My 1976 Mk1 Golf LS Automatic

[des]

Hello, I'm new here,

I've had this Mk1 Golf LS Automatic for a few years now, pretty good car, although a few ongoing issues I'll talk about later, I was wondering:


Would this be an Australian made Golf or an imported car from Germany?

I cannot find anything on it that says ether,


If it is an Australian made Golf, how early in the production run would this car be?

It has 5/76 on this plate on the radiator support panel, I cannot find any other VIN tags



I don't expect it is the first Golf ever sold in Australia, but was just curious, for interest sake how early it is.

[des]

I understand that the bumpers are not original to the car,

when I bought the car 5 years ago the original chrome bumpers were all rusted and dented, and these were the only ones I could find locally to replace them with at the wreckers.

[gldgti]

Welcome!

You do indeed have an early car - i remember a thread from a long way back discussing who had early cars. do you have a rear shot of your car? (helps to determine its place of birth sometimes.)

given how good the body seems to be, i would guess it may be german, however it is traditionally known that 'LS' models are aussie built and anything else is from the fatherland, so maybe your just lucky to have a clean example.

either way, nice car.

[GoLfMan]

welcome!
Nice example you have there matey, nice eary pre-emissions engine and looks very clean!

[Golf Loon]

5/76 is the same as my green 16v one.

Definately aussie assembled in Clayton, Vic

Just missed out being a swallowtail. Doesn`t matter too much.

Late 75 are the earliest Australian ones I think.

I have seen a 1/76, and a 2/76 thats my earliest I think.

There was a thread on here with the dates, I`ll try and find it.

[des]

Thanks guys,

the body is getting a bit tired, after a few years of backing around in a small backyard, also I recently crashed into a highway barrier at about 30k's and broke a headlight and split the front bumper.




took this photo today:

[lawny]

welcome mate, nice clean looking mk1 you have there.

[Jarred]

lucky you, it's a swallowtail!

[mikinoz]

Where about in TAS? I never saw this when I was living there, well, not that I remember!

[des]

lucky you, it's a swallowtail!

Sorry to appear dumb, but what, if anything is the significance of that?


Picked her up a few years ago as a $400 cheapie

[des]

Where about in TAS? I never saw this when I was living there, well, not that I remember!

Hobart area, rarely gets driven, only done about 5,000k's in 5 years since I've had it,

bought it at a car yard in Moonah for $400 where it had been sitting for over a year abandonded.

[Geoffrey Hale]

Hi
Welcome. This is a good group to link up with I reckon. Lots of people with lots knowledge about the Mk 1 Golf. I believe it's Australian build produced in Clayton Victoria. Over the years things get changed both in production at the factory and by owner as you have with the bumpers. From the photos it looks like it's had the original aluminium and plastic radiator replaced with an after market one which is made of more conventional for the 70's material that is copper and brass. These I think are more robust but probably not quite as efficient. I wouldn't think you would notice any difference specially in Tassie. The other item I noticed is that it has the remote mounted air cleaner. I would have thought that originally it would have had the smaller type mounted directly on top of the carby. Others my know more.
Cheers......Geoff

[des]

Hi Geoffrey

Yes radiator has been replaced....which gets to the one annoying thing I have with this car.....it overheats

Since owning it I have had the radiator placed, water pump....heater boxe....hoses....thermostat....welsh plugs....temp gauge....the thing that controls the temp gauge.......and it still overheats.

Today with about I dont know..15c temp outside the temp sits three quaters the way up the gauge...sometimes hovering almost on the red

Oh and it gets that hot within driving 3k's from home, then seems to sit around that point all the time.


All I can think to do is replace the radiator hoses again and another new thermostat.

It may be the can I guess too, as sometimes when you switch the car off the electric fan will run for a few mintues, and some times it will not,

Sometimes I feel just like letting it overheat and blow up, as I've spent a a lot of money on mechanical repairs on it with local mechanics,

Had the suspension done by Performance Automobiles in Hobart, which then broke because they didn't replace the rubber "things" on the struts so it had to be done again. exhaust done by them also (which sounds no different with a new system)

Has also had a new steering rack fitted, there would be other things along the way that I've also done but cannot remember, new brakes about 12 monthss ago etc.. etc..



I recently discovered Nino at Bocchoni motors with my Beetle, he seems to be pretty good

[Golf Loon]

The read panel is a swallowtail as the line curves up to the edge of the lights, all other Mk1s have a straight line.

Yours must be one of the last swallowtails, as I had a 5/76 that was not.

Andrew Robinson Automotive is where I would be taking it if I was in Hobart, he knows his Mk1s having had several of them.

[Lima]

Sorry to appear dumb, but what, if anything is the significance of that?

AFAIK nothing too serious, apart from the fact it indicates the car is a very early Mk1 (therefore rarer) and that rear panel is very cool...

for you!