Well, it's all very well but the Golf is not my car and I cant just jump in it and go for a spin. It's mostly done now and going for a respray next month and my itch is not being scratched - owning my own classic. I had narrowed down what I wanted to a front engine rear wheel drive sleeper of some sorts. It then came down to a Lancia Fulvia, Datsun 120Y or a BMW '02 series. The Fulvias are beautiful cars but not very, easily tunable. The Datsuns are pretty much non existent and vastly over priced for what they are. The BMWs are very expensive........................until now................. This car popped up on Facebook for £12k back in September but I was on holiday and not in a position to do much about it, it disappeared pretty quickly. A couple of weeks ago it popped up again with the same seller, this time at £10k. I made contact and went to look. Apparently the original buyer faffed about for ages and then decided to spend the money on having his teeth fixed ??!!?? So following a week or so of negotiations and the seller wrestling with the prospect of losing his pride and joy (we've all been there), today, it became mine The owner bought the car in 2008 and then spent £11k having an engine and gearbox transplant, welding and a respray. He then drove it for a year or two and since 2010 its been in storage with the occasional drive/start up and tinker. He didn't even get around to putting the bumpers and trim back on. It has an M42 engine from a 318is and is chipped to 147bhp. To do this conversion mods have to be made to the subframe, exhaust, steering, prop shaft, and whole list of other stuff. It's been lowered with Spax shocks and lowering springs. What needs doing? Well the brakes don't work hence the trailer. It seems there is a known issue where the brake fluid drains past worn seals in the slave cylinders and into the servos (yes two remote servos ). Indeed the fluid reservoir was completely empty. This will be the first job and I'm not messing about. I have been recommended a specialist and I will be sending the servos, master cylinder and calipers to them for a refurb. £840 to return them all to their former glory. Needless to say that meant no test drive. However, it starts on the button and I have driven it onto the trailer. The gearchange is stiff and feels like it needs some alignment. The wheels are knackered and too wide so I shall probably change them for something more period, narrower but stick with the same width tyres so they are not stretched as they are now. All the trim needs to go back on and a few bits of remedial paintwork are needed. It has Cobra bucket seats which definitely need to go and I have been eying up BMW 1 series seats which are nice, would suit and are cheap as chips. Inside, a clean, new carpet and dye the door cards black (currently blue). of course there will be a whole host of rubber to be renewed, hoses, seals etc etc So plenty to be getting on with but the best bit is no bodywork, its solid (or so it seems at a reasonably good inspection ) Wish me luck!
Very nice, 1 series seats are a great idea, or if can find a 318 l91 m sport they had leather recaros in, alternatively I've got a pair of black cloth seats in the spare bedroom Supaslots would be real period, suppose bbs off a 3 series are the norm, or those nice bmw mini Black silver 5 spokes? Brake rebuild is good plan, do later calipers work on them? Really good looking car Phil.
Your place is an Aladdin’s cave…………. Apparently E21 calipers and discs work but I think there is a Volvo mod for them. Ultimately though, if the brakes are good enough when refurbed I shall leave them alone, no slippery slopes this time round. A bit more investigation reveals none of the door or boot locks work with the keys I have and the headlights have no high beam. I’m sure there will be a ton more stuff…….
Really nice car sold my 2002Tii 5 Years ago having kept it for 4 years, do you have all the Trim strips for the sides Bright and Rubber if not you will find the prices for them bring tears to your eyes !!!, I would have another one in a shot they are a lot of fun to drive
I do have it all, at least it looks like it should all be there. I have a tinkering day tomorrow so I shall be going through it all. You Are right though they are pricey.
This was mine, I still have the Wheels as they fit the 16v, the only item I still have if you ever need one is a RHD Steering Box, they are Hens Teeth as well !!
