1987 Volkswagen Golf GTi 16v MK2

This Golf GTi has been the subject of a thorough nut and bolt restoration, including:

• Complete strip and repaint shell, wings, doors, boot lid, bonnet, front valance etc. (excluding interior of main shell paint). Etch primed, epoxy primed, 2k Tornado Red solid. Car was extremely rust free – a very small piece inside the rear arch flange was fabricated and welded in.
• Subframes, lower arms, anti-roll bar, rear beam stripped and re-powder coated
• All bolts re – zinc plated to correct gold colour
• All brackets, clips correctly re-zinc plated to correct gold
• New rear beam axle bushes
• New rear shock absorbers including bushes, bump stops OEM Spec
• New springs front and rear – genuine VW NOS from Germany with correct colour paint dots.
• New front shock absorbers, including top mounts bushes etc OEM spec.
• Steering rack refurbished including re-grease, gaiters, clips. New tie rods, track rod ends. New steering rack mounting bushes. All OEM spec or genuine if possible.
• New Ball joints OEM spec
• New wheels bearings FAG or SKF
• New anti-roll bar bushes, anti-roll bar links OEM spec Lemforder
• New fuel tank straps Genuine VW
• New fuel pipes and clips to body Genuine VW
• Overhaul fuel pump unit including new fuel pump OEM Bosch, new fuel filter genuine, new fuel accumulator OEM Bosch, new pipes/banjo fittings
• New driveshafts SKF
• New Brake pipes – painted correct OEM green finish. (Bent by Pirtek so pipers are straight and bends are not wobbly – like to see many restorations!) New brake pipe clips to body genuine VW.
• Brake calipers x4 all refurbished by BiggRed. Re plate to correct gold finish, new pistons, seals etc.
• New brake compensator OEM Spec
• Brake master cylinder overhauled and repainted
• Brake servo repainted with correct part sticker applied
• New brake discs x4, New brake pads OEM spec Brembo
• New rubber brake hoses x4 OEM spec Bosch or TRW
• New Handbrake cables and fixing clips
• New brake backing plates genuine VW rear and OEM spec front
• New gear linkage and bushes OEM spec and genuine
• Clean and refit exhaust heatshields, new fixings genuine VW
• New exhaust rear sections to OEM spec. Clean up and refit original VW downpipe with flexi and center section. New clamps and gaskets. Paint heatproof black.
• New exhaust manifold gaskets, new exhaust nuts and studs. Original manifold blasted and painted heatproof. New manifold heatshield genuine VW
• New engine mounts x3 OEM Febi Bilstein
• Engine removed and stripped. Block cleaned and repainted black.
• New sump, new sump gasket, new sump nut and washer. OEM spec and genuine VW
• Cylinder head stripped, checked clearances etc. Vapor blasted including cam cover. Rebuilt with new gaskets Elring OEM
• Intake manifold parts vapor blasted, VW 16v logo repainted correct blue
• New intake manifold gaskets
• New oil temp sensor, coolant sensors in cylinder head. OEM spec Febi
• Alternator stripped, casing blasted, pulley and parts re-zinc plated, new bearings FAG, red oxide repainted, reused original VW Bosch sticker.
• New auxiliary drive belt, OEM spec Gates
• All engine bay brackets, coolant pipes, nuts, bolts fixings, re-zinc plated gold
• New oil filter and cooler Hella OEM spec. Bosch filter fitted for initial running then Genuine VW oil filter
• New cambelt and bearings kit OEM Spec Gates belt
• New Genuine VW lower cam belt cover. Top cover genuine, cleaned and refitted
• New water pump, new thermostat, new hose to water pump flange OEM Spec.
• Bottom pully and water pump pulley repainted and refitted with original re-zinc plated bolts
• New dip stick tube. Genuine VW
• New Distributor and cap. Genuine VW Bosch
• New Spark Plugs. Original HT leads. New Coil to Distributor lead. OEM spec Beru
• All new coolant hoses. OEM spec Topran, Genuine VW. Original clips reused and painted to correct colour coding blue, yellow, green, silver etc.
• Original Coolant expansion tank cleaned. New level sensor, new coolant cap. OEM spec. (should be black but could only get later blue type)
• New expansion tank to radiator braided hose and fitting clips
• New radiator OEM spec Hella Behr
• Radiator surround repainted, new warning stickers, new coolant fan and correct part number stickers. OEM spec or genuine VW
• Ignition coil cleaned, checked and new OEM sticker replaced. Mounting bracket re-zinc plated
• New fuel injectors Bosch OEM
• New fuel injector pipes OEM Goodridge
• New Air filter Genuine VW
• New LUK OEM spec clutch
• New Clutch cable OEM spec Febi
• Gearbox removed, stripped, blasted and repainted. Internals checked and main bearings replaced. OEM Spec FAG SK. New gaskets, new genuine green VW end cap.
• New gearbox seals, output flanges cleaned and re-painted with correct green painted parts.
• New Throttle cable OEM Spec
• New washer hoses Genuine VW pipe. Correct hose fittings and fixings used
• Clean original screen washer bottle and reuse. Source genuine VW washer pump.
• Genuine original Bosch starter motor removed, blasted and repainted correct colour black with red cable tie.
• Original wiring loom stripped out, cleaned and refitted using correct mountings and colour fixings/cable ties
• New genuine Headlights Bosch
• New side indicators Hella
• New rear light units Genuine VW. (1x NOS VW, 1x reproduction genuine VW)
• Refinish original Hella spot lights and replace Hella Stickers. Genuine VW mounting screws fitted
• New Genuine NOS VW front red striped grill (very had to find and not aftermarket!) Replacement GTI 16v Badge fitted
• Indicator light units cleaned and replacement genuine VW lenses fitted
• New Bosch battery and Genuine VW battery cover
• New bonnet rubber OEM
• New under bonnet stickers
• New bonnet earth strap Genuine VW
• Front slam panel stripped and repainted. Headlight stickers applied.
• Original bonnet catch re-zinc plated and refitted to bonnet and slam panel. Reused original bonnet release cable.
• Door straps and door catches re-plated to correct gold zinc
• Original wiper arms repainted front and rear. New Bosch wiper blades
• New Genuine horns, brackets and fixings re zinc plated
• Heater box removed, new foam seals, fixings re- zinc plated, new heater matrix OEM spec Hella
• New windscreen and windscreen seal. Still have Pilkington screen that came with car
• New door rubbers OEM spec
• New boot rubber and boot wiring rubber gaiters Genuine VW
• New rear window rubbers OEM spec
• New tailgate window rubber OEM spec
• New lower window rubbers on driver and passenger doors OEM spec
• New sunroof rubber seal. Genuine VW
• Roof gutters in very good condition and reused. 1 has slight kink - No alternatives available
• New roof aerial and base including gasket. OEM Spec
• New tailgate black graphic OEM Spec (VW Heritage)
• New black decals to sides OEM spec (VW Heritage)
• New black sill side decals OEM Spec (VW Heritage)
• New red side stripe New Old Stock NOS Genuine VW
• New genuine VW black plastic arch coverings. New genuine VW black fixing rivets
• Genuine original refurbished bumpers
• New Genuine Golf GTI badge. (16v red badge original)
• New front splitter/valence OEM (VW Heritage)
• New original VW First aid kit in boot
• Genuine steering wheel with little wear sourced genuine VW
• New gear knob ball Genuine VW
• New gear lever gaiter OEM spec
• Seats untouched although suspect recovered by a previous owner. Door cards original etc. Carpet believed to be original. Boot carpet original.
• Spare wheel complete in boot. Original stickers still under boot carpet.
• New carpet mats. Genuine VW
• New Genuine NOS VW dashboard (unbelievable find!!)
• New number plates (Have original dealer plates)
• Wheels refurbished to correct colour silver
• New Continental Conti Premium Contact 5 tyres

Wow. As the restorer says, the pictures do the talking. This is as close to a brand new Mk2 Golf GTi Mk2 you’re likely to find anywhere. Faultless.

Apart from a small section of headlining that needs reattaching, it’s 1987 all over again in here too. Amazing.

Like new. Incredible attention to detail and an absolute credit to the restorer.

The owner and restorer says:

‘The car came from a local VW dealership when new called Munn & Chapman in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire. It was serviced and maintained at the original supplying dealership in 1988, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, and twice in 1997. The dealership changed name to VW Evans Halshaw for the 1998 service. It then changed again to Citygate VW (which it still is today) for the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 servicing. 17 services at the original dealer!

‘From 2004 the car was independently serviced by a garage called Barnside Motors in Cookham, Berkshire, and 2006 onwards by the following owners themselves. (I have parts receipts etc.)

‘I bought the car in 2015, The previous owner Mr Whitehead had it since 2010, previous to that a Mr Long since 2009. I am unsure of ownership names prior to this. The car was originally registered to Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd, London when new.

‘When I was younger and starting to learn to drive a friend of my dad’s had Mk2 Golf that he was selling. Unfortunately due to insurance costs it wasn’t a viable option for me to buy and I had to wait many more years until I could buy one. I bought this car back in 2015 as I really wanted a small bumper 3 door Mk2 Golf, and particularly a GTi 16v. Of course it had to be Tornado red!

‘Luckily the price was realistic. It was a running driving vehicle not really needing any restoration. The car was very rust free but generally tired all round. I like my cars to be perfect as I am very picky. I decided to restore to car to as close to new as I could.

The only reason I am selling the car is garage space. I simply haven’t got enough room as I have motorcycles and another car. I’m sure I will regret the decision to sell but the restoration process is more enjoyable for me than running and driving the car.

The overall condition of the car is exceptional. I am very very picky! The door and panel fit is perfect, the paintworK is exceptional (not orange peeled finish like you see on cheap reaprays and restorations) All the graphics are new. If I am being extremely fussy there are some light scratches to the glass as it is original (rear screen, side glass and door glass, not windscreen). If I was to keep the car I would have it polished. The rear section of headlining has started to come away slightly from the backing. It is the original and wasn’t like it when I finished the restoration of the car last year. It would just need to be pulled down and reglued.

The car is completely standard and I have tried to make the car as close to new as possible. Even the radio is period original.

The engine and chassis/vin number are original and are correct.

I think the photos will speak for themselves – I can’t imagine there is a better, original, small bumper 16v Mk2 around.'

A unique opportunity to acquire a piece of motoring history in as close to as new condition as it’s possible to get.

There’s a company restoring Mk2 Golfs to this standard called Type 19, and they charge £34,950 for a car similar to this, making this one look like something of a bargain.

We estimate this to fetch between £20,000 - £25,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Watford. The Market is open weekdays 9am-5pm – to arrange an appointment to view this Golf please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments