‘The boys in the VW workshop think this is pretty cool’
1983 Golf GTI Campaign Julian and Harry Lunn, Spalding
‘I've had four GTI Mkis and two 1.1s but this one is a forever car’
How did this get started then?
'I’ve been into Golfs for years and my mate knew of this one, so we went and had a look together with the idea of him buying it. It was in a sorry state – the bumpers, wipers and all the trim that should be black had been colour coded white – it looked rubbish. When we lifted the bonnet there was just a block there. The lad who had bought it had a 1.1 and wanted the GTI engine to put in it. So he took it to bits and then realised that the engine mounts were different. Then it just sat there. My mate still bought it, though!'
Did your friend restore it?
'He did a load of body work on it, sorted the engine and then we went to the Nürburgring. While we were there I asked him to give me first refusal if he ever wanted to sell it, and it was mine within two weeks! That’s when I got stuck in and over the last couple of years I’ve completely re-built the engine and done the gearbox as well. It’s quite special being a run-out ‘Campaign’ edition with lots of extras like the Pirelli P-slot wheels.'
What needs doing now, then?
'I want to re-do the suspension because it is slightly lowered on coilovers at the moment, which give it too hard a ride – it's great for the track, but not for day-to-day living. There are other little tweaks to do, too – I'm fettling it as I run the engine in – including two oil changes with multigrade and then semisynthetic to 2000 miles. The engine is a bit warmer than normal 1.8s
– it’s got a Kent cam, four-branch manifold, 16v GTI throttle body and it’s a 1.9 now, in fact. Luckily you can still get quite a lot of parts through Volkswagen, and because I work at a
VW garage I’m able to see what sort of stuff is out there.'
What do your colleagues think?
'They love it. All the lads crowd round it when I bring it in because the MKI GTI'S a bit of a legend. I do use it for work because I want to get it bedded in, although to be honest I take any excuse to drive it because it's so involving. Hopefully soon I will be able to take it to the Nürburgring again, only this time with Harry.
I’ve had four GTI Mkis and two 1.1s, but this one is a forever car.'
And Harry, what is your verdict on dad’s car then?
'It’s really cool and I can’t wait to go with dad to the Nürburgring. Sometimes he picks me up from school in it – it's really cool!'