I am keeping it.....................

[Hilux]

I had my very tidy (if I may say so) Silver Rose spec (but not THAT upholstsery) 951 damaged by a pr*t reversing into it.

To cut a long story short it went away for bodywork (and some other bits and bobs) via Promax.

Andy sorted it all out but had the usual few niggles with the bodyshop who seem to have a different calendar to the rest of the world so it was away for some time.

I`d had a couple of mechanical niggles with it which are now sorted (thanks Andy) and as I prefer working on cars and rebuilding them etc I sort of lost interest in it.

It came back resprayed and now looks great but I have the dilemma that it is now really really nice and I am reluctant to track it etc.

So I decided to sell it...............................Yes really...............................[&:]

However, the last couple of weekends have seen me give it a damn good spanking and as a long distance tourer with manners on the road it probably is still hard to beat.

I wanted a car to thrash and tinker with for track days etc and have even thought about a small race series next year but had the dilemma that the 951 offered a great super quick car that handled, kept you dry and you could drive up anywhere and leave it locked up with all your luggage etc. It is also wife friendly too.

So.........................................I`m keeping it and................................................

I`ve bought this little beaut..............

G60 brakes, Mk 2 rear beam with disc brakes, spare wheel well removed and welded up and a 1.8 engine on Webers [8D] and some after market sporty type (or not) suspension.

Weighs about 750 ish kilos I`m told.

I`ve got some bucket seats and will get some tube and weld in a cage soon.

Boy am I happy as I have the best of both worlds so will see y`all at German car meets in the future.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Excellent - that'll be the best of both worlds then!

Glad to see you've had the car repaired. There are too many going to the great scrapyard in the sky at the moment and Peter Empson can't buy them all...[8|]

 

[Lemon]

That looks fun Paul [] (Got a soft spot for Mark 1's)

Glad your keeping it (951), I have been thinking the same dilema recently, but as I have also spent considerable time and money getting mine to what I consider "A Very Nice Condition" I would be hard pushed to find one as nice in as good nic.

 

[944psi]

+1 with a soft spot for the mk1 Golf. It was the first car that I truly hankered after.

Nice looking car.


(Not sure about the bumperless look though!)

 

[Diver944]

Good decision Paul []

I saw your car at Andys when it was minus it's front bumper and it did look a little sad [], glad it's all sorted and you're rolling again

 

[George Elliott]

Good to hear of "a Rose" being preserved, I like the colour and their "1st of the 250's" significance.

Did you consider an XR3 in place of the Golf [][][][:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(]

George

944t
964

 

[jackregan]

great to see a nice car being fixed and on the road - too many get written off due to massive repair costs by fleecing garages - I am sure its a conspiracy by the labour party to get rid of old cars - bastards!

 

[Fen]

Cool. I take it that's you're lad's project Golf?

 

[pauly]

I had quite a few mk1 Gti's years ago, I think then the rear discs were more for looks than function. Front upper and lower chassis braces were worthwhile though, also had a scirocco GTX which I thought was better than the golf's.

 

[333pg333]

What size are those wheels on the Golf Paul? Looks like a fun project and good to hear that you're keeping the Rosy.
My first sports car was a Golf Mk1 and we put an IHI turbo on it. Went like the clappers[]

 

[Hilux]

Cool. I take it that's you're lad's project Golf?

Yes

He sold his Mk1 1.3 Golf and bought a 1994 injected Polo GT with bigger brakes, a re-chip, decent exhaust and after market induction (AFM) etc , a little flying machine. The irony is that he can get inured for that but no-one would insure him in the Golf due to all the modifications until he was 25 (and he`s just turned 20)

It is ideal for me as it is rust free (rare) relatively simple to work on, bits are unbelievably cheap, aftermarket enhancements are readilt available, there`s a great knowledge base out there, interesting forums and since I used to be driven about in his other MK1 I realise what a great car they are.

They weigh nothing so a moderately powerful engine gives a great PTW ratio and the handling is fantastic. I didnt dare consider one as it was his `interest` however with his blessing I`m going to get it up and running. (he also knows he`ll be driving it on track for free)

The wheels are 13" ATS classics (currently on his Polo GT [&o]) so I only have 14" P slots. I dont know if I could fit bigger brakes under 13" wheels as I`d like to fit a 2.0L engine this winter. If you can get around 200bhp into one of these they are blisteringly quick.

I now have the best of both worlds----------------and its my birthday today []

I`m genuinely bl**dy excited as its been about 3 1/2 years since I last rebuilt a car.

 

[sawood12]

Good to hear you're keeping the 944. My philosophy is that the worst time to sell the car is just after you've spent a fortune on it because your judgement is clouded because it's been off the road and your wallet has taken a pounding (and your ears from 'er indoors no doubt) and you've forgotted about all the reasons you decided to lavish the money on it in the first place, so the temptation is there just to get rid. It is always best to take a cooling off period, get some miles under your belt and fall in love with it again.

That Golf looks like it'll be a hoot to drive. At 750kg's I don't think you'll need bigger brakes! I've been pining over Corrado's recently as i've seen a few minters kicking about. It was the car I started looking at before deciding on the 944, but unfortunately the car on the shopping list at the mo is a cheap family wagon estate - probably a Mondeo[] but the old shape early Audi S6 Avants are looking very tempting at their current depressed price (running on LPG of course).

 

[zcacogp]

Naughty. That's a rare model of golf - A-reg, and no sunroof. (I presume it started life as a GTi?)

You shouldn't be doing horrid things to something like that. It needs bumpers, a proper K-Jet engine and P-slots. (OK, you've got the wheels, that's good.)

Still, cracking car. Having had two Mk1's, and possibly thinking they are more fun than 944's, I am sure you will have a blast.

Brakes-wise. One of the biggest improvements you can do is fit a Mk2 Master cylinder and slave. That will help no end. Also make sure that the connecting road across the back of the engine bay is correctly adjusted - that will take a load of slop out of them.

Rear disks are a bit of a waste of time - PaulY is right. But they do look good.


Oli.

 

[Hilux]

That Golf looks like it'll be a hoot to drive. At 750kg's I don't think you'll need bigger brakes! I've been pining over Corrado's recently as i've seen a few minters kicking about. It was the car I started looking at before deciding on the 944, but unfortunately the car on the shopping list at the mo is a cheap family wagon estate - probably a Mondeo[] but the old shape early Audi S6 Avants are looking very tempting at their current depressed price (running on LPG of course).

Hi Scott, funny you should say that as I looked at a Corrado Storm. I suppose I mean better brakes as regardless of weight its the repetitive braking on tracks that build heat up so at the expense of unsprung weight gain you have a better heat sink.

Naughty. That's a rare model of golf - A-reg, and no sunroof. (I presume it started life as a GTi?)

You shouldn't be doing horrid things to something like that. It needs bumpers, a proper K-Jet engine and P-slots. (OK, you've got the wheels, that's good.)

Still, cracking car. Having had two Mk1's, and possibly thinking they are more fun than 944's, I am sure you will have a blast.

Brakes-wise. One of the biggest improvements you can do is fit a Mk2 Master cylinder and slave. That will help no end. Also make sure that the connecting road across the back of the engine bay is correctly adjusted - that will take a load of slop out of them.

Rear disks are a bit of a waste of time - PaulY is right. But they do look good.

Hi Oli, the alterations were done when my son bought it. It was a 1.3 Rabbit I believe.

I drove my sons Mk 1 1.3 on decent (aftermarket) suspension and tyres and I cannot tell you how impressed I was (and still am) and am convinced that with decent power they are easily a match for most cars in the twisty`s. However thats not the point. The interest is in having a car to `play` with as I intended with my 951 but it has always been too nice (I bought it cheap for what it is) I really want a dedicated track car cheap to run, cheap available parts, simple to work on, small and light and it fits the bill exactly. Ultimately I hope to take up a small classic race series next year if I can afford it. Its also able to some classic rallies due to its age.

Agreed rear discs are overkill but more brakes than you need is always a good thing in my book however as the car is so light and the rear seats are history I intend to remove the load compensating valve so the rears trail brake properly. It will also have lots more power fitted over the winter for next year []

Ho hum.........................the learning curve begins