Early Swallowtail Golf

[Golf Loon]

Just thought I`d post a couple of pics of a swallowtail golf.

These are the earliest Golfs and are almost extinct everywhere. Australia has probably the largest surviving population of these beasties.

They were built in Germany in 1975, put on a boat and registered in Oz in early 1976.

They differ from your common or garden Mk1, as the panel at the back is a different shape. Instead of the crease going straight under the lights across the back of the car, it swallowtails up to meet the corner of the lights.

Go and check your Golfs, lets have some sightings please.

http://xs30.xs.to/pics/05211/P8220236.JPG
http://xs30.xs.to/pics/05211/P8060191.JPG[/img][/url]

[imported_brackie]

I sure my first ever Golf was a swallow tail. It was a 3 door. Matt, why did you use a tank from a diesel in your rebuild?

[Golf Loon]

I consider this to be the best bit of a diesel golf! It has a bigger outlet and a great anti-surge baffle. which makes it ideal for a fuel injected application.

[alex g]

sighting umm yes in my driveway with only two doors ohh i am in love what mk2, i think she is getting jelious

[Golf Loon]

Come on then, show us a pic! Or two, front and back.

[courtz]

I am pretty sure that I have a 3 door "swallowtail" as you describe will post some shots later, it definately deserves doingup methinks!!!!

[Red Mk1]

i have a swallowtail for sale at the moment in the classifieds section :D its a beauty....if i say so myself :wink:

[Golf Loon]

http://xs30.xs.to/pics/05214/golfblu1.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs30&d=05214&f=golfblu1.jpg)

[syncro]

These '76 Golfs were made in Australia. Note the colours are different from the German cars and very poor build quality. Also there is a blob of weld on the seam where the rear guard joins the bottom panel under the bumper. Also they were all LS models. 77 to 80 models were German and were GLS and GLD.

[imported_brackie]

Yeah. I often wondered about the different build quality. My first Golf was a '76 3 door LS. Must have been Aussie built? Actually, I rescued it as a trade in from a Perth car yard. It was in pretty poor condition but I fixed it up back to original (then sold it!) Nothing fitted well and the paint was very poor. Why do we always hurt the ones we love??

[syncro]

Yeah. I often wondered about the different build quality. My first Golf was a '76 3 door LS. Must have been Aussie built? Actually, I rescued it as a trade in from a Perth car yard. It was in pretty poor condition but I fixed it up back to original (then sold it!) Nothing fitted well and the paint was very poor. Why do we always hurt the ones we love??

The bodies have a problem with breaking up also. I had a '76 with a 50cm crack in the front left inner guard area which gave it "unique" handling. I removed the rear seat once and found a piece of masking tape when removed showed bare metal from the factory.

[Golf Loon]

Some of the German ones that were sent here had to be finished here to be allowed, under import regs. Some genius sent them unpainted to be painted her. You can see what 3 months on a boat did to all that bare metal.

My project car was a 1976 LS 5 door auto in a previous incarnation, but is so straight. I think (hope) its just one of the good ones. Its only the shell that matters and shes pretty straight now. She will be a 2L 16v in her next life.

[Beige76]

I`ve got one of those 76s. Its ok.

[syncro]

Some of the German ones that were sent here had to be finished here to be allowed, under import regs. Some genius sent them unpainted to be painted her. You can see what 3 months on a boat did to all that bare metal.



They were all CKD from Germany and welded together in Clayton. I have never seen a German made '76 in Australia. They went on sale in feb '76 and after about May/June '76 the NSW and SA Golfs had different engines to the other states.

[zjm]

these early cars seem to be better than the later cars regarding rust around front window rubber
no wonder the build quality was bad they shared the production line with datsun 180bs and volvo 240s (notice they all had the same colour range)

[syncro]

these early cars seem to be better than the later cars regarding rust around front window rubber
no wonder the build quality was bad they shared the production line with datsun 180bs and volvo 240s (notice they all had the same colour range)

They rusted everywhere else but. I'd never bother with one again.

[Golf Loon]

Yeah. I`ve got a 76 that has no rust. rescued it from an old lady with 70,000kms on her.

The colour used to be wattle which is a datsun colour. My car shop couldn`t match it until they got the datsun book out!

[syncro]

Wattle was a common colour for Beetles & Kombis ('72-'76) but a bit rare on Golfs. Did you notice that the '76 bonnet is different also? The seats were also made in Australia in Padstow by FRS springs.

[Golf Loon]

I`ve still got a tin of wattle paint here if anyone wants it!

The seats must be a close match as I reskinned 5door 1976 seats to fit a 3 door 1977.

The bonnet is only different on early 1976`s, swallowtails. The line comes right to the leading edge. On later cars there is a lip along the front of the bonnet.

[GoLfMan]

I`ve still got a tin of wattle paint here if anyone wants it!

in interested in that mate!!! im respraying my 2 door as u know... its still orginal colour is martiny olive? can u show us wat colour wattle is?

[Golf Loon]

Wattle is the colour of baby poo.

I only have half a litre. ok for touchups.

Keep your car olive mate, better than the yellow and browns.

[GoLfMan]

yeh i was planning to respray the original colour. :)

[Golfwise]

Now that Golfs are 29 years old even an LS even though being built in Aus and inferior to a German built GLS is still worthy of restoration.
I can remember in my youth that we regarded the old 1948 early model Holdens as inferior to a 56 FJ but today who wouldn't give their back teeth for 48 215 model in any condition.
Remember they may still make the Golf Citi in S/Af but they don't make 76 LS's anymore.One probably goes to the wreckers every week, soon there will be none left. :cry:
SAVE THEM !

[Golf Loon]

Saw two cars at Pic and Payless today
Red Panels and some nice early style seats if anyone wants them.
Tattersall Rd, Blacktown, Sydders

I can only justify bastardising my 5 door into a 16v fast road car on the basis that its only a 76 LS 5 door. It was an auto too :cry: Wouldnt do it to a swallowtail.

Still its got the straightest shell I`ve seen in a long time though! :D And the clutch cable hasnt pulled through the bulkhead, as it was an auto.

[Golfwise]

Hot rodding old cars is the go.It keeps us motovated if we can trick them up.1600 on carb ,13 by 5 wheels is a bit boring.

[crazygee]

These Oz Assembled Vehicles Are lighter than The german Ones becuz ov no body deadner:0.... Also Mattie & all others Reading This.. A golf Deisel Fuel Tank iz a Gti Tank Also!! same part No:; u will notice all Heavy Duty Diesel Parts Mounts Etc are the Same as GTi.. Cheerio g;)

[crazygee]

"Wattle" Yellow... same as Type2 kombi Vans and Bugs.... can get u code??? if possible.. Cheers G;)

[DOHCDAVE]

holdens, magnas, datsuns, volvo's whatever was made here i have run rings around most models older and even much newer in my 76 which at the time had 8v gti EV motor in in standard form easy kept up with 2001 5.7 monaro and there's not many cars around that iv'e seen that are as old as the 76 with out any rust , and if uoy are thinking of putting more power into it your going to have to brace the car more anyway, as for me well i'll buy a 76 any day iv'e had 5 off them and despite having obvious points were they rust, at least i can say that my 30 year old golf wiil run rings around even the newest of cars. Build quality well that's just the Aussie way slap it together she'll be right mate, fortunatly the aussie way is lending itself towards quality now days. built in 76 or 96 the euro cars have always been ahead of there time.
Sorry about the winj guys but i love my 76 and i think that every golf since owes its design and apeal to the very first golfs made.

By the way theres a show on the 11th sept in bris at the Clem Jones centre VW and AUDI action day.

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:twisted: 76MK1 16v :twisted:

[imported_brackie]

Great Golf tale, Mate. There's absolutely no doubt about European design quality. The motoring jounos like to tell of the "better" build quality of the Japs, but for basic strength of design, handling and engineering, you can't go past European cars. (imho) On our winding Tassie roads there is absolutely nothing that can stay with my little diesel around the bends. Can't wait to get the sway bar from the Loon!

[DOHCDAVE]

my first golf was an 80 diesel wich i soon realised hanled very well once cheese cutters where removed which has led me to the golf i have now 76 mk1 16v and lovin it
cheers Dave





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MK1 THE BEST


:twisted: 76 MK1 16V :twisted:

[GoLfMan]

1600 on carb ,13 by 5 wheels is a bit boring.
we gotta start somewhere mate :)