INFO GUIDE: 1983 Volkswagen Golf MK1 GTI Campaign

General features shared with the standard MK1 GTI:

• Flared mudguards with plastic flare edges/extensions.
• Plastic front air dam spoiler.
• Side stripe decals on lower door / rocker panel (black or silver, depending on car's paint colour).
• Red pinstripe frame around front grille. (Colour is "Mars Red", code: L31B).
• Matt-black decal surrounding rear windscreen (Note: not applied to cars painted Black or Helios Blue).
• Black window frames (vs chrome strip on standard Golf).
• "GTI" badge front LHS grille and "GOLF GTI" badge on rear RHS tailgate.
• Some cars were fitted with a fuel cap with a spring loaded cover, known as the 'valve tap cap'. Others retained the standard fuel cap. 185/60 x14

Additional information applicable to the Campaign edition:

• Available in 3-door hatch body only.
• Factory installed sliding sun roof.
• Green tinted glass all round.
• Matt black 'A-pillar' trims.
• Four headlamp grille, consisting of standard lights (outer) and fog lights (inner).
• 6" X 14" Pirelli alloy wheels, fitted with 185/61 x 14 tyres. These are different to the Pirelli wheels applied to the Mk2 GTI. The Mk1 wheels have larger P's. The gap between each P on the MK1 wheel is 7mm, whilst on the MK2 wheel it is 10mm). Further, the MK1 centre caps should have 'Pirelli' embossed on their face (blank on the MK2). Under the centre cap, a single “A” should appear at the end of the model code (MK2 rims have “AA”).

There were three trim pattern / colours fitted to the GTI Campaign, and the trim applied depends on the paint colour of the car. 

The original trim code will also appear on the vehicle's build label / sticker, which can be found in the trunk of the car (see images for a better description of the location). 

The colours and codes available on the GTI Campaign included those listed below, with availability based on paint colour outlined in the table.​

• Black-Red stripe (Code: KL)
• Black-Silver stripe (Code: KM)
• Black-Green stripe (also known as 'Black-Petrol') (Code: KU)

Variations of these paint colours and interior trims have been cited on several vehicles, but these are generally believed to have been cars privately ordered from Germany. Cars ordered directly from Germany could be fitted with the buyer's interior of choice.

Note: All Campaign edition cars were fitted with black carpet, door trims and roof lining.

The Campaign edition GTI shared many of the same interior specifications as the standard 1983 MK1 GTI, which had received several upgrades from earlier models. The features listed are therefore not necessarily unique to the Campaign edition.

• Trim pattern options were as per the table in section 2 of this guide (black-red stripe, black-silver stripe, black-green stripe). Front seats had square adjustable headrests, and a horizontal seam on the rear of the backrest. Rear seats had a revised (lower) squab design and thinner middle seat than earlier models.
• As a 1983 model, all Campaign edition cars came with the upgraded dashboard features and designs (introduced from August 1980 on the GTI range).
• 4-spoke leather bound steering wheel with GTI embossed on the plastic centre.
• Multi-function digital trip computer ('MFA computer').
• The introduction of the MFA computer meant that the lower dash console (which previously housed 3 instruments) was replaced with a blanking plate. Note, many owners have since re-installed the instruments for a better look.
• Internally adjustable door mirrors.
• Golf ball gear knob with gear pattern printed in white on top.
• 3 point seatbelts applied to all seats (other than the rear middle seat which retained a lap belt).
• Revised door lock pins (MK2 type).
• Late model MK1 GTIs including the Campaign received a retention strap over the spare wheel and jack in the trunk.
• Radios and tape decks were dealer fitted items, and often included Blaupunkt and Panasonic units. Two commonly cited examples of a Blaupubkt unit are provided in the images.

The following factory paint colours / codes were available on the GTI Campaign edition. Samples of the colours have been provided and labelled in the images.

Note: Although Atlas Grey does not appear on original brochures as an option for the GTI Campaign, several enthusiasts have confirmed that a number were built in such a colour, and several examples have been cited. We have not, however, confirmed whether the Atlas Grey cars cited were produced in August/September (per the Campaign edition's officially announced period).

Paint code location:

The paint code is located on the body label / sticker (sometimes referred to as the paint label). This is in the boot / trunk area of the car, stuck to the metal in the rear of the trunk (between the tail lights). These tend to peel off over time, and may be missing. An example of a label and paint code have been provided in the images.

The chassis number for a MK1 GTI Campaign edition Golf should be in the following format: WVWZZZ17ZEW######

* Important note: With respect to the 10th character in the chassis prefix, the most common prefix for the Campaign is "E" rather than "D". Chassis "E" indicates a car built from August 1983, which is consistent with the 'dealer' announced production period of the Campaign edition. Vwgolfmk1.org.uk notes, however, that they also accept cars with the "D" code as genuine Campaign cars. To qualify with a "D" code, however, the car must have been built on or after 1 April 1983. Therefore, if it is a "D" chassis car, it must have a unique chassis number 448,319 or higher (based on a 1 April production commencement).

The chassis number itself insufficient to confirm whether the car is a genuine Campaign, without obtaining a 'birth certificate' from Volkswagen. This chassis number also applied to other late model GTIs, and without Volkswagon's official records, acts only as a guide to confirm the vehicle was produced within the correct timeframe to qualify as a Campaign edition. Further checks of the model code, options codes and other features of the car as outlined in this guide will be necessary to determine a Campaign's authenticity. If you are uncertain, we recommend enquiring with VW directly, who can provide you with details based on a VIN.

Chassis number location: The chassis number is located in three positions on the MK1 GTI:

1. Embossed / stamped into the aluminium ID plate (pop riveted to the front cross-member / slam panel in front of the radiator).

2. Stamped into the firewall / bulkhead top, on the front of the wiper cowling panel. The black rain tray will have a window cut out of it where the chassis number displays.

3. Printed on the body label located in the trunk.

4. Printed a barcode label placed on the inner B-pillar of the door.

Engine number:

The GTI Campaign edition will have a “DX” engine prefix, common to all GTI engines built from August 1982 – December 1983. The DX prefix will then be followed by a 6-digit engine number unique to that engine block.

The engine number can be confirmed by checking the engine block itself, the vehicle's data plate in the engine bay (bonnet slam panel) and the data label in the trunk (see images for examples of each). The DX engine type and matching applicable codes are outlined below. Note, from our research we have noticed that some chassis / data plates on GTIs may only have the code "17" embossed, and will not specify the engine / transmission type, so the original engine type may be slightly more difficult to determine in some vehicles. In addition to those codes noted below, the engine capacity of 1.8 should be cast into the side of the engine block.

Gearbox number:

The gearbox number is located on the under-side of the gearbox housing, near the flange edge (where the clutch cover joins the main housing). You will be able to see a raised / flat area, containing the gearbox code "7G" or "9A", followed by a 5-digit number. See the images for a better description of the location.

The chassis type code is a 6-digit code that is found on the vehicle's build sticker in the trunk / boot area. This can usually be found on the panel between the rear tail lights (see images for a better description). 

This type code can assist in determining the model of GTI you have. The Campaign GTI should have the code "172 G34", which is broken down in the following way:

Note: The body sticker should not be regarded as definitive proof of the vehicle's identity, as these can be, and in many cases have been, reproduced. Reference to all areas noted in this guide will be necessary to accurately determine the vehicle's identity.

In addition to the chassis number and vehicle type codes, you also have available the vehicle's body label which contains specific codes relevant to the Campaign GTI. The body label is located in the trunk of the car, usually stuck to the metal between the tail lights (rear apron). A genuine MK1 GTI Campaign edition will carry the following 8 option codes on the vehicle's original build label:

The above option descriptions have been provided by VW based on an enquiry from a Campaign owner who provided VW with their Campaign chassis number.

The MK1 Volkswagen Golf MK1 GTI Campaign had the following mechanical features. As with several other features of the Campaign edition, many of these features are not unique to unless specifically noted.

• 4-cylinder SOHC engine with Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical multipoint fuel injection.
• From July 1983, the 1.8l (1781cc) engine was introduced known as the "DX", which was fitted with:
  • "9A" 5-speed  transmission, or;
  • "7G" 5-speed transmission from July 1982 onward.
• The 1.8l engine produced 112 PS.
• Front disc brakes (239mm X 20mm).
• Rear drum brakes (same as standard Golf MK1).
• Stiffer torsion beam suspension than standard Golf, with the GTI also sitting slightly lower.
• 6” X 14" unique Pirelli wheels. Note the unique features of this wheel explained in section 1 of this guide. These wheels were unique to the Campaign edition and other European market final edition cars.
• Front fog-lamps integrated in grille.
• 185/60 HR radial ply tyres were originally fitted.
• Post-1980 cars had inner wing liners, better treated metal and thicker paint.
• All GTIs were fitted with an oil cooler.

If you have any information which you believe should be added to this section, please contact us, or login and comment below.

The intention of this section is to provide enthusiasts with early documentation and promotional material relating to teh Campaign edition. If you have any material you believe would be beneficial, please contact us so we can share the images, which can provide important information with respect to a the Campaign's original specifications.

Attached are a small number of images we have recently sourced from a brochure advertised on Ebay.co.uk.

The following sources, among input from many owners and enthusiasts, have contributed to the creation of this page. If you have any further information you believe can be added, please let us know by contacting us or commenting below.

http://golfstory.free.fr/

http://www.guide-des-gti.fr/guide/volkswagen/golf-gti-pirelli.php

http://www.forum-auto.com/

http://www.golfgtimk1.com/

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/

http://www.type17.ch/

http://www.vwtyp17.de/

http://www.passiongolfgti.com/

http://www.golf1-ig.de/

http://www.das-sondermodell.de/