Volkswagen Golf GTi 1.8 MkI

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Perhaps 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 establishing 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 and timeless classic.

First registered in October 1983, close to the end of production, this 1.8 GTi has been in the current ownership since 2012 and has been substantially refurbished during that time including a full respray in 2013 and a reconditioned engine less than 2,000 miles ago (the clock currently showing some 138k miles). Other new parts include: front and rear brakes; drive shafts; wheel bearings; steering arms; exterior trim parts; windscreen; a new set of tyres; 16” Ronal Aero alloys and a Sportex exhaust.

Waxoiled underneath and kept garaged when not in use, the car is said to drive as it should with an MOT until July 2016. With top examples of this iconic Eighties hot hatch now fetching in excess of £10,000 at auction (a 15k miler made £16,000 earlier this month), it looks mighty tempting at the sensible guide price suggested.