The Volkswagen GTI is a classic example of the much-loved hot hatch. These days, you might be surprised to see that prices have ticked upwards for sound examples, as it has become near impossible to find good, clean cars. The MK2 supply is particularly weak, but you can still find decent MK1s for sale. However, the combination of rust-free cars in unmodified condition – or at least modified tastefully like this 1984 GTI listed here on Facebook Marketplace with a tidy engine swap – are near impossible to track down. The seller is asking $9,900 for this example, located in Hamburg, NY.
The MK1 blew many minds when it first burst onto the scene. Light-weight, tossable, and surprisingly quick for a car that didn’t make much power on paper, it epitomized the concept of how driving a slow car fast could be more fun than a fast car slow. The GTI also show cased VW’s ability to make a home run possible long after the last Beetle was sold stateside, and while it was making good cars overall, none of them captured the hearts of enthusiasts. The MK1 was loved the world over, and today it still commands as strong as following in Europe as it does here in the states.
Of course, VW – like so many other import brands that built lightweight and fun hot hatches – has a massive enthusiast following that loves to modify its cars. While many of us are purists, there’s no denying that the VW faithful have figured out how to create some very clean builds, and this GTI is no exception. The seller has swapped in the wonderful DOHC 16-valve engine from a later MK2 VW, which adds even more power to the lightweight shell. The install looks quite clean with an open-air intake and several improvements made as part of the build, including “….new intake valves, oil pump, hydraulic lifters, head gasket and valve cover gasket.”
The interior is still stock GTI inside, with those awesome bucket seats. The seller has made a few other upgrades, including a short-shifter, European-market bumpers, a coil-over suspension system, and more. In stock form, this engine makes 134 b.h.p. and 133 lb.-ft. of torque, which is a healthy boost of power in an easy-to-live-with naturally aspirated setup. The GTI will always be coveted in stock form, but cleanly modified examples like this should likewise have no trouble finding a new home. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find.
Unfortunate that the owner put so much money into changing it so drastically. $4500 on an unnecessary after market fuel injection system. $4500 for an exterior wrap. $1000 to black out those awesome stock rims. Where are the fender flare? The original tail lights look better to me. I would change back the grille too. Why mess with success…
He dropped the price from $14k to $9.9k. Soon as it reached $4k it will probably sell.
This looks like a stock 1984 Rabbit that the seller tried to convert into a 1984 GTI.
I don’t think I’d call those taillights a tasteful modification.
I had an 88 or 89 16v GTI and I’ll tell you, the 2 valve was in a lot of ways more fun because it made power lower in the powerband. You had to rev the crap out of the 16v and in most traffic situations by the time you got the revs up you where shutting them down.
I worked at the Volkswagen Westmoreland assembly plant from 1978 to 1989. The GTI was first introduced in the USA as in 1986. If he tries to claim it’s a German model, he’s lying. The only German models were cabriolets. All other Rabbits were built in New Stanton, PA.
This is just a Plain Jane Rabbit with an engine swap.