The MK 1 GTI set the automotive world ablaze when it was launched in the USA in 1983. The car started the “pocket rocket” trend of performance small hatchbacks. The light, agile, and peppy little Rabbit GTIs made excellent daily commuters due to good fuel economy, roomy cabins, and easy maintenance. The GTI also made for a good weekend track toy winning many autocross events for owners across the country due to their incredible handling, and great low-end torque. The cars were built at Volkswagen’s US factory in Westmoreland, PA and were offered in only 4 colors, black, red, white, and silver with either a red or blue velour interior and all had 1.8L gas engines with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Unique features of the GTI included deeply bolstered front seats, center console w/ auxiliary gauges and clock, “golf ball” design shift knob, front air dam, red stripe on grille, and snowflake alloy wheels. Performance was very respectable for its day, top speed was 104 mph, zero-60 mph in 9.7 seconds which was a second faster than a 5.0L V8 powered Trans Am of the day! The GTI has become a 1980s hot hatch legend and is worthy of its classic car status, it remains a very fun analog era car to drive and will earn many smiles and still gathers attention due to their fairly low survival rate, to be able to see one on the roads today is quite a rare occasion.
This 1983 model year GTI is finished in beautiful Diamond Silver over Midnight Blue velour interior and comes to us from a local NW collection. The car has benefited from a comprehensive restoration beginning in 2020 and completed in 2022. The car was refinished in its original Silver color, new carpets and headliner were installed, black trim was refinished. New door seals, body side molding, stripes, and new front grill with Hella H4 lamps was fitted. A new windshield and seal were also installed after the paintwork. The mechanicals were addressed with new steering rack, lowering springs and Koni shocks, brakes were gone though, new exhaust system fitted. The motor was given a refreshing with a new timing belt, water pump, new battery, new alternator and belt, ignition system, motor mounts were replaced, hoses, and wiring renewed as needed. During the restoration the non-functioning air conditioning system was removed and the heater core and blower motor were replaced. Inside the cabin the stereo was modernized with new speakers, plus an Alpine CD head unit that has Bluetooth, Sat radio, USB and aux ports. The iconic GTI 4 spoke steering wheel was sent off and custom leather wrapped with a thicker grip that feels great. Black and blue coco mats finish off the sharp interior and go well with the red and grey striped blue interior. The front end of the car was covered in clear PPF. The original 14 inch snowflake wheels were refinished and are wrapped with Falken Sincera tires sized 185/60/14 that carry 2018 date codes with like new tread depth. This 1983 GTI makes for a lovely little hot hatch that is ready to be shown or enjoyed as a daily driver.