Start of another car. Picked up this car recently which is in need of a bit of work to put it mildly plus in need of a lot of new parts. 1977 Polo L in Manilla Green with Tobacco interior. Here's what I'm starting with, and the start of my parts hunt...
Some panels first; a sill, the floors both sides, tunnel patch, rear valance, patch in the spare wheel well and back end of the rear wheel arches...
Picked up something to help when I get round to the mechanics, an August 1977 dealer workshop manual in English, lovely thing especially as the car is April 1977.
Managed to find a NOS chrome rear bumper from an estate agent in northern Sweden and a NOS front bumper from an Alfa garage on the southern tip of Sardinia so that turned out well - both wrapped in brown paper with the part number on, one with the sticker from the chromer back in the 70's! Picked up some new bumper caps from Heritage and stainless brackets/bolts from Polowerks. Also got some Hella clear indicator lenses for them, the type with the amber insert.
According to the very comprehensive model changes pages on www.polo86c.nl (read using Chrome browser which translates the page) the rear bumper must be an August '74 to March '75 Audi 50 one as after that they changed to only one rear number plate light. That said finding two rear number plate lights has been a challenge (without wanting to pay 60-100 euros each on eBay). The existing single number plate light had melted on the inside but I managed to find a pair for sale on a German classifieds site for 10 euros.
Also picked up a set of NOS chrome wing mirrors, currently only has one black plastic drivers mirror but i'd prefer two.
Sourced replacement parts for the front end, Audi 50 grill, NOS type 86 chrome VW grill badge and two boxed NOS RHD headlights even tho my OCD isn't happy that one is Bosch and the other Hella...
Took a bit of searching but managed to find a sales brochure with my model/colours in it and now have a collection of them for pre-facelift Mk1 Polo's.
Surprised how many versions they put out, don't know if this was common with earlier/other vehicles?
I doubt I have all the versions but the ones I've picked up are:
- April '76 for '76 model year - 2 models, 4 interior & 5 exterior colours
- August '76 but no model year specified - 3 models, both 14 interior & exterior colours!
- October '76 for '77 model year - 3 models, 4 interior & 6 exterior colours
- August '77 for '78 model year - 3 models, 4 interior & 6 exterior
- January '78 for '78 model year - 3 models, 4 interior & 6 exterior
Needless to say it was the multi-combination Aug '76 version which had the combo on my April '77 car but perhaps the brochures were always just a sample and in reality combinations could have been more flexible?
Photo below shows them and the second photo has the combination tables for the Apr '76, Oct '76, Aug '77 (same as Jan '78) then the Aug '76 larger underneath.
Got some rear end parts; NOS alloy Polo badge, pair of Hella postie lights & a the pair of number plate lights plus a new bootlock seal which is camera shy..