1984 Volkswagen GTi 1.8T

Yesterday’s Rabbit was an interesting case of many good ingredients not necessarily making a good cake; or, at the very least, not an appropriately priced cake. I really wanted to like the car but even outside of the price there was just too much to get me really excited about it. Amazingly, at the same time as that car is listed, we have an interesting counterpoint of a Mk.1 to consider. This example started life as an actual GTi, so it automatically has a leg up – at least in theory – from the ’78 Rabbit that was used to create a GTi. It’s also been completely redone, and also themed with a Euro-feel, though this car has a completely different ethos even outside of the color. Under the hood we find a Mk.4-spec 1.8T mill, complete with transmission, gauges, harness, radio and immobilizer transplanted into this original hot hatch. The price? If you have to ask….

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1984 Volkswagen GTi 1.8T on eBay

Year: 1984
Model: GTi
Engine: 1.8 liter turbocharged inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 132,000 mi
Price: $25,000 Buy It Now

2000 GTI 1.8T Engine 132k Flashed 20lbs Boost,Full MK4 vehicle harness with drive by wire system
Miles on body unknown,
2003 Gti 1.8T 5 Speed Manual Transmission, Oem single mass flywheel
MK2 Power Leather seats
H&R Utlra Low Coilover
Power Windows
MK4 Radio with monsoon amp and PhatNoise System
Cabriolet Dash and Power Kneebar
15′ Rota Wheels
No Air conditioning, heater hose not connected to Engine at present.

This is a custom build vehicle (hot rod) In very good condition. #2 o2 sensor not installed in exhaust. MK4 Instrument cluster at present. Vehicle Driven less than 500 miles a year. Runs very well. Modifications can be changed to potential buyers taste. Overall in very good condition but not perfect or not factory built.

NOT INSTALLED: Rear inner cards, Headliner, A Piller, I have all parts for headliner.

[ facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.394058390630214.84523.117193624983360&type=3 ] see link for more photos

Serious Potential Buyers are welcome to setup in person viewing. More photos can be seen at above link

I have to say, off the bat there are a few details I like more than the ’78 example from yesterday. Outside the build looks cleaner to me – especially from the front, where the single light grill somehow fits the Mk.1 GTi look much more than the 4 light grill does to me. The slim bumpers scale the car down to an early look that works well combined with the chin spoiler. The red paint looks to be a different shade than original, but down the sides we have the distinctive GTi stripes applied and they look great. In back I’m not so crazy about the blacked-out Euro taillights; I’d stick original units in and I think it would look better. The same goes for the wheels; the Minilite-replicating Rota wheels are a touch out of character, but stick some BBS RAs on there and I think this car would really pop. Inside the Cabriolet-spec dash is a stealthy upgrade, as are the Mk.2 power part-leather seats. Neat touches! And then there’s the powerplant – a 1.8T provides plenty of motivation for this chassis. I once instructed a student with a turned up 1.8T GTi at Lime Rock; on R-compound tires he was able to spin the front wheels at 90 m.p.h. going straight. Is that a good thing? No, probably not – but turn down the boost and this is still a seriously trick setup that’s plenty of fun. The Mk.4 transmission was probably a smart swap since the Mk.1 units are sometimes weak, and the harness transfer allowed for modern electronics to replace the Westmoreland originals. Considering my ’84 GTi’s propensity to catch on fire under the dash, even if the Mk.4s aren’t known as the most reliable electrics Volkswagen has produced I think I’d still prefer those over the originals in this case. Then, of course, there’s the price….at $25,000, is this a better value than yesterday’s example? No, of course not. But I think the look is slightly better and the execution overall is – I think – slightly better than the ’78 example. Still, I’d say that this is a low-teens at best example rather than double that. I respect that the seller may have more than he’s asking in the complete package – certainly in sweat equity at very least, but as we all know, that doesn’t translate to asking price. As others have pointed out, you can have multiple original Volkswagen models for this asking price, and all would probably be better drivers and investments longterm.

-Carter