Hi all,

My first post with my new car.

Alf!

A-reg (1983) MK2 GL

89K on the clock

Has service history going back to the 80s!

Been lovingly looked after by Rox for the last 3 years, but needs must and it has recently come into my possession. So I thought I would share my new obsession!

Current spec:

Polybushed front suspension

239mm vented discs

Goodridge braided brake lines

Reconditioned and painted (tornado red) mk1 gold calipers

Satin black powder coated engine tinware

Ducellier electronic ignition

Hot spark performance coil

Taylor performance HT leads

4 x ATS classics (red detail pinstriping) + powder coated locking nuts

4 x Firestone tyres

MK 3 polo 4 speed gearbox that has only done 40,000

Work I have done so far:

Rewired rear heater and washer, as the wires had split in the rubber boot.

Stripped old carb off

Replaced misc hoses in the engine bay

Work list/plans:

Brand new Weber carb (fitting this week) + replace fuel lines in engine bay

PPP Subframe & G-Lader Blocks (waiting for this to arrive from stinkypete)

H&R Cup lowering suspension - 60/40 (trying to find a kit cheap enough)

Replace TCA & Rear bushes with nylon bushes.

175/50/r13 tyres - Already have 2 x Dunlop SP2000, need another two.

Sort out the bodywork (plans to get her some needed TLC within the next month or so)

Seat covers repaired, or source replacements.

Replace washer hoses front and rear as they are brittle and leaking (hose ordered)

That's it, it's too nice to mess with!

Will get some more up to date photos asap!

Photos (from the old owner for now):

Looking like a tractor!

Edited 12 May, 201214 yr by davekent

Lovely 'van. Different wheels would really finish it off. Such good condition

Lovely 'van. Different wheels would really finish it off. Such good condition

I can't decide if I like the wheels, or would prefer something else. Anything you can suggest?

Banded steels with original trims would be nice or ATS with chrome instead of the black!

Edited 26 April, 201214 yr by davekent

Looks clean! And blackberry metallic

would look smart on vw steels ...differant to see a standard and clean bready about , no need to put silly wheels on imo

very nice brown dash and headlight washers

Needs basically nothing imo, either leave it standard, or some 14" 'mini g60' steels (mk3 golf gl wheels) painted silver, lowered 40mm with maybe some 175/50's.

Keeping it very oem

Get it on standard silver steel wheels and you've got a complete winner. Seriously don't fuck with this one too much and keep anything you take off! Also I need that radio in my life...

love the colour!!

please slam it with wide arches and all that to annoy matt

And if you do I'll ban Eric for a thousand years.

pshhhhhh I'm not scared of yousssssssssssss

Don't push your luck

hahaha, who will disable me first, you, or dknight lololol

Haha!

Don't worry, I am only going to drop it maybe max 60/40.. even thinking 40/30 to be honest.

What wheels does everyone suggest?!

Everything else about the car is staying standard! Too nice to mess with. Apart from the paint and rust.. it needs some TLC!

Edited 1 May, 201214 yr by davekent

Some 14x6 steels would work well with 175/55 tyres. If you lower it, use the best kit you can afford. My cheapo kit ruined my driving experience, and strained the old girl with its crash ride

That is quite a good stereo considering my Y reg GL's stereo only had long wave and Medium wave!

The original wheels will have also had chrome trims. Any chance yov've still got these?

Not sure if you can still get them but eibach springs are very good for slight lowering without compromising ride.

Also I need that radio in my life...

My 1982 Polo C doesn't even have a cassette, just radio.

Ahhhh... there's my girl. missing her so much.

Yes the ATS's were a gamble but I love them, I think standard silver and black ATS's wouldn't have worked but the red detailing is the bomb in the flesh. I also toyed with banded steelies but decided against it in the long run (mainly cos I'm a wimp and didn't fancy rowing with the pigs )

I never knew the radio was so unusual, it rocks though, and stock sounds are great from those speakers too :)

Dave I'm really sorry but the steels did have the original beauty ring chrome trim on them when I bought her but I junked them when I got the ATS's... She looked garbage on them though. I'll email you some photos of her when I bought her and you can make up your own mind about what she looks like on steels.

Hope everything goes well with her. I'm so glad I took a hit on the finances and found her the right home who won't butcher her. If I'm not in a position to have her back I hope you can do the same for her when you come to sell her on...

Right bit of an update..

Had the new Weber carb fitted today, and I replaced all the silicon hoses with some nice red samco stuff.. ran out before I could redo the rear washer hose

But I have a problem, when changing from second to third it gets pretty jerky, and occassionally jerks when changing from third to fourth.

I have also replaced the black oil sender, but the light on the dash has come on.. what would cause this?

Photos so far..

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by davekent

Hmm, I'm not convinced on with the red wiring and hoses. I liked the idea of this as a standard example. At least its nothing major that can't be reversed should you change your mind

Hmm, I'm not convinced on with the red wiring and hoses. I liked the idea of this as a standard example. At least its nothing major that can't be reversed should you change your mind

That was what my thoughts were about the hoses, but as the plug leads were already red, I just continued with the theme!

Oh, you didnt fit the leads? What about the fuel lines? Still a cracking example. If you ever come to sell, let me know

Oh, you didnt fit the leads? What about the fuel lines? Still a cracking example. If you ever come to sell, let me know

Previous owner fitted leads. I fitted the fuel lines, the vacuum hose and washer hose. I got the braided hose cheap, and it was either red or black for the silicon hose.. chose red to match the plug leads.

Most of the braided hose is hidden by the filter box to be fair.

The braid is worth having. I had a leak in mine from the perished old rubber. That was fun, dressed in a suit in a school car park up to my elbows in grease

I wondered where the bottle had come from. Was sure it was larger than others of the same era

The braid is worth having. I had a leak in mine from the perished old rubber. That was fun, dressed in a suit in a school car park up to my elbows in grease

I wondered where the bottle had come from. Was sure it was larger than others of the same era

Yeah, I replaced all the perished fuel lines.. one had split and sent fresh fuel all over the engine bay.. Fail!

The water bottle is so large because it's a GL model: it feeds the headlight and windscreen washers :-)

I'll add my voice to the 'leave it alone' crowd, that's one rare little Polo you have there. I don't think I've ever seen that interior before, though I have seen that exterior colour more than once. There can't have been many sold that are this early and this high spec, for a Mk2 Polo at least.

Whatever you do modification wise, do it sensitively, because you'll be very unlikely to find another like this one.