Up for sale due to my 20vt conversion nearing completion is my H reg 1991 Mk2 Golf GTD. Bought as a MOT failure and lovingly improved and maintained for the last two years, 2 previous owners, just over 156k miles, 11 months MOT (only needing a number-plate bulb to pass the last one).
The Engine
1.6 TD SB Code with original top mounted Intercooler. Improved by Reg Cheeseman; he set the pump timing, fitted a manual boost controller, gov modded the pump and generally got it running spot on. It goes very well indeed. Last year after a HG failure the head was skimmed, valves were lapped in and a new OEM quality HG and bolts were fitted by Tom at Waterwerks along with a boost gauge which sits nicely in a SWG pod in the vent so you can keep an eye on it. It cruises nicely with modern traffic and you can have some fun on the back lanes too.
Transmission
Gearbox was a reconditioned item from a donor car I bought (have the receipt for the rebuild), it’d only seen a couple of hundred miles in that car before the engine popped and it’s only seen 5 thousandish miles in my ownership. It feels tight and shifts positively as you’d expect, no whines crunches or bagginess. It has a MK3 weighted shift rod for a more positive change and the clutch was replaced when the car was reconditioned in 2014 so won’t need looking at any time soon.
Wheels
15” ‘G60’ steels in good condition with centres and four very good branded tyres all round, grips the road well. Space saver in the boot.
Brakes
New brake pads front & rear, new 239mm GTI disks in 2014 with a new rear beam with integral ARB to accommodate rear disks. Goodridge braided brake hoses and completely new brake lines throughout, pulls up nice and straight and reasonably quickly (for a MK2!) It has the MK3 rear calliper conversion to prevent against sticking and the handbrake is nice and positive.
Suspension
Currently it sits on coilovers (raceland or hottuning possibly), it holds the road very nicely, 8v GTI suspension can be supplied free if you'd rather go back to standard. Worth mentioning that these coilovers have only been on the car for the last 100 miles or so, I wanted to keep the Eibach pro kit shocks and springs that I had it on.
Bodywork
All the key areas are solid, turrets, scuttle, sills, there’s some surface rust on the battery tray but the chassis legs are solid, it’s a non-sunroof so no drain issues to worry about either. There was a tiny patch welded in for the 2014 MOT on the drivers foot-well where I guess water had been getting in through the bonnet release grommet, but other than that this car is in all original solid metal. There are a few little surface rust scabs around the place but all have been treated with Kurust and aren’t going anywhere. There are some little dints around the place too, most notably the front wing has a dent where my old man reversed his lawnmower into it (thanks Dad) but I’m pretty confident this would pull out and tidy up with a little touch up paint. It could do with a good detail too, but that has never been my bag, I’m guessing the paint would correct well and won’t have been polished to death.
Interior
Excellent condition ultraviolet 90 spec interior, super solid door cards with no water damage (all door membranes are intact as they left the factory), solid drivers bolster. Unbroken parcel shelf supports, straight parcel shelf, carpeted boot turrets, black GTI carpets, black plastics (A,B,C pillar etc) and sunvisors to replace the cream coloured GTD stuff. Stereo is a period correct Panasonic with an AUX in for your phone etc. I’ve upgraded all the speakers to JBLs all round including the tweeters in the dash. One of the speaker grilles is cracked on the passenger door. The only thing that lets the interior down it the headlining, which is grubby and sagging a little. I’ll include a rare black plastic non sunroof headlining if the car sells for near its asking price.
Other bits and bobs!
It’s fully poly-bushed throughout, had new track rod ends, lower bush arms and all new wheel bearings in 2014. Basically if it could be replaced it was. Exhaust is in good condition, new rubbers fitted in 2014. I have a reasonably complete five door central locking setup that can come with the car if it sells near the asking price. It’s got some cool GTD bits including I/C cowling and battery cover, rev counter clocks, undertray and underbonnet sound deadening. It also had a fancy high capacity Bosch battery fitted a year or so ago, total overkill but at least you never worry about it not starting! Factory fitted power steering, 99 intermittent wiper relay, armoured door plates etc etc.
The not so good bits
Trip milometer has stopped working last year, but the overall mileage still clocks on (easyish fix). The tank straps are rusty, I haven’t got around to this, new straps will be included in the sale. There isn’t any history before my ownership, I have a few receipts for stuff I’ve paid for and you can check MOT history to confirm mileage.
Overall
It’s a low mileage, honest, solid car which goes really well and wont need anything spending on it for the foreseeable future. There’s scope to tune these motors to big figures but I liked to keep some of the originality and longevity as there aren’t many left. A FMIC, 2” straight through, would all add a little bit more oomph. Having said that it’s a practical retro daily as is and returns ridiculous MPG, so if it ain’t broke…? You could certainly buy a GTD for less, but you’d undoubtedly spend out significantly more on getting it into this kind of condition. It hasn’t been ragged or chavved up and although not as desirable as a valver you certainly don’t see many around, it’s the precursor to all the modern diesel hot hatches on the road today! I’ve been completely honest with this description and any inspection is welcome, I’ll happily chat to you about the car for as long as you like and tell you as much as I know. Cash is king here, no swaps thanks, I have another MK2 incoming and hopefully that will be the only car I’ll need…for now!
Drop me a PM for contact details, cheers, James
The Engine
1.6 TD SB Code with original top mounted Intercooler. Improved by Reg Cheeseman; he set the pump timing, fitted a manual boost controller, gov modded the pump and generally got it running spot on. It goes very well indeed. Last year after a HG failure the head was skimmed, valves were lapped in and a new OEM quality HG and bolts were fitted by Tom at Waterwerks along with a boost gauge which sits nicely in a SWG pod in the vent so you can keep an eye on it. It cruises nicely with modern traffic and you can have some fun on the back lanes too.
Transmission
Gearbox was a reconditioned item from a donor car I bought (have the receipt for the rebuild), it’d only seen a couple of hundred miles in that car before the engine popped and it’s only seen 5 thousandish miles in my ownership. It feels tight and shifts positively as you’d expect, no whines crunches or bagginess. It has a MK3 weighted shift rod for a more positive change and the clutch was replaced when the car was reconditioned in 2014 so won’t need looking at any time soon.
Wheels
15” ‘G60’ steels in good condition with centres and four very good branded tyres all round, grips the road well. Space saver in the boot.
Brakes
New brake pads front & rear, new 239mm GTI disks in 2014 with a new rear beam with integral ARB to accommodate rear disks. Goodridge braided brake hoses and completely new brake lines throughout, pulls up nice and straight and reasonably quickly (for a MK2!) It has the MK3 rear calliper conversion to prevent against sticking and the handbrake is nice and positive.
Suspension
Currently it sits on coilovers (raceland or hottuning possibly), it holds the road very nicely, 8v GTI suspension can be supplied free if you'd rather go back to standard. Worth mentioning that these coilovers have only been on the car for the last 100 miles or so, I wanted to keep the Eibach pro kit shocks and springs that I had it on.
Bodywork
All the key areas are solid, turrets, scuttle, sills, there’s some surface rust on the battery tray but the chassis legs are solid, it’s a non-sunroof so no drain issues to worry about either. There was a tiny patch welded in for the 2014 MOT on the drivers foot-well where I guess water had been getting in through the bonnet release grommet, but other than that this car is in all original solid metal. There are a few little surface rust scabs around the place but all have been treated with Kurust and aren’t going anywhere. There are some little dints around the place too, most notably the front wing has a dent where my old man reversed his lawnmower into it (thanks Dad) but I’m pretty confident this would pull out and tidy up with a little touch up paint. It could do with a good detail too, but that has never been my bag, I’m guessing the paint would correct well and won’t have been polished to death.
Interior
Excellent condition ultraviolet 90 spec interior, super solid door cards with no water damage (all door membranes are intact as they left the factory), solid drivers bolster. Unbroken parcel shelf supports, straight parcel shelf, carpeted boot turrets, black GTI carpets, black plastics (A,B,C pillar etc) and sunvisors to replace the cream coloured GTD stuff. Stereo is a period correct Panasonic with an AUX in for your phone etc. I’ve upgraded all the speakers to JBLs all round including the tweeters in the dash. One of the speaker grilles is cracked on the passenger door. The only thing that lets the interior down it the headlining, which is grubby and sagging a little. I’ll include a rare black plastic non sunroof headlining if the car sells for near its asking price.
Other bits and bobs!
It’s fully poly-bushed throughout, had new track rod ends, lower bush arms and all new wheel bearings in 2014. Basically if it could be replaced it was. Exhaust is in good condition, new rubbers fitted in 2014. I have a reasonably complete five door central locking setup that can come with the car if it sells near the asking price. It’s got some cool GTD bits including I/C cowling and battery cover, rev counter clocks, undertray and underbonnet sound deadening. It also had a fancy high capacity Bosch battery fitted a year or so ago, total overkill but at least you never worry about it not starting! Factory fitted power steering, 99 intermittent wiper relay, armoured door plates etc etc.
The not so good bits
Trip milometer has stopped working last year, but the overall mileage still clocks on (easyish fix). The tank straps are rusty, I haven’t got around to this, new straps will be included in the sale. There isn’t any history before my ownership, I have a few receipts for stuff I’ve paid for and you can check MOT history to confirm mileage.
Overall
It’s a low mileage, honest, solid car which goes really well and wont need anything spending on it for the foreseeable future. There’s scope to tune these motors to big figures but I liked to keep some of the originality and longevity as there aren’t many left. A FMIC, 2” straight through, would all add a little bit more oomph. Having said that it’s a practical retro daily as is and returns ridiculous MPG, so if it ain’t broke…? You could certainly buy a GTD for less, but you’d undoubtedly spend out significantly more on getting it into this kind of condition. It hasn’t been ragged or chavved up and although not as desirable as a valver you certainly don’t see many around, it’s the precursor to all the modern diesel hot hatches on the road today! I’ve been completely honest with this description and any inspection is welcome, I’ll happily chat to you about the car for as long as you like and tell you as much as I know. Cash is king here, no swaps thanks, I have another MK2 incoming and hopefully that will be the only car I’ll need…for now!
Drop me a PM for contact details, cheers, James
