My parents always bought British cars, my dad went for Vauxhall’s while my mum opted for Austin Rover’s. They weren’t bad cars by any means (I actually quite fancy a MK1 Metro, although that’s another story), but my aunt and uncle opted for German models which always seemed more interesting. That is where my love for VW’s began.
In the early 90’s they had both a 1989 Audi 80 B3, and a 1986 MK2 Polo. I don’t remember much about the Audi, but I loved the Polo. B60 DSJ was a 1.3 Formel E model in Silver. It was the “breadvan” variant and had huge “POLO” decals along either side of it. I don’t think they were OEM, but they were fitting for the period – kind of like those backflash rear window stickers that every 80’s car had at one point or other!
My aunt would often take myself, my brother and my sister to school, and on a frosty winter morning I would wonder which of the two cars would be that days transport. Whilst the heater in the Audi was quicker to warm up, the Polo always seemed more fun. Maybe it was just the lack of ABS! Ironically that’s what was the death of that thing. It was sold when they “upgraded” to a BMW 320, and the guy that bought it hit some black ice and wrapped it round a lamp post a short time later.
I recall a funny story about that car actually. I wasn’t there to experience it first hand, but it has been told at many a family gathering over the years. My aunt lent her sister the Polo to take my cousin to an ice skating competition. After the event, they came out the venue into the car park. It was pitch black and pouring with rain, so they made a beeline for the car. They unlocked it and got in, but couldn’t start it – the key just wouldn’t turn. My uncle was in the glove box looking for the manual, while my aunt was frantically trying to get this thing going. Meanwhile my cousin is sitting in the back seat playing with a bag of money (!!). A few minutes pass, and a car pulls out from the space next to them. There, parked two spaces down, was an identical silver Polo…. I’m sure you can guess the rest!
Fast forward to 2002 when I turned 17, and the one and only thing on my mind was learning to drive. I had a two hour driving lesson every Friday in a 51 plate BSM Vauxhall Corsa, which was enough to sicken me off Vauxhalls for life.
As I was nearing the end of my lessons, my parents offered to buy me my first car. My dad’s friend was selling his 1989 Peugeot 205 and although I was keen to get my own set of wheels, it lacked the WOW factor of something with a VW badge on it – so I politely declined. I already had my eye on a nice 1990 MK2 Polo Breadvan in Alpine white, which a guy at work owned. I jokingly asked if he was selling it, and was surprised when he said he was. A few days and £450 later, G618 VGG was sitting outside my house. It only had a 1 litre engine, and the most naff 90’s 13” three-spoke TSW alloys you could think of, but I didn’t care – it was mine.
I went everywhere in that car. Petrol was 73.9p a litre at the time, and there were plenty of them in the scrappies for spare parts. Handy really, as I had taken on takeaway deliveries a few evenings a week (come on, we all did it!) for extra money and I ended up with a curry all over my passengers seat. Gone are the days when you could nip into the scrappies and pick up a replacement seat with the same fabric for a tenner!
I then began researching other VW models, which led me to come across a guy by the name of Ross Cupples in New Hampshire, North America. Ross owns one of the nicest (and largest) private collections of VW’s in the world, which includes several MK2 Polos. Ross had recently acquired a 1988 MK2 Polo prototype from a government auction, but the running gear had been removed. I got in contact with him, and over the coming months we had struck up a friendship. I agreed to source him the parts he required, and have them shipped over to him. After scouring all the usual sources, I found an MOT failure locally with a good running engine and gearbox. £100 later and G40 TUD was sitting outside my house.
With the help of my Dad, we stripped the engine, gearbox, wiring loom and all ancillaries from the car. This was then put into a crate and shipped across the Atlantic. Ross then set about getting his Polo up and running. In January 2004, and against my better judgement, I bought myself a three year old Rover 25 and sold the Polo to a friend for £100. I regret not parking it up in a garage somewhere and unearthing it many years later. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
More recently whilst holidaying in Skye, I saw a late MK2 Polo Breadvan lying outside someone’s house. I cheekily posted a note through the door asking if it was for sale. I never heard anything back at the time, so went and bought myself a nice MK1 Golf Cabriolet. Several months later, the owner of the Polo got in touch and offered it for sale. Sods law. I didn’t have the funds available so had to pass it up. One day I will own another….. watch this space!!
**Update November 2018**
By sheer coincidence, the owner of the Breadvan in Skye got back in touch with me. A deal was struck and I will be picking it up in early December. Exciting times ahead.
A good read mate, going for the Polo over the Peugeot all those years ago was a wise move!