Wednesday 28th August 2013

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1: Spotted

If you thought new Golfs were expensive, the early cars are now catching up!

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There are always a few cars that climb in value so markedly on the way to classic status that their prices become genuinely shocking. Great for the owners, not such brilliant news for those wanting to buy.

Timeless, fun, cool, quick... expensive

Take this Mk1 Golf GTi. It's a late 1.6 in Mars Red (recently resprayed) and plenty of history to back up its 31 years and 162,000 miles. It appeared to these eyes a Golf worth about £6,000. How wrong you can be...

Turns out GDY321X is for sale at £9,000, which seems an awful lot for a Mk1, flawless though this cars appears. But that's far from the price ceiling for the first Golf GTI, as this low-mileage 1.8 proves at an astounding £12,000. And never to be outdone when it comes to exceptional classic cars, 4 Star lists a 1.6 GTIat £12,495. Blimey.

The Golf GTI's legendary status almost goes without saying more than 35 years after its introduction, but those values still came as something of a surprise. Further investigation was required...

As hot hatch icons go, the 205 GTI is right up there with the Golf (the debate on the best is surely already raging elsewhere...). But the most expensive 205 on PH is £5,795, again with some desirable new parts and without a mechanical refresh. Still, that's quite a difference.

Outside may have aged well, interior hasn't...

But then this is quite a gorgeous Golf GTI. We're not sure what a 'recent tune up' has comprised or what 'low ownership' is, but the new tyres, recent cambelt and just the way it looks are hugely encouraging.

Moreover, this meteoric rise doesn't just apply to the Golf. Both Escort RS Turbo S1 and S2 are now frequently to be found above £5K. Indeed, this concourse-winning S2 is a staggering £15,000.

Perhaps the Golf can maintain the 'first hot hatch' prestige as justification for its current values. But then the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus appears to be taking that accolade (and the commensurate price leap) already...

Okay, as FWD hatches go, the Golf is a landmark car, but how much further can values climb? With the increasing proliferation of five doors, auto boxes and turbochargers in hot hatches, will the originals be seen as even more collectible? Is the £20K Mk1 Golf GTI a completely unrealistic prospect? Time will tell.

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VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI MK1
Engine: 1,588cc four-cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 110@6,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 104@5,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 162,000
First registered: 1982
Price new: £5,217 (1977)
Yours for: £9,000

See the original advert here

 

[trunks82]

I owned a miami blue 1.9 gti a few years ago and is the only car ive ever sold for a profit,albeit a small one.shouldve keep the damn thing!!

[hman]

Bought a 1.8gti, restored it over two years (how much rust???), sold it for a few quid, the new buyer got banned from driving in the same car, he sold it, the new owner rolled it into a ditch.

That's one less on the roads!

[HorneyMX5]

It's not just MKIs. MKII's in desirable specs and colours are also fetching top prices. Just check out thsi one at 4 Star! http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

[Altrezia]

I like an old golf (and I've had loads) but this is not worth 9k, imho.

They are quite fun to drive, but there is a load of great cars available for that money.

[e21Mark]

Saw a nice white Gti for sale at last years Retro show. It made just over £8k so I think this one seems to be priced about right. Seems that people just want some light, good handling fun cars again. Generally modern stuff is just to heavy and dull.

[Adrian E]

Knowing how badly these can rot if left to stand or been through the 1-careful-owner-20-not-so-careful ownership history that's typical as cars reach the bottom of the value curve before they start to go back up with the commensurate bodgery you can find when taking one to pieces to sort I suspect a genuine well cared for car that's needed nothing much bar a fresh coat of paint and a mechanical refresh is worth a premium.

Guess it depends on what the ceiling price is on a weekend toy of this type? Once it gets above £10k you're probably not going to want to use it as intended and more as a show queen, which would be a shame.

[Richard A]

Were there any original bumper + small rear light Mk 1 GTIs with RHD? Or did RHD only start with the Mk 1.5 makeover, I wonder?

[Richair]

I'm hoping mk2's will rise in a similar fashion, although I doubt the rise will be as high as the mk1...

The mk1's are lovely and they certainly feel like a revolutionary car considering they were designed in the 70's. But for me having owned both mk1 and mk2 GTIs (my current daily is the latter) I have to say the mk2 takes it as an overall package. It's utterly reliable, easy to work on, cheap to run but above all a great drive. Simplistic performance at its finest and still one of my favorite cars ever

Although I've not owned a 205 GTI, now there's a thought...

[300bhp/ton]

I don't mind these cars and the MK1 has enough charm and age to be of interest. But I seriously don't get it. You'd have to be mental to spend anything near £12k on one of these.

[K50 DEL]

Between 2001 and 2005 I either scrapped or sold very cheaply...

1 x very early Mk1 Golf GTI (1978)
2 x 205 GTI 1600
2 x Nova GTe
1 x Nova GSi

Why do I think over the coming few years I will properly regret all of those decisions..

[Red than Dead]

Thought I'd share my apparently appreciating asset.....85 Cab....

[Motorrad]

Insane. To me these cars aren't worth the money but I suppose I've owned many of them in the past and have no need to relive past glories at a premium.

Given that sort of cash for a hot hatch I think I'd rather buy a mint low mileage Clio Sport- tax, insure, maintain and fuel it for the next ten years and voila! I'll have a car worth what I've just spent on it.......

[r11co]

Crazy price for a car that only went out of production 4 years ago!

Here's a low mileage one for a smidge over 6k.

[Adrian E]

Richard A said:

Were there any original bumper + small rear light Mk 1 GTIs with RHD? Or did RHD only start with the Mk 1.5 makeover, I wonder?

Yes - all 1.6 and from memory the change to rear lights came in about 80/81. My '81 X was a 1.6 with big lights and no front aux lights, same as the one pictured.

[anagram]

i own a 1.6 small light where as the above is a big light which is more common!
mine is totally standard with loads of paper work wonder what its worth!

[Nors]

The trouble with all the low milage high value cars, is that you can't really use them, or value falls off them steeply. Just trolley dollies and who really wants that?

A restored car that's in great nick regardless of miles (but well maintained) is the route I'd take. Your not then so scared to use it and put more miles on.

[Prof Prolapse]

One of the most over-rated cars ever?

[e21Mark]

I had one years ago. It was a total shed but still good fun.

Never got the whole ''first ever hot hatch'' thing though. The BMW 2002 touring tii came out about 3 years earlier and was quicker, with RWD.

[rastapasta]

My Uncle had one of these. Told me recently that the brakes were rubbish on them but it was a good car to pass out a truck....

[e21Mark]

rastapasta said:

Told me recently that the brakes were rubbish on them

I'd forgotten about the brakes! He's right, they were bloody awful.