1991 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF (MK1) GTI RIVAGE CABRIOLET

This VW Golf GTI Rivage Cabriolet is a highly original, left-hand-drive example of the Mk1 generation’s swansong. Under the bonnet is a 1.8-litre, fuel-injected engine, paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. The odometer reads 143,567 km (89,208 mils) from new.

Initially registered on 26 June 1992, this GTI Cabriolet has been in the hands of the vendor for the past three months, and has only recently arrived in the UK. It remains on its French registration plates; however, the vendor is happy to put the car through the NOVA process and get it UK registered for a fixed fee of £300 on top of the hammer price if required.

The car is in highly original condition throughout, and is believed to retain its factory bodywork. As the run-out special for the first generation Golf, the Rivage is one of the rarest Mk1s available.

Finished in Royal Blue, this Rivage’s paintwork has previously been resprayed and presents very well today. The front bumper has a scuff on the nearside, while some other minor marks are visible at the sill extensions, but overall the paint finish is in excellent condition. The blue fabric soft top is free of rips and tears, and latches shut and retracts smoothly. Wearing its original ‘Le Castellet’ forged 15-inch alloy wheels, these are in great condition with no kerbing marks.

The Golf’s cream leather is the ideal counterpart to the blue exterior, with the vendor stating that it has previously been re-connolised at some point in the car’s history. Ruched leather adorns the door cards, which remain in very good order. All seats present well with no rips or tears, while the vendor states that all electrical accessories are in full working order – save for the LCD time readout on the dashboard.

This GTI was last serviced in March 2021 by VW marque specialist M&J of Gloucester. This entailed replacement of all engine fluids. The vendor states that the cambelt was last replaced at 109,435 km (68,000) miles when the car was still in France.

The most recent ‘Controle Technique’ roadworthiness check was carried out in September 2020 in France, with the vendor stating that there were no advisories as a result of this test. Wearing a matched set of Marangoni Zeta tyres, these remain in good condition with approximately 7mm of tread.

This Volkswagen Golf GTI Rivage cabriolet is a fine example of the runout Mk1 model, remaining in highly original condition. With its left-hand-drive layout, it would be a superb companion for road trips in continental Europe, or a reliable drop-top modern classic for warm summer weekends on local roads.

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As this vehicle is not UK-registered, it cannot be run through Collecting Cars’ standard online HPI check process.