Is The Mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI The Ultimate Classic Car? 

They were making MK1’s in South Africa up to 2009... they had an ‘R’ badged model 1.8l that does 120hp... the MK1’s with the double headlights are so beautiful. They remind me of a classic BMW...

I just got my dream car. 1979 Rabbit (Golf) diesel with 45k miles. I'm absolutely in love with it.

I remember seeing these when I was a kid. I don't appreciate them as much as i do now.

The MK1 Golf, probably one of the most iconic cars of its era. I'd kill to get my hands on a Mk1 GTI today. I grew up in love with them but never was able to put hands on one that wasn't rusted away to pieces.

My first car was an 84 mk1 rabbit GTI and I love it. Will always have it with me.

My second ever car 25 years ago when I was 18! £600 to buy, £800 to insure! Have my fondest driving memories in that car. I’d probably still have it now of my mate hadn’t written it off.

Loved mine. Modded it by fitting a 16v mk2 engine & brakes (plus coil overs) which made it a real sleeper, and way better/faster than the mk3 VR6 (& a lot of other stuff) we also had at the same time😉

My parents still have a '84 Golf GLI. 1.8 8v Convertible. Basically the topless gti. Its good fun to drive too. 😊

I drove a mk1 GLI (sedan) with the 1.8 engine, close ratio 4k trans & swaybars GTI with a trunk. Fun and reliable, it always started and always got me from A to B. A great reliable car!

Dude. Mk1 is definitely a legend. I bought one 3 years ago. New paint. Lowered. Abf swapped. Its soooo much fun driving!! Now on the the 2nd one lol.

I used to own a 1983 Pirelli GTI! Still one of my all time favorite cars! The burble when you shift down and then go off the throttle at high rpm is unbeatable!

We are still driving a 79 Rabbit. "I like your Jeep mister" said the young dude as we drove by

Pretty much the only hot hatch choice we had in the USA, albeit in diluted (Americanized - built in Westmorland, Pennsylvania with many changes including a cheap looking interior) and detuned(90 hp) form. The car was still a revelation that handled and went like nothing else. Always wanted one of the German made originals. The closest I’ve gotten was a mk.1 Cabriolet which I drove and loved for several years. Thank you for the great video variety: Jaguar supercar - humble Golf....madness! Wonderful madness!

My uncle had an A-plate mk1 Gti campaign (1.8 & green) with the original Pirelli Alloys. As a 10 year old laddie, it felt like a spaceship. The original hot hatch. Nice example 👍🏻

2 years ago my wife bought a mk2 syncro country. Cost 2k euros, brilliant future classic. As much as I like the mk1 (I had one in my youth) I prefer the mk2.

It's my dream to have a Golf GTi from each generation

Had two of these few years ago(as my father had one back in the days). An Atlas grey, then a Lhassa green with Pirelli wheels. Loved them to bits. Your video does it perfect justice. Thanks for that.

Yes, sir. You're absolutely right. It is really incredible and wonderful. Even more when you have one like the one in the video, only the steering wheel is on the left side, it’s what you see here in the photo. vw Golf GTI 1.8 16v and gauges digifiz, from golf mk2. Perhaps only in my country. Portugal. greetings to all those in love with this beautiful machines Mario

Good video. I had a mk1 1.8, a mk2 1.8 8v and a Peugeot 309 GTI one after the other in the 90s. Overall, it's the mk2 I would go back to. Totally dependable, refined, quick enough and fully developed by VW. The others still had a way to go and too compromised for me. What a period of time to live through though!

My old mk2 1.8 8v was a riot back in the day. Really enjoyed this James 👌🏻

That fly by at the start was epic! Great video! 👍🏼

Had a white A plate mk1 golf gti campaign...quick for it's time(used to wipe the floor with xr3i's etc)..the brakes need work though but nonetheless a timeless headturner.

I had a Y plate mk1 GTI in black loved it, but again typical of 80s car rust a major problem and passenger footwell looked a lake when it rained! It also had stripes along the bottom of the doors matching the upholstery. Great introduction to the hot hatch world that I still love today.

I dont understand why the production was stopped in Europe. I am from South Africa and the body of the mark 1 golf stayed in production till 2010. I say the body because over the years VW continuously updated the interior and engine and drive train. The final versions, of which I owned one, had fuel injection, abs, airbags etc. Basically you grew up in a golf, because your dad had one, you inherited that golf as your fist car, you traded it in for a newer model until your child was old enough to drive and then they got your old one. while you went straight to the dealer and got a new one for yourself. There was only one competitor who followed in the same life as the Mark 1 Golf and that was the Toyota Corola. If you ever visit South Africa, these are still the most common cars on the road. The reason they were so popular is it was big enough for you and three other people and their luggage and with the updated engines very economical. I did a 1000km economy run where I did not exceed 100kmph and got 20km per litre. Other reason they were so popular is anybody with a basic knowledge of cars could work on them and parts were everywhere. You could literally buy parts at the local cafe or filling station and then install it yourself when you got home. Best car ever made.

I’m growing to love these cars

My dad bought one of these for his first ever car when he was 17, which was 27 years ago! He still has it and has spent £40,000 over those years! It may sound biased but I’ve never been in a car which gives you so much thrill driving round in! The smell the sound is just something else! bearing in mind his has 400bhp +! We live in rural wales and he is still king of the B roads round here!

A lovely lady she is too. I definitely have the Mk1 on my list of cars to buy and restore! Despite my urge to modify most of the cars I buy (including my Hilux with its 5" raise kit and planned LS430 V8 engine swap), I would love to rebuild a stock Mk1. Great drive sir! Enjoyed this one.

The way those tyres fit on those wheels is absolutely fantastic! Props to the owner.

Mk1 for the win 🤘🏻🤘🏻

Memories... My dad had a black MK1 GTI and my mum had a Gunmetal Grey MK2 with red trim... Beautiful cars

Great cars and so simple and easy to work on unlike today's nightmares. Only the very early 1979 cars had 4 speed gearboxes. Couldn't help but notice the dashboard clocks on this golf aren't GTI ones ;-)

Sounds better than a Golf R and most modern day performance car.

My MK 5 was. an excellent car. I sold it to a friend a few years ago with near 300,000 km on the dial. It's stilll going strong today now with near 400,000 km on it.

I'm a sucker for hatchbacks and wagons.

Had a 1983 Lhasa green MK1 GTi in the mid 90s, Kent fast rd cam, Vernier, etc etc, went really well too back in the day, wiped the floor with xr3i's etc etc. My sister's old 106gti reminded me of the MK1 the way the back end behaved, smashing fun cars, can't beat a good hot hatch to put a smile on your face , bhp isn't entirely everything 😎

Excellent video James. I have an early (1985 on a C) Mk2 1.8 8-valve which I have owned since 1996. It's black and in similar condition to the lovely Mk1 shown here. It's standard spec bar a stainless steel exhaust and uprated Bilstein dampers. As you say, you don't often see early GTIs on the roads - almost without exception someone will come up to me when I stop for petrol, perhaps as good an indication of classic status as any. Mine is my everyday car, a role it is more than happy with, as hinted at in your video. OK, it lacks power steering, air-con and many other things we take for granted yet dynamically it really does not feel like a 34-year-old car and more than keeps up with modern traffic. It is genuinely fun to drive, so good is the performance and handling. Our family has more modern cars but I still love driving this. It's also extremely reliable and rattle-free. In those days VW didn't give you many gizmos as standard but they did give you superb build quality. Many, including myself, would say that while the Mk1 is undoubtedly the original, and deservedly so, the Mk2 makes a better all-rounder as it is just that little bit more refined, while still retains those classic looks of an early Golf (many people - including my partner - cannot tell the difference between a Mk1 and Mk2!). What's more, prices of the Mk2, although climbing, are still affordable. If you would like to drive a Mk2 for comparison the keys are waiting for you (I live in Billingshurst, West Sussex). Grahame

I grew up with mk1 golf GtI’s, had loads of them, loved them to bits. Then a few years ago bought a mk2, loved that too and a bit easier to live with.

Thanks sir about this video l really enjoyed. I owne 1981 Mk1 l love it so much it's so powerful people keep stopping ✋ they like my big boy, just sports it you will never regret 🎉

I had a mk1 gti. Great car miss it loads.

Well, i'd argue the Mk2 is a better classic because it is WAY more affordable than the over inflated cost of the original these days.

I am 52. I've owned a white 1984 Rabbit GTI with red interior(USA) with no A/C, but had a sunroof and I've owned a silver Rabbit GTI with blue interior with A/C and no sunroof. In 1987 I bought a brand new GTI 16 valve and I now own a 2010 GTI 2 door 6 speed manual. I'm a VW nut.

Always wanted one. My first car was a Mark 1 Scirocco. I wish I had held on to it!

I loved my mk2 so much but until my best mate lent me his mk1 i was astounded thay are just incredible.

Had 3 GTIs - great do everything car.

Great car. Mk II 16v in oak green was the one for me or a G60 Rallye 👌🏼

Awsome video! Love your work!

That golf is identical to the one I had in 1989.. It's obviously much nice with the wheels and restoration. But mine was a 79, from Ireland, it had a different dash to most, the dials had a pointy kinda lens on them, and it had a 4 speed box, and it whipped along like a scolded cat, and handled like a house fly.. I miss it so much and driving to acid house party's in it...🎉

You have driven now quite some vehicles, how about a Top10 of your favorites and why?

Loved my Mk1 Golf GTI. My only dislike was the poor brakes. Was not a fan of the Mk 2 and jumped to a UR Audi Quattro

Great looking mk1 😎👍

I love this car! AYGO WE NEED MORE HP!!!

The Golf Gti was and is a legend, although I do not include the mk4 2.0, 115bhp in that legend status because a standard 1.6LX Ford Focus of the time could match it pretty much with 15bhp less. I am drooling at this mark 1, he's made a fantastic job of it.

I just bought a 79 GTI so excited! Do you know what kind of wheels are on this car? And the dimensions? Thanks!

The car looks so good

Cool car, I'd love one in red 👍

Shame about the wheels, they totally mess up the ride.

2022 and they are going up and up in price.... Love my 83 gti

That's a lovely, clean little Golf. That said I've never been into them though. I'd sooner take a Lotus Sunbeam but maybe that's a little unfair as it's in a different performance league. Also waiting for someone to point out it's not a 'proper' hatchback.

the perfec sound

I get emotional just watching this. My dream car. £££££ now though, sadly way out of my price range.

There will never be a better version of the golf than the MK1, yeah VW made improvements on the successive models, but the 1st version remains an icon that transformed the car market forever I am on my 8th Mk1 golf now having Owned many versions of it, it’s raw compared to new cars for sure, but it still has that look be it a standard Gti cabriolet or a genuine original Gti, unlike the one in your video which hasn’t quite remembered what year it’s from yet 😂

Lovely Jubbly, best Golf ever. Shame about the silly aftermarket wheels.

Could you do a car review through the ages video. Now you have done the mk1 golf do them all together in one episode. 🙂👍🏻

I’ve just read on Gran Turismo 7 that this is generally considered to be the first hot hatch. VW golf GTI hatch: released April 1976 with 108hp Holden Torana SL hatch: released February 1976 with 185hp It was followed up in 1977 with the 240hp Torana A9X, with well beyond double the horsepower of the GTI it makes the GTI not seem like a hot hatch at all. Just because it wasn’t sold world wide doesn’t mean that Holdens didn’t exist.

Nice car always

as a child, all my dream cars consisted of were Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens etc. but now that I've grown up a bit (14 now) that mindset seems to have shifted towards the likes of the MK1, the Trueno AE86 and just classic cars in general. I don't know just thought it was quite interesting

dream car

Perfect!

Nice car!

Bought one in Germany in 1981,tax free £4000(DM16000)!!!,put on Kameii spoiler kit, with Nakamichi cassette unit in it.Kept it as standard apart from that.People kept saying add this and that,it didn't need anything else.A great car, would it be possible to build one from parts apart from chassis, I've always wondered.

My dream car

owned two mark one golf gtis also owned three mark one Sciroccos which handled better than the golfs

Hell yeah it is

yes it is!

2:19 Thats the sound !!

Those are felgenworks rims!!

I have had 4 of these in the past ,,,,The original and best GTi,These are what started the whole Golf movement. even the Mk2 which is a lightweight by today's standards do not come close to the agility of a Mk1 ,They weren't perfect especially the brakes because of the way the car was built for LHD but i have had some of my best days behind a steering wheel in a Mk 1 GTI....Does anyone remeber or have one of those bars that TSR produced to take up the slack in the brake linkage???

This Golf was the one that was being given away as a prize at last year’s Classic Car show at the NEC. Sadly didn’t win!

Love your vids jay you should be on tv

Yes it is

If i remember right both the golf n Alfasud where designed by the same man, for me the Alfasud 1.5 sprint was the better car as it actually handled better (till it rusted away) the steering on the Golf would talk to u, you always knew what the front wheels where doing, but handling the Peugeot 205 GTI for me was way Better even the 1.6 the 1.9 was really a little rocket build quality of course was the VW's driving pleasures the 205 GTI, on fast curves specially with some negative camber i never felt safe in the golf but i did in the 205

You don't see them around because they're all in South Africa 😂🤣

My 09 Swift is a fly by wire throttle, it really does not want to heal and toe, my old 2003 MX-5 would, I miss that

Next up. An XR3 (Not necessarily an XR3i 😉)? 205GTI, XR2 ?

I prefer from mk 1 to 4 but if im gonna choose one then its gonna be VW Golf MK2 GTI 16v

I’m so incredibly jealous, it’s impossible to find any 80’s hot hatch within 500 miles of me. Why must I be obsessed with these 🥲

"Whatever you can imagine, someone's probably made already"

Most of the contemporary cars against the Mk1 Golf from other makes were scrapped decades ago.Just think of BL Maxi, Metro ''wedge' Princess, Allegro and Maestro.

Nice

For a golf fan maybe

When you tell your gf “i drive an old Volkswagen,”

Which exhaust? 🤔

Yep, no denying a Boni fide classic. But where have all the NON GTi Golfs gone????, I've seen about ten GTIs over past five or so years and not even one basic golf ie 1.1/CL etc etc.

We have too many of these still on the roads here in South Africa. Citi Golf..... :(

Mk1. Mk2. Mk1 Scirocco. Mk2 Scirocco. Pick yer poison. All spectacular.

I’m about to buy one for 2000

needed a turbo....compared to others of that era it was alwazs missing the dump woosh...

I've just bought this very car😂😂

Nice to see the chubby chappie driving a MK1 GTI 👍😎

My MK1 Rabbit needs a little more punch.