1979 Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk1 - Ex-VW (GB) Ltd. Press Car

Sold for

£20,475

Ended 16 May 2026

Data from Iconic Auctioneers, updated on 10 Oct 2026

View on Iconic Auctioneers

Year: 1979
Mileage: 133,000 miles
Gearbox: Manual
Engine: 1588
Colour: Mars Red

Specification

Fuel: GASOLINE
Steering: RHD
Auction house guide: £18,000 – £22,000
Sale: The Classic Sale at Supercar Fest 2026

Description

Supplied new as a Volkswagen (GB) Ltd. Press Car, first registered in the UK on 05/10/1979, this example was used in period marketing photographs and magazine features during 1979/1980 to promote the introduction of the close-ratio 5-speed gearbox, prior to the term ‘hot hatch’ entering common use
Purchased directly from the Volkswagen Press Office in June 1980 by respected motoring journalist and author, Brian Laban, who retained ownership until 2016
Just two former registered keepers are recorded, including Volkswagen itself, with our vendor acquiring the car in 2017 and retaining it for nine years
Laid-up for approximately 20 years before undergoing a comprehensive restoration exceeding 1,000 hours, including a full bare-metal respray, engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild and refurbishment of the interior with correct-pattern tartan seat trim and new headlining, completed in 2018
Restored with close attention to originality, including correctly finished brake pipes and accurate reproduction details such as period-style number plates
A 'matching numbers' car, the only deviation from factory specification is the fitment of electronic ignition from a later GTi. This is a non sunroof car
Since completion, the car has covered approximately 10,000 miles and has been shown successfully at Volkswagen Concours events, however, now best regarded as a well presented usable example.
Accompanied by supporting documentation including period magazines, books and press photography featuring the car, together with a photographic record of the restoration
Presented on period-correct Pirelli CN36 tyres