1991 Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V

This lovely Royal Blue Golf GTI, which comes from the very last year of production, is fresh from a three-year restoration. Bought by a Golf enthusiast in 2016 who was attracted by the car’s low mileage, he commissioned renowned restoration and paint specialists Frankie’s of Finmere to make the necessary repairs before having it resprayed it in its original - and rare - colour of Royal Blue. This work took two months and set him back more than £4000.

The current vendor bought the car earlier this year – and while the interior was minty fresh he was determined to ensure that the mechanical components, the bits that separate the GTI 16V from the shopping Golf your grandma used to drive, were as good as they could possibly be.

He succeeded. Still showing only 116,000 miles on the clock, the vendor has enjoyed it for the past 4,500 miles of “real fun” with it. Now being reluctantly offered for sale to make space for his next toy (an E Type), it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid…

The work that Frankie’s of Finmere carried out in 2016 took care of the structural issues, and the fact that no rust has appeared since then vindicates the reputation they enjoy, a reputation sufficient for no less an authority as Bicester Heritage to entrust work to them.

As does the striking Royal Blue coachwork, which is still magnificent and free of anything bar the lightest of stonechips. The ‘big bumper’ look was quite the range back-in-the-day, and this one’s lines blend retro and modern surprisingly well. Of course, the trademark GTI red grille trim is present and correct too, and the whole really does reek of understated elegance and the sort of timeless and classless stylishness that saw the Golf appeal to dukes and sales assistants alike.

The glass is still clear and unscratched too, and the window seals are fresh and flexible. It’s much the same story with the badges and light lenses, all of which look terrific.

The original 15-inch BBS wheels remain in an excellent condition and are shod with matching 185/55R15 Bridgestone tyres, all of which still have plenty of tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our 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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The next owner’s job of keeping the car pristine will be made easier by the inclusion in the sale of a top-quality fleece-lined waterproof car cover worth £350.

Those who appreciate originality in their classics will be heartened by the sight that greets them on opening any of the Golf’s five doors. Barring the new stereo, which is a modern digital unit with all the right features, it’s all exactly as it came out of the factory, right down to the iconic golf ball gearknob.

And, wonderfully, everything appears to be solid and unmarked. Volkswagen cabin cloth of this era generally stands up to abuse and the passage of time very well, and the material here wears its three decades well. The seats are still firm and comfortable too as well as wonderfully retro with their striped fabric, fabric that is still taut and tight rather than baggy and slcak.

The headlining is intact and unblemished, and while some of the fabric on the left-hand side of the steel sunroof – which is opened by hand using a wonderfully period cranked handle - catches slightly when the roof is activated, everything else works as it should including the LCD panel for on-board trip computer.

The boot floor is solid, and the boot itself is home to the first aid kit, a ‘Wolfsburg Edition’ floor mat, and the spare wheel and associated toolkit. Even the parcel shelf, usually one of the first bits of trim to deteriorate and break, is solid and whole and unsullied by anything so crude as aftermarket speakers.

If it were ours then we’d be tempted to track down a period-correct radio but other than that, we’re struggling to find fault with the interior.

Part of the car’s restoration between 2016 and 2019 included the suspension, which was completely replaced at a cost of around £1,000.

Other work included a pre-emptive replacement of the head gasket; while it didn’t need to be renewed, the owner was keen on preventative maintenance based on his plans to keep the car for a long time. For the same reason, a full service was carried out at the time of the restoration, including replacement of the cambelt along with the water pump and all the other associated belt-change items.

The vendor has continued this fastidious approach to its maintenance undertaking the following work:

01.06.2020 – a full service including another cambelt and tensioner “just to be sure”. This work, plus new vacuum hoses, cost £566

Mid-June – a new heater matrix and matrix bypass removed at a cost of £75

17.06.20 – a new cam chain, rocket gasket and all new hydraulic lifters, plus a new steering gaiter and heat shield. This bill totalled £575

22.07.20 – the whole car was pressure washed and dried underneath before being professionally Waxoyl’d for £282

03.09.20 – a new distributor oil seal was replaced at a cost of £44

04.09.20 - fuel relay work for a final bill of £192

All of the above work was carried out by classic VW specialist, Autobahn in Bournemouth. All-in-all, the vendor has spent a total of £1,734 and he tells us that “she wants for nothing. With a new cam chain and lifters, she really goes well and is smooth and quiet” before adding that the Golf is “on the button”.

The engine bay is dry. As something of an obsessive (and is there a better personality type to buy a second hand car from?) the chap that carried out the restoration kept a sheet of cardboard under it and told the next owner that he never saw any evidence of oil or coolant leaks.

The Golf’s MOT certificate, which is valid until March 2021, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s been doing since 2018.

There’s a hefty wedge of routine service paperwork with the car, along with the original (very well) stamped-up service booklet and plenty of old MOT certificates going back to 2002. It also has three keys plus the owner’s handbook, and book pack plus the wallet to hold them all safely together.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We know the vendor to be a meticulous and mechanically sympathetic man, so when he tells us that “I doubt there is a finer Mk2 on the market anywhere”, we have no reason to doubt him. As you can see, it really is a delightful thing and serves to remind us that you really don’t need huge amounts of power in order to have fun.

Plus, given where the price of Golf GTI MKIs is now, it’s only a matter of time before the price of the MKII follows – and given that every petrolhead’s favourite game is predicted which cars are currently undervalued and due for a rise, the smart money has to be on cars like this, surely?

As for the price, while we think this one will sell for somewhere between £8,000 and £13,000, it’s being offered with no reserve, so is going to sell from the very first bid…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the owner in Poole; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.