Is The Mk3 VW Golf GTI A Valuable Classic?
It’s a good question, but has the Mk3 VW Golf GTI at last become a valuable classic? Well, yes, but with certain caveats…
There are quite a few around, they sold reasonably well, even here in the UK and thankfully they were pretty rust resistant so have lasted reasonably well. But you do need to have one that’s in really good condition, no make that excellent condition. Oh, and with low mileage too if possible.
Specification matters less, as there wasn’t that much you could specify with one. But the right special edition will.
Performance wasn’t considered as good as the predecessor as it carried a little bit more weight, 1040 kg against a Mk2 8v with 920 kg or 940 for a 16V. So, the press at the 1992 launch gave it a bit of a hard time, the 16v engine appearing in 1994 addressing some of the performance lost.
I’ve seen 9.6 to 10.2 seconds quoted for the 8v 0 – 60 mph dash, somewhat behind a Mk2. But the 16v got it back down to 8 seconds or so.
Not so bad with only 150 bhp. That’s considered low power and light weight these days.
The car we have here was one from the H&H sale on the 8th of September 2021 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, is a 20th anniversary of the GTI edition and is a little bit different to an ordinary Mk3 GTI. Ok, there is no more power or any fancy technology, just trim. But it does look a bit like the VR6.
But the trim does stand out as you can see in the pictures, but it’s not too bad and suits the car. Painted in Mystic Blue Pearl with the anniversary interior.
Though you will see the lower powered 115 bhp 8v engine in this car.
The Golf is quite a rare find, with only one owner from new and only 66,460 warranted miles. The V5 showing zero previous owners is unusual. Also, some might say the numberplate is suits it too. The purchaser will know if it relates to the vendor.
The anniversary was limited to 1000 examples, in both 3 and 5 door variants. With special chequered Recaro seats, red seatbelts, red stitching on the steering wheel and a half chrome and leather golf ball. And only 150 of these made it to the UK.
The red trim continued to the floor mats and brake calipers. The car came with 16 x 7 split rim BBS alloys very similar to the VR6. And of course, the very 90s white dials.
Additional extras boosted the specification with electric heated wing mirrors, an upgraded stereo, mud flaps and including both an electric sunroof and air conditioning, which are very unusual together making this one of the highest specifications you could get.
The car comes with a desirable set of documents including the original new vehicle order form and the spec sheet.
The pack containing the service book, MOTs from 1999 to 2018 when the car was put into storage.
A collection of invoices, a spare key and that V5 with zero previous owners.
And the bit you were all waiting for, it sold for £9,562, including buyers premium.
So yes, valuable, collectable and a classic.
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