Mk1 GTIs are getting harder to come by, so those enthusiasts looking for the affordable, tossable treat that it’s always been are going to have to start accepting some flaws to get behind the wheel. Today’s Giugiaro masterpiece comes in daily-driver form with 167k miles and some considerable blemishes, but it’s getting harder to find GTIs under $4k that aren’t basket cases. Yes, a few rust spots could use some attention, but it comes with a new sunroof to repair one of the glaring issues. The Mk3 leather seats are an attractive addition and the new wheels and tires look decent if overstretched. It’s going to be a project, but isn’t that what old VWs are supposed to be?
Click for details: 1983 Volkswagen GTI on eBay
Year: 1983
Model: GTI
Engine: 1.7 liter inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 167,875 mi
Price: $4,000 Buy It Now
SELLING A 1983 VOLKSWAGEN GTI CAR IS VERY SOLID. DOES NOT TAKE MUCH TO GET HER STARTED IN THE AM I DRIVE THE CAR DAILY TO AND FROM WORK. WE GET LOOKS AND COMMENTS EVERYWHERE WE GO.
CAR HAS BRAND NEW RIMS AND TIRES, TIRES HAVE ABOUT 95% TREAD ON ALL 4 ALIGNMENT WAS DONE BY LOCAL SHOP IN SOUTH FLORIDA. NEUSPEED SPRINGS AND BORLA EXHAUST WAS DONE BY PREVIOUS OWNER ALONG WITH UPGRADED MK3 FRONT LEAHTER SEATS. HEADLINER AND DASH ARE ALL INTACT NO CRACKS OR DROOPING HEADLINER. VEHICLE DOES NOT LEAK A DRIP OF WATER. HAS MINOR RUST SPOTS AS MENTIONED ON REAR BUMPER BEHIND TIRE ON BOTH SIDES AND ON SUNROOF (NEW SUNROOF WILL BE INCLUDED) AIR CONDITIONER IN CAR WORKS FLAWLESSLY AND IN SUNNY SOUTH FLORIDA WE NEED AC!!!!
OVERALL THE CAR IS A GREAT DAILY DRIVER. I HAVENT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT AND ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY WIFE DROVE IT TO WORK WHEN HER TOUAREG WAS IN THE SHOP WITHOUT A HICCUP
I HAVENT HAD TO DO MUCH TO THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAS NOT NEEDED ANYTHING. VERY CHEAP TO MAINTAIN AND EXTREMELY GOOD ON GAS.
12 owners is pretty crazy, even in 32 years! Somehow, someway, this little GTI has survived it all, and I’m hoping it will find a home that can help it get stronger as time goes on. Someone with a little bodywork experience could put some hours in on this car and have it looking like a GTI worth several thousand more. Someone needs to save it before it becomes a beater, as the world needs as many Mk1s on the streets as possible. There’s a good chance that hanging on to one will end in your favor too.
-NR
It looks just like any other 500.– old VW with 1.000 bling-bling wheels. Pass.
So, you get new rims, but you don’t fix the rusted areas.
That’s the way to spend your money.
Every time I see a Mark 1 GTI I find myself thinking that VW could build them again today and they would be a success. The new GTI is a nice car, but the simplicity of the original is just so appealing.