Volkswagen Golf GTI 285bhp Mk1 Madness!

Arriving in with us this morning is our monstrous Mk1 Golf GTI. A very special car with an impressive restoration history too.

In simple terms, here’s the story:

• Apx 20 valve turbo with 3 stage boost
• Emerald ECU
• 6 speed 02S gearbox
• Peloquin Limited Slip Diff
• 800kg corner weight
• 384nm torque
• Bhp/tonne 356
• AVO GTX performance suspension kit
• Motorsport spec triangulated rear beam
• Pro race 1.2’s with R88
• Wilwood four pots on 280mm discs
• Electric power steering
• Brake comp brake bias/pedal box
• Techedge 2j9 wideband lambda
• Porsche grey black 7A1
• Yoko ad08R

Featured in Performance VW, the world’s best-selling VW tuning magazine. November 2016.

Article written and photographed by Jimbo Wallace.

285bhp in a Mk1 that weighs about the same as an empty packet of Quavers is anything but cheesy…

Engine: APX 20v, custom stainless downpipe and exhaust system, Emerald ECU (mapped by Emerald) and custom wiring loom with three map settings: 200bhp, 265bhp, 285bhp (various torque settings). Custome engine ounts, hydraulic (with braided hoses), twin paddle Helix clutch, lightened/balanced flywheel, new fuel system including pump and stainless basket to hold filter/pump etc, braided fuel lines with custom swirl pots setup, Mocal oil cooler with stainless hoses and alloy fittings run inside front wing with cover plate over hoses, Forge intercooler, Mk2 Golf diesel radiator with twin 10″ fans, SFS hoses, custom induction filter, baffled alloy sump, Mocal oil catch tank, Audi 02S six-speed gearbox, Peloquin limited-slip diff, cable shifter on custom raised allow tower inside car, new 100mm driveshafts, Mk2 wiper motor, washer bottle and oil catch tank moved further back for better weight distributions.

Chassis: 15″ Team Dynamics wheels with Toyo 888 205/15 tyres, Wilwood four-pot calipers and 280mm front brake kit, brand new copper lines and braided hoses throughout, lines to rear brakes run through the inside of the car, rear disc conversion with Mk4 calipers, larger Mk2 16v brake servo/master cylinder, adjustable Tilton bias valve, AVO GTX adjustable coilover suspension valved and built to custom spec with higher lb spring rates (front and rear), fully polybushed, seam welded wishbones with ball joint extenders, lower strut brace, rear motorsport derived traingulated axle inc, adjustable rose joints to reduce beam flex under load and CDS tube roll bar fixed in place of original anti-roll bar to increase oversteer and reduce understeer, 15mm wider track on the front, 10mm wider track on rear, stud and alloy wheel nut kit, Ground Control fully adjustable front top mounts with new bearings, adjustable rose-jointed track rod ends, Quaife quick steering rack in original Mk1 housing, currently running new rack with original ratios, strengthened steering rack mounting points.

Exterior: Bare metal respray including underside, new front panel, rear panel, front wings and parts of sill, lower rear panel cut to allow air flow as existing design acts as an air scoop, new grille and spoiler, full weld in roll cage to front suspension turrets, part seam welded shell, lightened shell throughout (inc. removal of spare wheel well), original seat belt points, excess metal in rear quarters and doors, rain tray in engine bay, carbon bonnet, fibreglass tailgate, polycarb windows, lightened metal doors, tubed rare arches, pulled arches all-round, new windscreen, lower swage line deleted, tinted genuine Helix rear lights, cold air ports in front panel.

Interior: Carbon door cards, flocked dash with Stack gauges (mph/rev counter 0-60 timer, lap timer), electric power steering with adjustable resistance control, Cobra Suzuka Pro bucket seats with Luke four-point harnesses, fibreglass wheel well cover, carbon trim in dash, OMP steering wheel, fire extinguisher, custom ECU port and fuse board inside glovebox, raised shifter tower, battery relocated to boot.