1979 V reg small rear lights resto help!!!!!

[robiwill]

Hiya fellow golf addicts, I have just purchased a 1979 golf gti off ebay in need of restoration. I know I know this is my fourth golf that I now own! but this was to good a chance to miss. To own one of the first 1500 to be sold in the UK. I mean how many V reg GTi's can be left? The car is mostly original with the exception of the seats and a horrid glass sunroof has been fited (why did people do this???)

Anyway I waffle on. I am looking for good sites or help for restoration. I am lucky in the fact a really really good friend is an excellent mechanic and I have now persuaded him to be a golf fan, but we are lacking the knowledge for the interior. I have done a little research and know the car should have chequered seats not stripes. I know the car is going to need alot of work but I am prepared to spend the money to have what has to be a rare car now. Any thoughts or help you can offer would be gratefully recieved so post here or private message me. I pick the car up next week so will keep you updated with procress. There is a scare that the car my be past restoration :-( so may have so very rare original gti items for sale soon (to try and get my money back)

Regards Robin golf lover and Steve getting into them

[dubboy 79]

Welcome to a fairly exclusive club of early GTi owners . I too have one of the first RHD in the UK with only 79k on the clock and all original.

Hopefully your car is economical to repair, but the seats will be a nightmare to get hold of. Your right, they are a checked "tartan" pattern - red cars had red check, black and silver cars had black/silver tartan.

Do you still have the 1600 with 4 speed box too and what colour is it?

If you want any help give us a shout as I also have all the reference brochures, plus take a look at the pics of my car in my sig link.

[robiwill]

Found out a bit more about it today, it was registared on the 8/8/79 so should have a 4 spd box but alais its been changed to a 5spd I have been told :-(. The car is black and as I HPi'ed it it shows hpi clear and originally black. I get it tomorrow night so will report back then. I am really hoping its able to be restored as be a shame to lose such another early example to the enemy RUST

[robiwill]

Well I finnally have the car at home. It came with every MOT apart from 93-94 from new. The car is in better shape than I thought. It runs and drives and sorta stops (lol) I will keep you guys updated on the progress. My first task is to take it for an mot as getting it road legal would make the restoration easier for moving it about.

Things I know it will need are both rear sills and arches replaced/repaired
new rear and front valance
wheel well welded or replaced

The car is standard with the exception of a pair of gte recaros in the front and a glass sunroof, and of course the 5 spd replacement box

wish me luck and hopefully it will be at the shows next yr

[gibby]

Hey Robin, why not PM richandhazel (as jv is on hols) and get a spot on the dub projects section of this forum as there will be loads of people interested in others' projects. Have a read of jv's first thread on that section and it will explain what it is all about. Good luck with the resto