Filed Under: News
Car of the Month – October 2011
Shughy!
The Person
My name is Hugh Coffey and I live in Co Kilkenny, Ireland. I am a Technology Teacher in an all-boys secondary school. My interests include soccer, hill walking and the mechanical upkeep of my mk1 golf gti sportline cabriolet.
The Purchase
I purchased my mk1 in October 2009 from a guy who lives in Cornwall. I had just completed a mk1 golf clipper refurbishment and was looking for a new project to undertake. The car had 110K on the dials and a full and complete service history. I jumped on a Ryanair flight to Bristol, hoping that I’d like what lay ahead. I wasn’t disappointed. A deal was struck and I returned home with my newly acquired mk1 ten hours later via the Pembroke – Rosslare ferry.
The Project
Having done a lot of research into the sportline model and knowing the numbers produced by VW, it was my intention to keep everything standard and bring it back to near showroom condition. This remains my intention. I have updated the suspension, brakes and anti-roll bars. It was fitted with a Milltek stainless steel exhaust so it has a nice purr. The rear axle was stripped and refurbished last winter, a new petrol tank, filler neck and all auxiliary pipe work have been replaced. It looks almost like new again. With the summer approaching I concentrated on the inside, fitting a new Newton carpet, retrimming my euro sportline steering wheel and gear gaiter.
At the 2010 Annual gathering my mk1 was runner up in the ‘standard’ section, an award which made me very proud. For the last 3 years we have trekked the 570 mile round trip to Coombe Abbey & Uttoxeter. It has never missed a beat! I really enjoy this show – meeting up with old friends and every year making new ones. The car has also picked up a number of prizes at home here too – at Limerick and VAGE shows. With some success at the shows, the car has led me to web design and the start of my second project www.golfgtisportline.com This site is dedicated to the ‘mk1 golf sportline’ and of particular interest is the ‘register of sportlines’ – trying to source how many of the 449 UK registered motors are still about.
Overall I am very happy with the car. It’s quite nippy & fun to drive, gets lots of attention and it’s nice to get the hood down and let the countryside aromas in! I still have a few bits to do. I’d like to get the alloys refurbished and maybe redo the mohair hood seeing as I scooped some spot prizes at this year’s AGM Lol.
Finally, I’d like to thank sincerely all my mk1 friends for their help and support and not least their votes, and in particular a special word of gratitude to my father. It was he who nurtured in me, at an early age, a passion for all things Volkswagen.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers Hugh.
TAKEN FROM MARK 1 GOLF WEB SITE www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk
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