Highlights

Rare Rivage edition GTI convertible
Presented in clean, impressively original form
Backed by a vast and extensive history file
Subject to much recent mechanical expenditure

The Appeal

Take one of the original and all time great hot hatches, the MK1 Golf GTi, and chop the roof off, it's certainly a bold idea, one that perhaps on paper shouldn’t even work, but yet it does. It was the task given to legendary coachbuilder Karmann by VW engineers in the 1970s, and what spawned was one of the most adored Volkwswagens of the era, and one that remains highly sought after today. Despite moving on to MK2 standard GTi design the convertible variant remained in its MK1 guise into the early 1990s, at which point a selection of special edition runoff models were brought to market.

Limited to around 470 units, the Rivage edition Golf cabrio was one of the final and most highly equipped examples of the beloved VW. With a factory fitted power top, bespoke decals and Le Castellet alloy wheels, the Rivage stands today as one of the most desirable open top classic Golf variants and is a wonderful slice of classic collectible Volkswagen.

For the committed VW collector this 1992 Rivage may be one of the best examples on the roads today, standing in great, highly original form after years of careful enthusiast ownership and backed by what may be one of the most concise and sizable history files out there.

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The History and Paperwork

First registered 25/03/1992
Supplied new by Merlin VW centre in Derbyshire
Genuine Rivage edition car as denoted by the accompanying registration documents
Backed by a vast, incredibly concise history file
Original service book present with regular stamps up until the most recent service in 2022 less than 1000 miles ago
Extensive collection of invoices for parts bought and servicing work done to maintain the car throughout its lifetime
Set of invoices for recent mechanical expenditure including rear brake overhaul and drive belt replacement
Current MOT valid with no advisories until August 2024
V5 registration document present with the vehicle

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The Interior

Understood to be one of just 218 cars equipped with a cloth interior
Matching blue cloth to compliment the exterior paintwork
In impressively original order throughout
Well presented with very limited signs of wear or ageing visible
Cloth blue seating looks to be in good form in the front and rear, boasting good upholstery and strong bolsters
Two well upholstered door panels, mixing quality cloth with smart nicely preserved door furniture and trim
Interior switchgear looks to be in fine fettle throughout
Factory four spoke leather VW steering wheel
Working electric windows in the front and manual wind down glass for the rear
Dash panel is of a wonderful standard and is still rich in colour, lacking the often found heavy sun fading or signs of cracking
An upgraded radio head unit has been fitted but the vendor has retained the original which will come with the car on sale
Dashboard is of an excellent standard, still rich in colour and notably lacking in signs of fading or sun damage
Interior plastics and mouldings are of similarly high quality
Nicely sized boot area, in good clean order

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The Exterior

Smartly presented from an exterior perspective, standing in good original and seemingly unmodified order
Rare VW Classic Blue Metallic paint scheme, unique to the Rivage models as we understand
Paintwork is of a good presentable nature, though there are some light areas of blemishing and marking commensurate with age to be seen in places
Le Castellet 15” alloy wheels at all four corners, recently refurbished and in excellent order
Rivage decals and graphics used throughout
Retains that classic MK1 Golf design
The matching blue soft top roof is in good order but has to be operated manually as at present, the power functions are not working
A light area of rust is emerging around the lower section of the front windscreen however this looks to have been caught in the early stages
External trim and badging is of a great clean standard
Central roll bar for added crash protection
Body coloured front and rear bumpers
Professionally detailed

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The Mechanics

1.8 litre four cylinder engine, famed for its overall performance quality
In good honest mechanical order, with a brilliantly clean, original engine bay, having recently been detailed
Engine is mated to a quality five speed manual gearbox which provides crisp, smooth gear changes
The Golf fires into life quickly and in no time settles into a comfortable idle
On the road the car provides a joyous driving experience, feeling incredibly tight and solid with wholly respectable performance provided along with a great engine note
Rear brakes replaced in August of 2023
Drive belt replaced less than 1000 miles ago
Regularly serviced and well maintained throughout its life
Underside appears clean and solid upon inspection

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Summary

It’s where the hot hatch revolution began. The MK1 Golf GTI is certainly one of the most significant cars in Volkswagen's rather impressive history, and for the avid collector, it perhaps gets no better than a run off special edition convertible. Limited to circa 470 units and with an understood 93 registered on UK roads according to online database “HowManyLeft” the Golf GTI Rivage is a top tier collectible Volkswagen.

This 1992 Rivage stands in highly original order, and looks to be one of the best preserved, most honest examples out there and will undoubtedly make a welcome addition to the driveway of anyone looking to get their hands on a truly rare, yet usable classic Volkswagen.

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

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