1989 Volkswagen Golf GTi Convertible

‘G170 EMO’ is a VW Golf GTI Cabriolet with a difference – and the difference isn’t just that it’s in a fabulous condition.

No, the real difference is that it benefits from a body-off restoration that included a custom blue leather interior. It also sits on Pirelli alloy wheels and has been lowered using coilovers, which further differentiates it from the herd.

The seller bought it from a coachwork company who had poured its heart and soul into the Golf to demonstrate its expertise, which explains why there’s no paperwork, but rest assured; no-one goes to the trouble of creating a 3D CV and cuts corners, do they?

The seller is a long-time Golf GTI enthusiast who’s owned many over the years but never a Cabriolet, so when this one came up for sale around 18 months he couldn’t resist.

He’s scratched that itch now, and is keen to move onto the next car on his Bucket List – could this one tick off an entry on yours?

The Golf’s body-off restoration gave the firm the chance to give it a new colour – and that colour’s been used to give the MKI a fresher, more contemporary look courtesy of colour-matched bumpers, mirrors, wheelarch extensions, and an eyebrow spoiler.

Clear indicator lenses too, and the finished job works very well, with the standard chin spoiler, side trim, and lower stripes helping the Golf retain a familiar feel.

The bodywork and paint job all look to have been completed to a high standard; there’s no paperwork to support it other than a photo album, but it’s held up incredibly well and looks terrific.

The Pirelli ‘P Slot’ alloy wheels are missing their centre caps, but they’re very clean, free of dinks and scrapes, and the naked look suits the car’s slightly lower stance.

They’re also fitted with matching 185/60R14 Goodyear tyres, which were made in 2024 and have good tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The folding hood is in a fine condition. Finished in dark blue with contrasting white stitching, it rises and falls easily, and seals tightly when it’s up. It’s free of rips, tears, and other damage too, and tucks away neatly beneath a very clean blue vinyl cover.

The Golf’s is one of the better-engineered examples in its class and is so well constructed there’s no reason not to use the car all year around, especially given the presence of a proper heated glass rear window.

As for faults, the windscreen has some hazing, and the rear bumper has a blemish in the paint. 
 

The firm chose to recover the original seats rather than replace them with something ‘better’. We wholeheartedly approve, not least because this leaves the rear seats in their 50:50 split configuration, which increases the car’s versatility as you can fold one or both sides forward, juggling luggage and passenger space to suit your needs.

Like the front seats, the two rears are still in an excellent condition with no obvious wear ‘n’ tear.

The door cards and rear quarter panels have also been trimmed in leather. However, they took care to retain the factory door caps, pockets, door pulls, and the like, which gives the Golf a factory look that speaks of hours of deliberation; often the hardest decision when modifying a car is to know when to stop and this one’s been perfectly judged.

The steering wheel was also recovered, so you get to enjoy the iconic four-button layout (“if you can’t pass ‘em, blast ‘em”) but with a fatter, nicer rim to grasp.

While the custom leather seats and door cards are the most obvious change, less-obvious details include new ‘Wolfsberg Edition’ window winders, pedals covers, and gearknob.

The headunit has been replaced with a more modern JVC CD player too, and Mutant speakers have been fitted into a specially constructed parcelshelf.

The boot is very well trimmed and sports clean and undamaged inner rear wings. The boot seal is in good shape too, and while it feels a bit like you’re posting your luggage into a letterbox, it is a good size.

The vinyl headlining is a bit wrinkled but they’re all like that, and the sunvisors are in good shape and stay put when they’re folded up.

As for other imperfections, the vinyl on the glovebox lid is a bit wrinkled, some of the lettering on the controls is faded and worn, and the trim panel around the heater controls is slightly damaged. 
 

We are told the engine was “refreshed but not gone through” and we note the oil pressure light takes a few seconds to go out.

It starts well though and idles with the fuel-injected engine’s trademark solidity, something that stunned a generation who were used to having to juggle a choke to keep a cold engine running.

It idles well when it is hot too, revs nicely, and has an unusually deep exhaust note courtesy of the performance exhaust system. Our man reports that it drives “extremely well”, which is as close to gushing as we’ve ever heard.

The seller adds: “The only faults are a weak starter motor, the digital oil temperature gauge sometimes gives false readings, and the analogue water temperature reads high. But it does NOT overheat, it’s just the gauges that are off, and I’ve been told it could just be a bad earth. Apart from these few niggles it's a good runner.”

The engine has been dressed with blue Samco hoses to match the colour of the brake calipers and the engine block.

There’s a strut brace too, and the engine looks clean and is seemingly free of leaks. In fact, it’s been so nicely maintained that even the fragile plastic trim cover between the engine and the scuttle is still there.

The online MoT history dates to 2005, and we can’t see any mention of structural rust or corrosion.

Not that you’d have a problem spotting it if there were any because the underside has been painted rather than undersealed, all the better to show off its condition.

Well, if you’ve got it, why not flaunt it because it is very, very clean under there with components that include an uprated exhaust, coilover suspension, copper brake lines, and polybushes.
 

The Golf’s MoT certificate, which is valid until August 2026, was issued with no advisories, something it’s made a bit of a habit of over the years.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for a change of colour from its original blue to the silver it wears now.
 

For many of us cars from the eighties and nineties are the sweet spot, being modern enough to drive that they aren’t too much of a culture shock while also offering good reliability.

They’re easy to work on too – and it doesn’t hurt their cause that many of us admired them when they were new but couldn’t afford to buy or insure them, a situation that created a lifetime of want that we can now afford to satisfy.

But the fact so many of us admire them is something of a double-edged sword: On the one hand residuals are strong, while on the other, well, residuals are strong…

But not silly.

Not yet, anyway because we estimate this one will only sell for between £7,000 and £11,000 – and as it’s being offered with no reserve, it’s going to sell no matter what.

Conventional wisdom might be that going into winter is the wrong time of the year to buy a convertible but, as is so often the case, conventional wisdom is wrong; everyone else will be thinking the same, so prices will almost certainly be lower now than they will next spring.

Besides, given how good the roof and heater are, there’s absolutely no reason not to drive this Karmann-built GTI all year around. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.