Volkswagen Golf GTi MkI 1.8

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The iconic hot hatch of the Eighties, the Giugiaro-designed Golf GTi was a milestone in car development, sparking off a supermini craze that spread like wildfire and established an aspirational cachet for the VW brand which the German giant trades on to this day.

Launched in 1976 but not available in the UK until 1979, it had superb handling, great performance and was utterly classless. It was also brilliantly marketed (thanks to Lady Di-lookalike, Paula Hamilton) and quickly became every Yuppie’s dream car.

Initially powered by a 110bhp 1.6-litre fuel-injected engine driving the front wheels, it could sprint to 60 in 9 seconds and hold three figure speeds all day with no fear of anything breaking or falling off. In 1982 the MkI GTi received a facelift which included quad headlamps and a bigger 1.8-litre fuel-injected engine. Now with 112bhp and 109lb/ft on tap, the top speed went up to 119mph and the 0-60 time went down to just 8 seconds.

Weighing just 830kg it excelled on cross country B roads where its superb handling could be exploited to the full, leaving bigger and more potent cars floundering in its wake. Throw in the glassy cabin and the minimalist, boxy lines and it was an instant, timeless classic.

This GTi 1.8 is really quite special as it has had very few owners and has covered only 83,870 miles in its 35 years to date with plenty of paperwork to prove. As the original purchase invoice confirms, A960 SUW was sold new by VAG dealers SG Smith of Dulwich to a local property developer, Mr P Riley, in July 1983 and cost £7,048 including a steel sunroof, tinted glass, a radio and Lhasa Metallic paintwork.

Mr Riley appears to have kept the car for the next 24 years and clearly looked after it well, the service book recording 13 stamps up to 62,043 miles in March 2004, all carried out at the supplying dealer, plus invoices for three further services, the last in August 2006 at 80,293 miles.

In 2007 it was sold to a gentleman in the South of Ireland and remained there until returning to England in July this year. Various invoices show regular upkeep in Ireland including new tyres and exhaust; rear disc brake conversion with stainless steel brake hoses; new headlamps, fuel pump, alternator and starter motor plus numerous minor trim parts.

Remaining in good and highly original condition throughout, it comes with its original handbook and service book in the original VAG wallet, 19 old MOTs from 1986 to 2006 plus a current MOT valid until July 2019 with no advisories recorded.

Largely unmolested, with few owners, low mileage and good history, this MkI GTi ticks all the right boxes and is definitely worth a look at the sensible guide price suggested.