There’s no doubt that Oliver, from Østfold, Norway, has style and taste. The 20-year-old has built a 1976 Golf L that’s exceptionally clean and aesthetically appealing.
You won’t find over-the-top Berg Cup-style flares, cheap replica wheels, big wing, or anything else slapped on just to grab attention.
That’s not Oliver’s style, though. For him, it’s the overall execution of the car that counts, and in the world of Golf Mk1 enthusiasts, few things beat a clean OEM+ build.
Oliver says his father raised him on VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group) products, so he was on a set path from a young age. A VW Golf Mk1 was always a car he’s always dreamed of owning.
Just after his confirmation in 2018, he spotted the green Golf parked at a neighbor’s house. The timing couldn’t have been better — a young man with pockets full of cash — we all know how this story ends.
After parting with a chunk of that confirmation money, he became the proud owner of a Mark 1 Golf painted in the iconic Lofoten Green — undoubtedly one of the best factory colors on these cars. Clearly, Oliver agrees because the car is set to be stripped and fully repainted in the same color.
With the car parked in his driveway, it was time to start ordering parts to make it stand out. Oliver followed the VW enthusiast modification handbook to a tee. Staying true to Euro style, he went for a clean OEM+ look, with original lines, old-school chrome moldings and details, a super-low stance, and wide, classic BBS wheels with deep lips, gold centers, and wrapped in stretched tires.
Up front, sitting just a few centimeters off the ground, there’s a small front lip. The bumper is the classic slim chrome type found on early Golfs. Later models got slightly larger black plastic bumpers, but they’re far less stylish.
Chrome trim surrounds the grille and windows, and Oliver has even kept the original orange turn signals and rear lights. Many choose to swap these for “crystal” or “clear” styles, but we appreciate the period-correct look.
The black GTI fender flares are not originally found on this car, but they suit it perfectly. Many Euro-style Golf owners leave them off, but they definitely give the car a sportier and more aggressive appearance.
Tucked neatly under the arches, we find a set of gold-faced 15-inch BBS RM012 wheels with 2-inch stepped lips at the rear and 1-inch up front. Again, it’s a textbook choice, and it’s hard to imagine a better wheel option — especially with the gold finish contrasting against the green paint.
The wheels are wrapped in ultra-narrow 165/45-15 tires up front and slightly wider 185/45-15 at the rear, as Oliver really likes that stretched look… and who are we to argue?!
To get the Golf as close to the ground as possible, it’s fitted with an air suspension system from TA Technix — great if your legs are short, or you suffer from extreme acrophobia — plus, it gives the Golf a sharp and aggressive stance.
Many VW Golf enthusiasts swap the original engine for something a bit more powerful, such as a 16-valve GTI engine, the G60 engine with the famous (or infamous) G-Lader supercharger, or maybe a 1.8 turbo mill from a Golf Mk4.
You won’t find any of those under the hood of Oliver’s car, though. Instead, he’s swapped in a 1.6L engine from a 1996 VW Polo. Not exactly a powerhouse in stock form, but it’s no longer stock, and certainly packs more of a punch than the anemic standard unit.
Oliver has installed dual Weber 40 carburetors, forged internals, a stainless exhaust, and various other upgrades. Output is estimated to be around 100–120 horsepower. Early Golf GTIs with 1.6L engines produced roughly 110 horsepower, and they’re great fun to drive, so Oliver’s build is spot on in terms of performance.
That might not sound too impressive, but in a car weighing less than 800 kg, it’s more than enough for some spirited and enthusiastic driving on twisty roads, and it’ll push the speedometer needle well past 180 km/h.
Naturally, the brakes have been upgraded to handle the extra power. Behind the BBS wheels, you can just make out a set of 239mm GTI discs up front, while the rear drum brakes have been replaced with discs from a Golf Mk2 GTI.
Oliver says he’s pretty happy with the car as it stands, but a more powerful engine might be in the cards in a few years. For now, the plan is to drive and show the car off as much as possible. Gatebil events, Volkswagen gatherings, and classic car meets are on the agenda for spring and summer.
If you want to follow Oliver and his green Mk1 Golf, you can find him on Instagram — just don’t ask if the car is for sale. When I asked if he’s ever considered selling it, he said he’s owned the car since his confirmation and plans to keep it until the day he dies!
