The glorious Volkswagen MK1 Golf has long been one of our favourite retro cars. For me, it all started back in 2001 when I first laid eyes on one—though this was no ordinary Golf. It was the shell of a MK1, bolted to a TVR chassis, and it blew my mind. From that moment, I knew there was something undeniably iconic about the design and presence of the MK1.

Building A Legacy on Four Wheels

Though he’s a panel beater by trade, this was Alex’s first fully custom project—from engine swap to air ride install. The MK1 was built after hours in the shop, and wouldn’t have been possible without a close-knit crew of friends who supported him through every challenge.

Alex’s journey with the MK1 began in February 2015, after an uninsured driver wrote off his beloved MK2 Golf. With show season fast approaching, he'd already prepped the Mk2, had a stash of cash ready for air suspension, and had just picked up a set of Compomotive split wheels.

A Build That Took On a Life of Its Own

What sets this build apart is the level of detail Alex poured into every element. The engine bay isn’t just clean—it’s a fully shaved, tucked, and customised piece of art. From custom engine covers to hidden wiring and the stainless boost pipes, it’s all been thought through and executed with precision.

Alex’s MK1 Golf is a true testament to dedication, patience, and passion. Built with soul, crafted with care and driven with passion, it’s more than just a car—it’s a rolling work of art that sparks many memories for other people tinkering on their own VW Golf's in time gone by. And though it may still be “in progress,” it’s already a standout on any show field.

From Write-Off to Wonder

Initially, the plan was modest—a tidy static build with a semi-smoothed bay and a PD swap. But just three weeks in, Alex knew he couldn’t do things by halves. Being surrounded by high-calibre builds at JH Pro Paint raised the bar, and what followed was a three-year journey with over 3400 hours of painstaking work.

A Chance Meeting and the Perfect Shoot

After a few messages back and forth on Instagram, we arranged a shoot a few months later. As luck would have it, the weather on the day was wild—relentless rain—but our location was undercover and packed with character. It was a fitting spot to highlight the crisp, clean lines of Alex’s MK1 Golf.

Show-Ready but Always Evolving

The bodywork features a subtle but purposeful aggression—widened arches, a swallowtail tailgate and a de-ribbed bonnet all help distinguish it from the usual MK1 crowd. Even the floor wasn’t overlooked; it’s been painted to match, with a chrome-effect fuel tank that adds a cheeky flash of show car flair.

Despite its already stunning looks, Alex still considers the build “in progress.” There are always tweaks to be made, details to refine, ideas to explore. It’s a project that reflects his growth and creativity as a builder, and that journey is far from over.

At shows, it holds its own easily amongst high-end builds, yet it was never about trophies. For Alex, this is personal—a way to express his skill, vision, and love for the culture.

Despite its boxy styling, the charm of the MK1 Golf is unmatched, and it's why we've seen so many jaw-dropping builds across the globe over the past 15 years. So when we spotted Alex’s flawless example at the Classic Car Show at the NEC, we knew we had to capture it in our signature SuperFly style.

Massive shoutouts to Jonno Wouson, Steven Gelsthorpe, Oli Cole, Ben from JBS, Joe Ogle at Kojo Customs, Edge Automotive, Havair, Pugs Polishing, John Hinchcliffe at JH Pro Paint, and of course, Jae—his better half, who endured years as a car widow.

Built Not Bought – A Community Effort

What truly makes this MK1 special is that it was built after hours, not bought off the shelf. It's a story of grit, of evenings spent turning wrenches instead of watching telly. And it’s a perfect example of how far passion and a close circle of support can take a project.

This Is Undoubtedly A Love Affair with a Boxy Icon

After selling the wheels, he bought the MK1 as a project car from his old boss, John at JH Pro Paint. Though the Golf was in rough shape, it came with a goldmine of rare parts. As a Series 1 GLS, it was already a tough model to find, and with a PD130 engine as part of the deal, it was simply too good to turn down.

Detail Obsessed – The Craft in Every Corner

Alex Downs' 1980 Series 1 MK1 Golf GLS

• Engine: PD130 TDI engine swap

• Fully shaved bay: Raised turrets, battery relocation, heater delete, wire tuck, scuttle delete, custom engine cover, stainless boost pipes, custom air intake/inlet manifold by Kojo Customs

• Body & Chassis: 

  Full 360° restoration, Widened arches, swallowtail tailgate, de-ribbed bonnet

  Shortened rear beam, Wilwood 4-pot brakes with grooved discs, custom GAZ air shocks by Havair with V2 management.

• Interior:

  Full retrim in Harris Tweed by Edge Automotive, modified Porsche 914 seats, custom perforated headliner, Momo Heritage steering wheel, Basil custom gear knob and handbrake cover

• Wheels & Details:

  Custom 3-piece split wheels: 4" dish rear, 1.5" front

  Centres originally 14" VW bottle top alloys, machined to BBS 34-hole fitment Chrome-effect fuel tank, floor painted, 4" shortened rear beam

From welding and wiring to polishing and trimming, everything came together with a sense of shared pride. The result is a true one-of-one that’s as inspiring as it is impressive.

Alex’s MK1 Golf is a true testament to dedication, patience, and passion. Built with soul and crafted with care, it’s more than just a car—it’s a rolling work of art. And though it may still be “in progress,” it’s already a standout on any show field.

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