Skip to content

FOR AUCTION: BEST PRESERVED, MOST ORIGINAL AND WELL-KNOWN GOLF GTI MK 1 ON THE PLANET

An incredibly rare 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTI 1.6 Mk1 Series 1 in museum quality condition with ‘unicorn’ status will go under the hammer with leading online classic car auction house, The Market.

The very early, UK, right hand drive, 4 speed variant has covered less than 17,000 miles from new in the hands of only three registered owners, making it possibly the best preserved, most original and most well-known Golf GTI Mk 1 on the planet.

Originally purchased by its first owner for £5,132.39 in September 1979, the classic VW is expected to sell for between £31,000 and £42,000 when it goes under the hammer with online auctioneer The Market, beginning on 19th March and closing on 25th March.

So famous is this particular car that it even has its own Corgi Vanguards Classics 1:43 scale model, an exact miniature replica of the car itself.

“This is possibly the last opportunity that any of us will ever have to own what is still an essentially brand-new, unrestored, reference quality Golf GTI Mk1 – and not just any GTI, but the very purist, earliest model of the car that blazed a trail for everything that came thereafter,” comments Tristan Judge, director, The Market.

This particular example, registration ‘ENT 847V’, is well known within enthusiast circles having featured in a number of specialist magazines as well as making two television appearances. The first was ‘The Car’s The Star’, broadcast by the BBC in May 1995, which saw Quentin Willson behind the wheel of “the world’s most complete car”. The car also went on to feature on the BBC’s ‘Clarkson’s Car Years’ in June 2000, in which Jeremy Clarkson names the Golf GTI as “the car of the century.”

Finished in Black with silver and black tartan seats, the car is complete with many original and rare features. These include the small, early-type rear light clusters, non-locking fuel cap, Wolfsburg three spoke steering wheel, genuine Wolfsburg mud flaps, Toric T-76 buckle-less seat belts and golf ball gear knob. The 4 speed gearbox model was only available for three months in late 1979 before the 5 speed gearbox variant was introduced.

Typical of the very earliest models, the car does not have a sunroof, rear fog lamp, radio, aerial or passenger door wing mirror, all of which are staple features today, but expensive options when the Golf was new.

In 2015 the car was treated to recommissioning by renowned Mk1 Golf experts Crazy Quiffs of Wallingford at a cost of over £7,000. This included a strip of the underside of the car and replacement of dampers, brake components and fuel lines to ensure safety. The engine was also removed for cleaning, the gearbox rebuilt, and the clutch assembly replaced.

“This is a true collector’s car and a genuinely unrepeatable opportunity. It is also road ready. We believe this amazing Golf GTI will be hard fought over when the auction takes place, potentially providing the opportunity to set a new record price for the model,” concluded Tristan.

The car is accompanied by its Volkswagen Historic Vehicle Certificate as well as a brand new in box Corgi scale model and a treasure trove of paperwork including its original bill of sale, original log book, brochure, original VW publicity photos, old MOT certificates, bills, correspondence with the BBC and all its old road tax discs.

To find out more about the 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTI 1.6 Mk1 Series 1 for auction with The Market visit https://themarket.co.uk/listings/volkswagen/golf-gti/2b2c56ae-8c02-40d5-8409-a0aae8099f38?status=preview.

FUEL PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR REGLATOR VW GOLF MK1 GTI MK2 16v A1426
eBay
£267.29
FUEL PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR REGLATOR VW GOLF MK1 GTI MK2 16v A1426
RARE VW Golf Mk1 Cabriolet Convertible Bootlid Tailgate GTI Clipper
eBay
£78.72
RARE VW Golf Mk1 Cabriolet Convertible Bootlid Tailgate GTI Clipper
FITS VW GOLF MK1 SCIROCCO MK2 MK3 MK4 GTI SET RED ST CUSTOM NEW MADE IN UK
eBay
£102.97
FITS VW GOLF MK1 SCIROCCO MK2 MK3 MK4 GTI SET RED ST CUSTOM NEW MADE IN UK
FITS VW GOLF MK1 MK2 MK3 GTI HANDBRAKE GAITER GTI RED CUSTOM NEW MADE IN UK
eBay
£69.53
FITS VW GOLF MK1 MK2 MK3 GTI HANDBRAKE GAITER GTI RED CUSTOM NEW MADE IN UK
FITS VW GOLF MK1 MK2 MK3 MK4 GTI HANDBRAKE GAITER GTI STITCH CUSTOM NEW
eBay
£69.53
FITS VW GOLF MK1 MK2 MK3 MK4 GTI HANDBRAKE GAITER GTI STITCH CUSTOM NEW
VW GOLF MK1 RHD GTi EARLY SERIES 1 ONE SPEEDO CLOCKS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
eBay
£167.12
VW GOLF MK1 RHD GTi EARLY SERIES 1 ONE SPEEDO CLOCKS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
VW Golf GTI Cabriolet Mk1 Print - Wall Art artwork poster gift car classic auto
eBay
£67.15
VW Golf GTI Cabriolet Mk1 Print - Wall Art artwork poster gift car classic auto
VW Golf GTI Cabriolet Mk1 Print - Wall Art artwork poster gift car classic auto
eBay
£55.25
VW Golf GTI Cabriolet Mk1 Print - Wall Art artwork poster gift car classic auto
Volkswagen Golf GTI Seats MK6 Great Condition
eBay
£363.72
Volkswagen Golf GTI Seats MK6 Great Condition
MOCAL VW GOLF 1.6 1.8 20V TURBO 2.0 GTI RUBBER HOSE ENGINE OIL COOLER KIT ZO1K
eBay
£169.99
MOCAL VW GOLF 1.6 1.8 20V TURBO 2.0 GTI RUBBER HOSE ENGINE OIL COOLER KIT ZO1K
VW Golf GTI, R, R32 & VR6 - ECU Remap Box / Power Chip Upgrade
eBay
£64.95
VW Golf GTI, R, R32 & VR6 - ECU Remap Box / Power Chip Upgrade
2X Exhaust Dual Pipe Tip 2.5" in 3.5" out 9.5" Length For VW Golf Mk6 MK7.5 GTI
eBay
£72.02
2X Exhaust Dual Pipe Tip 2.5" in 3.5" out 9.5" Length For VW Golf Mk6 MK7.5 GTI
-26%
Revell 07072 VW Golf 1 GTI 1:24 Scale Unbuilt/Unpainted Plastic Model Kit
Amazon.co.uk
£23.99 £32.49
Revell 07072 VW Golf 1 GTI 1:24 Scale Unbuilt/Unpainted Plastic Model Kit
-3%
Revell Gift Set 05694 "35 Years VW Golf 1 GTI Pirelli" 1:24 Scale Unbuilt Plastic Model Kit with Contacta Professional Glue, Paintbrush & Selected Aqua Color Paints
Amazon.co.uk
£33.66 £34.99
PRIMEPRIME
Revell Gift Set 05694 "35 Years VW Golf 1 GTI Pirelli" 1:24 Scale Unbuilt Plastic Model Kit with Contacta Professional Glue, Paintbrush & Selected Aqua Color...
-12%
Bburago 1: 24 Volkswagen Golf Gti mk1 (1979), Red
Amazon.co.uk
£16.93 £19.28
Bburago 1: 24 Volkswagen Golf Gti mk1 (1979), Red
-7%
Matchbox 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI MK1, Green, 1:64 Scale Toy Car, Children
Amazon.co.uk
£11.98 £12.99
PRIMEPRIME
Matchbox 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI MK1, Green, 1:64 Scale Toy Car, Children
2023 Matchbox 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTi MK1 Green 97/100 (Short Card) HLC96
Amazon.co.uk
£14.25
PRIMEPRIME
2023 Matchbox 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTi MK1 Green 97/100 (Short Card) HLC96
Bburago -1/24 Golf GTI MK1 1979 Car, 18-21089, Assorted Color
Amazon.co.uk
£18.86
Bburago -1/24 Golf GTI MK1 1979 Car, 18-21089, Assorted Color
Volkswagen Golf MK1 GTI Owners Workshop Manual T-Shirt
Amazon.co.uk
£19.99
PRIMEPRIME
Volkswagen Golf MK1 GTI Owners Workshop Manual T-Shirt
Aluminum radiator for GOLF MK1 / CADDY/SCIROCCO/Jetta GTI SPEC 1.6 1.8 8V
Amazon.co.uk
£184.00
Aluminum radiator for GOLF MK1 / CADDY/SCIROCCO/Jetta GTI SPEC 1.6 1.8 8V
Amazon price updated: May 16, 2025 12:33 pm