ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Sept 25, 2015 9:12:19 GMT
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It's been a while since I've owned a retro vehicle. A scourge of company car ownership and the need for cash rather than driveway ornaments has negated any purchases and lead to the sale of my past rides. Although recently I came to the conclusion and decided enough was enough and I needed something to tinker with and put a smile back on my face. The hunt began, and everything was considered from mk1 MX5's to E28's and mk2 golfs; the latter being what i've cut my teeth on and kind of know my way around. Then, one fateful day, this popped up on a random search for something else. With a vague description and a price that was too good to be true I figured it worth a nervous 300 mile round trip to take a look. As it turned out, it seemed honest, with a bunch of history and with the last owner using it daily since he bought it back in 1988. Of course, at the first opportunity, I bought it. These things just don't come up for sale any more so it would've been rude not to. It's not without it's faults, the rust to the front wings (inner and outer) and the front turrets is pretty bad so any money saved on the purchase price is going to be re-invested in repair costs. But at first glance, the sills and floor seem pretty solid. It's only a little 1.3 4 speed but around town and on b roads its surprisingly nippy. Obviously there are ideas of twin carb'd ABF 16v swaps but for now the priority is to get it solid and then just enjoy driving it. Anyway, enough rabbiting on, here are some pictures!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr The little 1.3 is surprisingly clean:  IMG_3807 by Adrian Child, on Flickr Squidgy suspension turret and botched filler jobs are going to present a lot of work!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr And the other side isn't much better!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr The current "chalk & cheese" car collection  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr Like I said, there's lots to do... The front wings are a write-off as they are 90% made of filler and the windscreen will need replacing as it appears the past owner cleaned it with a belt sander (not fun when driving at night!) but I absolutely love it! |
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Last Edit: Jul 18, 2017 9:38:12 GMT by ade36
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Sept 25, 2015 10:56:02 GMT
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Nice, will watch with interest. A mate of mine had one back in the day...a nice alternative to the usual Golfs  |
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Sept 25, 2015 11:50:33 GMT
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Someone put headlight rear covers on top of the strut bearings...
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Last Edit: Sept 25, 2015 11:50:25 GMT by outrage
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Sept 25, 2015 11:51:09 GMT
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Nice purchase. What size are the wheels on the disco? I'm debating some but some look tiny while others look huge?
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Sept 25, 2015 11:59:02 GMT
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Nice project, and thats a great colour.
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1964 VW Beetle
1986 VW Golf GL
1990 Toyota Carina II
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Sept 25, 2015 12:45:58 GMT
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Yeah, I did wonder why he had put the headlight rubbers on top of the struts; very odd! And yes, the colour is awesome so no way that is changing!
The disco is on 22" Stormer alloys (think they come in 20" fitment too which is why you may have seen differences in how they look). Contemplating some standard HSE rims for winter but for the hassle and expense of getting some I will probably just end up leaving the 22's on
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Sept 25, 2015 13:19:30 GMT
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They definitely suit better being bigger, shame I can't trust my Mrs  ? |
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Sept 27, 2015 7:37:57 GMT
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There seems to be quite a bit rust on the offside inner rear wing by the seat belt mount. Anyone know if this panel is the same as a mk1 golf? Thinking I could cut the panel out of a breaking golf rather than faff about fabricating from scratch
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Sept 28, 2015 14:42:23 GMT
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Just had a second opinion on the rear inner arch; turns out it's a definite MOT failure as its over the seat belt mount and less than 30cm from the rear suspension top mounting. My shopping list at VW heritage is about to get a lot bigger! On the upside, it looks like a golf inner arch should fit without too much modification. My plans of "lets get a couple of patches welded for now to MOT it then plan the full resto for next year" is rapidly turning into a a serious amount of work! At least the front wings are ordered now. Once they turn up (in four effing weeks!) I can strip the original ones off and see quite how bad the inner wings are...
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Put the Jetta to work today as I needed to move a ladder for my father-in-law. Was a good excuse for a nice little drive in the little Lido Green beast.  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr When I got back I decided to take a closer look at the back  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr It's mainly pretty solid, little bit of bodywork needing attention, and maybe a replacement rear bumper if I can ever source one. But the rust on the offside rear arch is worse than I originally though, definitely going to be a whole arch tub replacement!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr Seat belt mounting is definitely screwed!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr |
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Last Edit: Jul 18, 2017 9:40:36 GMT by ade36
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You didn't get this from Southampton did you?
Love these, but there's some work ahead of you in this one! Looking forward to seeing the outcome.
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Living the dream. Restore's classic car's for a living!
Project Racer: '99 Arosa
Project Touge Outlaw: '87 Porsche 924S
Project Street sleeper: '95 BMW E34 540i/A Touring
Project Mafia: '04 BMW E53 3.0d
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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You didn't get this from Southampton did you? Love these, but there's some work ahead of you in this one! Looking forward to seeing the outcome. Erm, yes  this is from around Southampton. You familiar with it then? Yeah, lots to do, definitely worth resurrecting though. |
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I am familiar with it, yes. Recognised the filler wing. Used to see it most days either parked up or mooching about. Sounded mechanically ok but there is a hell of alot of dodgy bodywork on her. Thought about speaking to the owner about taking it on as a project (as I'd always wanted one) but I have to many as it is.
Good luck, I'm sure that you'll get there.
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Living the dream. Restore's classic car's for a living!
Project Racer: '99 Arosa
Project Touge Outlaw: '87 Porsche 924S
Project Street sleeper: '95 BMW E34 540i/A Touring
Project Mafia: '04 BMW E53 3.0d
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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I am familiar with it, yes. Recognised the filler wing. Used to see it most days either parked up or mooching about. Sounded mechanically ok but there is a hell of alot of dodgy bodywork on her. Thought about speaking to the owner about taking it on as a project (as I'd always wanted one) but I have to many as it is. Good luck, I'm sure that you'll get there. Ha! Thanks for the words of encouragement! Yeah, a lot of filler going on; which is why I'm going down the replacement panel route rather than try and deal with what I have. Spares are pretty hard to come by though. Thought I'd just find someone breaking one but these things are rarer than I originally thought! |
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They were rare new. Panels aren't as bad as they used to be. Everything Jetta specific (ie front wings) used to be non existant... VWH now sells them (quality will be a little questionable, if my customers mk2 Golf is anything to go by though). Most of what you need are the same as the golf though. So no need to panic!
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Living the dream. Restore's classic car's for a living!
Project Racer: '99 Arosa
Project Touge Outlaw: '87 Porsche 924S
Project Street sleeper: '95 BMW E34 540i/A Touring
Project Mafia: '04 BMW E53 3.0d
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Oct 15, 2015 17:25:12 GMT
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So, as it was rapidly approaching the 4 weeks for the 4 week lead time for the replacement front wings I enquire only to be told that it'll be the end of November earliest until they show up. That's another 6 weeks on top of what I have already waited :-( .
This happens on the same day that I source a Mk1 golf shell to butcher for parts. I currently have new golf wings, front end and slam panel at my disposal. I am thinking that, for now at least, I may end up doing a golf front end swap. Not something I wanted to do as I wanted to keep it fairly original on the outside. But if it sees me through the winter it might be an option.
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Last Edit: Oct 15, 2015 17:25:09 GMT by ade36
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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After a bit of heading back and forth I've now managed to get my donor car shell back home!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr Being a five door, a lot of the panels that I need should transfer over to the Jetta without too much bastardising. Haven't really got the room for another car/shell but at least this way I have access to the various bits I need without waiting weeks for reproduction bits. It's solid everywhere I need it to be; in fact its pretty solid everywhere. Seems a shame to frag what is otherwise a good shell but needs must as I want the ugly Jetta to live on! |
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Last Edit: Jul 18, 2017 9:41:59 GMT by ade36
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simonh
Part of things
Posts: 77 
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Can't believe that shell's going to be chopped up. At least it's going to a good cause. Good luck!
Wouldn't it be easier just to graft the boot onto the hatch shell?
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Last Edit: Oct 22, 2015 8:54:50 GMT by simonh
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robdhc
Part of things
Posts: 198
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Looking good, I love the old mk1 VWs. I'll be following this with keen interest. Good luck!
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ade36
Part of things
Posts: 509
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Jan 13, 2016 16:51:44 GMT
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The months have passed an not much to report... Used it as much as possible up until the MOT ran out at the beginning of December and managed to strip the golf shell in time to free up the driveway for the jetta to reside over the winter. Then these eventually showed up!  Untitled by Adrian Child, on Flickr The quality doesn't look too bad but the real proof will be when it comes to fitting them so will have to wait and see. Annoyingly been very busy with work so not had a chance to get working on the Jetta. I get the feeling that it's not until I start stripping it back I'll start finding out how bad things really are underneath. Getting some new work offices next week meaning my garage "office" won't be needed. Hopefully this will mean I can get the Jetta indoors and actually start to take bits off it (although space will be tight in a single garage! |
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Last Edit: Jul 18, 2017 9:42:51 GMT by ade36
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?
this is from around Southampton. You familiar with it then? Yeah, lots to do, definitely worth resurrecting though.