Project: '76 Golf GL - the resto begins!

[572]

GolfLoon: Already one there, will make sure it's cleaned out.

Jarred: I was always under the impression that the swallowtail feature was only on 2drs, but I just did some more research on it. I'm guessing a '76 4dr swallowtail is a little rare then?

Couple of interesting points - brake lines inside not outside (early model thing?) & front seats have optional headrest (rare-ish so I've read?). You've certainly gotten me even more inspired now!

Plans are to restore it to close to original condition and register it at this stage! Brainstorming has brought up repainting it in Candy White, 14/15" BBS wheels (early BMW items look the business and we've got some 185/70/R14 tyres here in need of 4x100 rims) and perhaps a heart transplant (but I'm not so sure about the swap from carb to EFI).

[Preen59]

Couple of interesting points - brake lines inside not outside (early model thing?) & front seats have optional headrest (rare-ish so I've read?). You've certainly gotten me even more inspired now!

Plans are to restore it to close to original condition and register it at this stage! Brainstorming has brought up repainting it in Candy White, 14/15" BBS wheels (early BMW items look the business and we've got some 185/70/R14 tyres here in need of 4x100 rims) and perhaps a heart transplant (but I'm not so sure about the swap from carb to EFI).

Yeah only the later models had the external brake lines. Probably because the brake line grommets in the firewall leaked and that's why they all rust on the front floor i'd say.

Candy white is the colour i got mine painted.. Colour code is B4B4. Lovely looking colour.

AND i've got 15x7 BMW E30 M3 BBS wheels on my car too. (My car is the Mk1 16v Project if you're wondering).

Looks like you're going with a real winning combination here. Good luck and keep the pics coming.

[572]

Yea one of projects when the dash is out is to try and seal all the known leaking spots.

Candy White is also the same colour as Justin's Polo

This is the style that I'm thinking of:



Unfortunately these are 5x120 I think, so no go.

I'll check out your project for sure

[Jarred]

tHE MK 1 ME AND JOSH JUST RIPPED APART HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH RUST IN THE PASSENGER FLOOR, DUE (sorry caps) to no doubt the internal brake line.

I do happen to know on early, I mean really early, (74) the golf's didn't have head rests, were swallowtails, haddrum brakes on the front even! I actually think that Tim's (golfworx) 76 is a swallow, an that's a 4 door. Mine a 76 (complianced 9/76 from memory) but not tail for me . ANywho. I think really, Swallowtail is just rare here in general, because the 76 was the last to have the tail, and the golf's came out here in 76, whereas 74/75 models in euro are, well not common, but there would have been more sold new in europe, than oZ i'd say.

The plans sound good. the wheels you're looking for came off the e30 BMW 3 series, theres a neat seat on ebay atm, for about $450 and tehy come up everynow and then. BMW/euro wreckers might also have some instock.

[572]

Certainly a common issue with any of the MK1's by the sound of it.

Either way it's a cool discovery, so thanks

Those wheels cost more than we paid for the car lol! Everything has been put way out of proportion, in terms of price, after we bought this. I'll keep my eye out, because we need to sort the tyre situation out at some point before rego and like I said we've already got a set of almost new 14" tyres off Justins Polo (he put BBS on too lol!), just need the rims.

[Celestine]

Thanks must go out to Donny for helping us angle grind our floorpan! He did a wonderful job and he was more than avid to help us out in all aspects.

Unfortunately due to the Easter break, our progress has been slow. We have a template that's currently being tested to ensure we have a perfect fit when we actually start chopping away at the sheet metal.

Jarred: thank you for having pointed out that our MkI is actually a swallowtail. Its surprising that it's kept in my garage, and I've been looking at it so much in the last couple of weeks, I honestly havent even realised that it was one (not to mention I too was under the preconcieved notion that a swallowtail only existed in a 3 door form). That comment has just boosted Jon and my moral to ensure this car gets what it truly deserves.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day cleaning out the remaining interior surface rust and removal of glue residue and other general grit. The interior is ready to be rust converted and primed (with the exception of our missing 'Flintstones' footwell). Jon and I honestly hope that at the current progression, we can have this car restored to it's former glory in hopefully under a year's time. However, we wont rush things as I'm also obsessive, compulsive, when it comes to cars, so I dont want the same problems appearing again. *Photos will go up once the interior is rust converted and primed.

Stay tuned...

[Preen59]

Candy White is also the same colour as Justin's Polo

Yeah its the mk4/mk5 white thats on all of them. (except the commercials- you can get them in off road white, which looks crappy)

[Typ53]

G' day!

I'm a new member here, and my home country is Germany. So first I apologize for my bad English I'm very glad to see that also in OZ exist many people who have a thing about old Volkswagen.

It seems that you have still a lot of work with the rust from the MK1, but I think it's worth it, even in my country many cars in that conditions are often will be restored. Anyway I wish you good luck with the restoration and never give up

greetings
Mario

[Jarred]

Yea, that's the spirit boys. It's good to have a friend to do something like this with, helps when you hit the boring and hard parts! so make sure you have some fun along the way too!


Welcome to VWW Mario! There defiantly is a few of us that love the old Volkswagens, that's for sure! and like most germans, your english is fine!

[Oneofthegreats]

and, I'm surprised to see the rust in the A pillars, from what I know, not many 76's rust in the A pillars, but all (well most) or that later ones do, or are at least more prone to rusting there!

Nice to see anther mk1 being brought back to life. It's just that some mk1's take a bit more work than some of the other's.

All mk1's unfortunately rust here. Doesn't matter what year it is.

The 76er's are IMHO the worst for rust due to the lack of seam sealing from the VW Aust department. But saying that, here in VIC, there the best to do engine conversion's with eg. 20VT, ABF's etc. as they don't have to comply with pollution requirement's.

Your right to Jarred. Mine is a 4/76 5dr LS.

The more & more I work on my 76er, the more & more I find is different to the German built mk1's & also the last of the mk1's.
Even the floor pan's are different!

Keep up the good work fella's. Look forward to seeing more progress.