In June of 2003, I bought a 1991 VW GTI 16V at a local car show. It had the funky "self machining" transmission, but was otherwise in very nice condition. It took me a couple of years to get around to acquiring another trans and installing it. Then other projects took priority until some sixteen years had passed. A little over 18 months ago the former owner and his son happened to drive by my house just as I was raising the garage door and they saw the car and stopped in. The son was 18 at the time and asked if I would sell it and I answered"no" as I had plans to resurrect it one day and do some trips in it. I did offer them first dibs if I ever decided to sell it though. Just after Thanksgiving there was a note pinned to the mail box early one morning. It was from the son, and he had been saving his money and offered to buy it if I would let it go. So, this afternoon ,he and his father came by to trailer it back home. The son showed me some photos of him playing in the car as a two year old. I'll miss the little red GTI sitting in the garage every time I walk through, but it should be getting some love and attention shortly that I never got to. Sad to see it go, but the young man told me he'll come by and take me with him to its first cars and coffee.....
It's a rust free 53,000 mile car. Virtually everything on the car is the original parts that left the VW factory, right down to the original shocks. The only thing it will need is a back half for the exhaust and going through the whole fuelsystem. The interior is as new and pristine.
Man, that's great you sold it back. So cool.
That's a great story. At least you know it's going to a good home!
did you get the kid to promise to sell it back to you in 17 years :)
Great story and you did good 
In reply to californiamilleghia :
No, but he'll be back tomorrow to exchange the wheels on it for the proper BBS rims and I'll tell him I expect 1st dibs if he ever loses interest in it.
That was great of you!
That is a cool car, my '87 16v grenaded the transmission but got me home in third gear :). Back then I could find a new transmission at the junkyard easily.
Duke
MegaDork
12/29/20 5:12 p.m.
Friend of mine bought a quarter midget for his kids to race, but they ended up running karts instead. The midget sat in the back of the shop for 10 or 15 years.
He decided to finally sell it this month and the first response to the ad was from the kid (now grown) who had originally raced the car. He's buying it for his own kid to race.
Can I buy the spare wheels I sold you ten years ago back? Lol
That car brings back memories. My first car was a red mk2 GTI. Wasn't nearly as nice as yours.
First car. First engine swap and rebuild. I loved how they tricycles!
I have a set of sweet TSW Evos waiting for the day I get another 80s dub
I will miss poking you to get it moving every time i stop by
In 1996 I sold the running, 3 layer paint, blue Datsun to a guy that took it home and stripped it down to restore it to original. Barely even drove it and mostly body and interior work - the rest was in great shape.
In 2011 he's looking for $6000 if I was interested in buying it back. I was not in great financial shape and passed.
I kick myself.
I'd like to buy back my first car. I guess I just need to buy enough stoves and refrigerators. Should at least get some of it.
In reply to chandler :
I still have that pair and use them on my Miata. I never found another pair to match them, but did get a couple of 5 spoke wheels that are close enough to use on a former Challenge car. Most people wouldn't notice the mismatch.
