 1983 marked the start of the Campaign version which was the last of the original tin top Mk1s.
• The 1800 GTI’s had comprehensive instrumentation including speed, rev counter, MFA computer, economy gauge, water temperature and fuel.

Many argue that the original Golf GTI is the original 4-speed 1.6 and they have a point, unfortunately there are virtually none of these cars left. The 1.6 engine is a lot smoother than the 1.8 (despite all the extra work VW put into the redesign) and many regard it to have more character as it is distinctly more cammy with the power increasing dramatically over 4000 rpm.

The 1.8 is quite a lot quicker as it features a much greater torque spread, making it faster and more economical at the same time. It does not have the virtually turbine smooth feel of the earlier 1.6 though. It is worth driving both engine types to see which you prefer.

The first Golf (VW internal designation Type 17) began production in 1974, although it was marketed in the United States and Canada from 1975 to 1984 as the Volkswagen Rabbit and in Latin America as the Volkswagen Caribe. It featured the water-cooled, front wheel drive design with the addition of a hatchback.
The Golf was Wheels magazine´s Car of the Year for 1975. The name is short for Golf-Strom, German for Gulf Stream; it was named for that oceanic current to reflect its international character. The Golf was designed by Italian automobile architect / designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, of the ItalDesign design studio.

Spec

Production 1974–1984: 1974-present (South Africa) & 1980-1995 (Cabriolet) Assembly Wolfsburg, Germany

Body Styles:

• 3-door hatchback
• 5-door hatchback
• 2-door pickup truck

Layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive

Platform: Volkswagen A1 platform Engine(s)

• 1.8L 90 hp (67 kW) I4
• 1.8L 112 hp (84 kW) I4

Engine

The engines are very strong, but most Mk1s will have done over 100,000 miles by now and that will usually spell a tired engine. The engine block is generally not a problem, with the exception of the piston rings, as most of the wear tends to be in the head. Symptoms are usually excessive tappet rattle, and smoke from the exhaust.

Ask to start the engine from cold. It should churn for up to a second before firing and then rev to over 1000rpm and drop back to about 850 and idle steadily - Properly setup, tuned and maintained Golf GTI´s never stall when running, even from cold. Engines are strong, but need checking from cold.

New engines are fairly easy to source, so it is not too major a problem if the bodywork is sound. However, the fuel injection components are more tricky and you are well advised to spend time making sure the engine is starting and running well.

Gearbox

Gearboxes are generally good, though the 2nd gear syncro is the weak point. This shows itself as a "crunch" when changing quickly into 2nd gear from 1st when the engine is cold.

Cabriolet

The convertible version, named the Golf Cabriolet (or Type 155), was sold from 1980 to 1993 (a convertible version of the Mark 2 Golf was not made, so the Mark 1 Cabrio with slight modification was produced until the introduction of the Mark 3 Cabrio). It had a reinforced body, transverse roll bar, and a high level of trim,and interestingly kept the pre-1980 style of rear lamp clusters. The Mark 1 Cabriolet is of unibody construction built entirely at the factory of Karmann, from stamping to final assembly; Volkswagen supplied the engine, suspension, interior, etc. for Karmann to install.
The vinyl or cloth tops were insulated and manually or automatic operated, with a heated glass rear window.

Mk 1 What to look out for......

The engines are very strong, but most mk1s will have done over 100,000 miles by now and that will usually spell a tired engine. The engine block is generally not a problem, with the exception of the piston rings, as must of the wear tends to be in the head. Symptoms are usually excessive tappet rattle, and smoke from the exhaust.

Ask to start the engine from cold. It should churn for up to a second before firing and then rev to over 1000rpm and drop back to about 850 and idle steadily, all without any throttle from the driver. If the car does not do this, or the engine is difficult to start, at the best the engine is out of tune, at the worst it may have a catalogue of fuel Injection, compression or other woes. Properly setup, tuned and maintained Golf GTI´s never stall when running, even from cold. Engines are strong, but need checking from cold.

If there is a puff of smoke at start up? Then the valve stem oil seals need replacing. Smoke on the overrun means warn valve guides and smoke when accelerating means worn piston rings. Most mk1s will need some work at 100,000 miles. It may be a great opportunity to gas flow the head and gain a bit more power though!

New engines are fairly easy to source, so it is not too major a problem if the bodywork is sound. However, the fuel injection components are more tricky and you are well advised to spend time making sure the engine is starting and running well.

Gearboxes are generally good, though the 2nd gear syncro is the weak point. This shows itself as a crunch when changing quickly into 2nd gear from 1st when the engine is cold. Its not too serious as they often soldier on for ages with this fault, without any other problems at all. On some 1st or 5th can be difficult to engage, this is due to the alignment having shifted rather than the gearbox itself.

Be prepared to look at a lot of cars as there are quite a few about, but do not buy the first you see. Watch, look and learn. Buy wisely and you will have a smart, practical little classic car which will appreciate in years to come.

Buy wisely and you will have a smart, practical little classic car which will appreciate in years to come. Give a Mk1 a good home