MK1 Golf GTI Project

[ChrisL 17]

After selling the Corrado I lasted until about January before needing something to do in the garage that wouldn't cost the earth. I ended up buying this back in February after a short search for a MK1 GTI. The car had been stripped by the previous owner and any welding work already completed, this looks to be only minor areas such as the rear panel, rear outer arches and the front panel. Other then that, the shell is in amazing condition. I have all the parts stored in boxes to be cleaned and fitted once the paint work is finished.

 

I've always wanted to have a go at bodywork preparation and painting and intend to do it all myself including the final top-coat.

 

So this is when I got it home:

 

This is the interior, not bad for 170K miles. Totally mint except for a small fag burn, this wont matter as I intend to have the centres re-trimmed with the black and grey stripe:

 

First job after sorting all the parts out of the shell was a quick clean of the interior, floors look perfect:

 

 

Then I got a jig made at work to make the days of sanding a little easier:

 

 

Noticed one of the sills had been dented up, probably from someone jacking the car incorrectly:

 

 

was going to live with it as its not intended to be a show car but decided it would drive me mad if I didnt sort it, so got some plates welded on to try and pull it straight

 

 

Came out pretty well really

 

 

More to follow….

Edited January 15, 2018 by ChrisL

[easypops 8]

Love the Jig, and the space you seem to have, I've no doubt this'll be properly mint once you are done with it 8)

[Jim 1]

Amazing, Chris. I can't wait to see more progress on this.

[delfinis38 1]

Looking good chris.

[Dogma 10]

Woo love the MK1 golf...good luck with the project.

[mic_VR 3]

I like messing with cars but some of you guys are seriously good at this!

 

I'm jealous already know how good the finished article will be. Top work Chris.

[Dogma 10]

I like messing with cars but some of you guys are seriously good at this!

 

I'm jealous already know how good the finished article will be. Top work Chris.

 

Indeed same as, but having a nice big storage barn or shed helps. :)

 

Which i don't, but is a good thing otherwise i would have more cars. :D

Edited January 24, 2017 by Dogma

[delfinis38 1]

Must get myself another toy to annoy the neighbours.... and get the curtains twitching... got plenty of room for another 4 cars on the drive and in garage... would love a mk1 golf...

[robrado974 1]

Great project Chris . All that room to work in I'm a tad envious.

[lilfuzzer 1]

Good work buddy

 

Sent from my SM-G357FZ using Tapatalk

[Harrier 1]

Nice :)

[ChrisL 17]

thanks all, a mk1 golf gti was supposed to be my first car back in 1992 but it was just as insurances went through the roof because of cars like the XR2 being stolen all the time.

 

The garage is great and I do have loads of space to work and can still get the wife's car in there too. The jig is also a godsend when it comes to sanding as it will rotate to exactly the right position.

 

I said this wasn't going to be a show car but more of something I could use when I wanted, but the boot floor needed prepping for paint and got a bit carried away

Bit of dolphin glaze filler just to get it a bit flatter

and sanded

 

Inner arches had a few ripples and small dents so on with a little filler

 

all primed and some seam sealer applied to finish off

 

On to the drivers rear quarter, decided to take it back to bare metal and found a nice ding full of filler

can be seen better after priming

 

I didn't fancy loading it with filler again incase it shrank over time so got a dent remover round

 

Now just needed a light skim to get it dead flat

 

More to follow

[Harrier 1]

I take it it's Lhasa green

Are you keeping the original colour?

I fell in love with a Lhasa when I was in my early 20,s

Just couldn't quite afford it , wish I had saved a bit harder though, bought a 2.0 Capri instead :(

[ChrisL 17]

It is Lhasa green but its not staying that colour, it will be this colour:

 

Carbon steel grey metallic from the MK7 Golf!

[Harrier 1]

Should look lovely :)

[ChrisL 17]

Thanks, still going to keep the black arch trims and all the stripes on the door bottoms.

[seanl82 23]

That'll look great Chris! How are you painting the top coat? I keep thinking I need a compressor, but the cost of a decent setup is keeping me from doing it. With something like painting though, it'll pay for itself pretty quickly!

[ChrisL 17]

I've never painted before so this will be my first. I have a friend who owns a garage with a spray booth in the corner, he said I can borrow it and also use his gun etc.

 

High build priming will be done in my garage.

[sexybourbon 0]

nice chris will be nice when youve finished it

[GrizzlyBear 11]

Awesome stuff, love the mk1s. Will look great in that colour. My mate has a yellow formel e on bags and it's a beautiful looking car ;) good luck!

[Geeba 0]

Looks really nice.... just sold my MK1 which was sat in my Mums garage for near on three years... I wanted to do the same paint wise, MK7 Midnight Blue, but taking on the Corrado and another extension to build the MK1 was just never going to get done :(

[Vrchrisw 10]

Like it Chris! Watching this..!

[ChrisL 17]

Got the rear panel finished and looks nice and flat from the reflection in the wet primer

 

Onto the doors, drivers door was the worst with a large crease at the front, plan is to go back to bare metal then have a dent remover come and get as much out as possible

crease can be seen here

back to bare metal

dent remover managed to get it all pretty much out leaving just a light skim of filler

and primed, seems pretty flat

 

Bonnet now to take back to bare metal then I should be ready for high build primer. I'm going to try a polyester primer which is supposed to be really thick (like spraying filler apparently). Then its more blocking work......... and dust...........

[ChrisL 17]

Ok, so some updates:

 

Put some new wings on and wanted to make sure all gaps were even, pretty good I think

 

 

Bought a new bonnet and checked all gaps up front

 

Then masked up ready for some polyester high build:

 

This was then blocked again (no pics) and then the shell was sprayed in high build primer

 

More to follow.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[delfinis38 1]

That's rather lovely chris.... you decided on a colour yet ? Keep the updates coming please... would love a mk1 one of these days.