1987 Volkswagen GTI

2dr Hatchback

4-cyl. 1786cc/102hp MPFI

#1 Concours condition#1 Concours
#2 Excellent condition#2 Excellent
#3 Good condition#3 Good

$22,000 CAD*

+7.8%
#4 Fair condition#4 Fair
Value Graph01/2404/2407/24$5k$10k$15k$20kOct 2024
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1983-1992 Volkswagen Golf Mk II stats
Highest sale
$121,623 CAD
Lowest sale
$2,563 CAD
Most recent sale
$21,661 CAD
Sales
196

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1987 Volkswagen GTI
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Model overview

Model description

Volkswagen’s Golf Mk II was launched in 1983 and was a larger, slightly more curved version of the Giugiaro-designed 1974 best seller. It was seven inches longer and two inches wider, while the wheelbase was three inches longer. The Golf Mk I set the trend for front-wheel drive hot hatchbacks, so all the competition had one by the time the Mk II was introduced.

Competition included Austin, Fiat, Ford, Opel, Peugeot and Renault in Europe, and Toyota, Nissan and Subaru in America and Japan. Even so, the Golf Mk II was a huge success, and by the time the last one was built in 1992, 6.3 million had been sold.

The first Golf had been marketed as the Rabbit in the U.S., but after American division president Carl Hahn took over the company, the Golf name was standardized worldwide. The VW Golf Mk II was sold as a three-door and five-door hatchback, while the two- and four-door sedans were named Jetta. Oddly, the square Mk I cabriolet version continued in production.

The Golf was sold in several trim levels, some of which started and stopped, and even just looking at the performance models is a bit confusing. In 1987, a Golf GT arrived to replace the eight-valve version of the GTI as soon as the 16-valve version of the GTI was available. Then, two years later, GTI badging returned to both models on American market cars. The eight-valve model was offered from 1985-87, then 1990-92, while the 16-valve GTI was built from 1987-92.

In the rest of the world, engines included 1.0, 1.3, 1.6 and 1.8 liter gasoline engines and 1.6 liter diesels, which were available with a turbocharger until 1987. American models had 1.8-liter gasoline engines or 1.6-liter diesels. The GTI was sold in the U.S. as a three- or five-door hatchback with a 1.8 liter engine developing 110 bhp. In 1987, a twin-cam 16-valve GTI was launched with a 123 bhp four cylinder engine. “Big bumper” cars were fitted with a 2-liter engine from 1990, and the rare supercharged GTI G60 produced 158 bhp. American VW Golf Mk II’s were built in the old Rabbit plant in Pennsylvania until 1988, when slow sales and increasing costs moved production to Puebla in Mexico.

The Golf GT model offered the GTI look (red stripe and fender flares) but was fitted with the base engine and available with an automatic transmission and five doors. The eight-valve GTI was built alongside the 16-valve model from 1990, but gradually became more and more like the base car.

A four-wheel drive Golf Synchro was offered from 1986-89 but since it cost a third more than the two-wheel drive model, sales were slow and only 26,000 were built. A Rallye Golf was offered in 1989, homologated for competition, but it cost double the price of the street car and only 5,000 were built. None were sold in the U.S.

With excellent, peppy performance and easy parts availability, the Mk II GTI has great potential as a fun collectible and there’s a reason the GTI has become the quintessential “hot hatch.” Both the eight and 16-valve engines can go 200,000 miles with proper maintenance and the principal issues to look for are crash damage, rust (pretty much everywhere) and electrical maladies. The best cars will have complete records, including timing belt replacement every 40,000 miles and oil pump at 100,000 miles.

Vehicle specifications

  • Wheel Base Shortest - Inches97.3
  • Wheel Base Longest - Inches97.3
  • Shipping Weight2127
  • Drive TypeFWD
  • Manufacturer NameVolkswagen
  • Front Tire Size14R185
  • Manufacturer MSRP10325
  • Market SegmentationCompact Sport
  • Manufacturer CodeC176
  • Front Tire Size Code15

Equipment

  • StandardOptional
  • Transmission5 Speed Manual
  • Power BreaksPower Brakes
  • Power SteeringYes
  • Air ConditioningYes
  • Power WindowsYes
  • Roof DescriptionManual Sun/Moon Roof
  • Restraint typeActive (Manual) Belts
  • Security EquipmentNone

Equipment

Standard

  • Transmission5 Speed Manual
  • Power BreaksPower Brakes
  • Restraint typeActive (Manual) Belts
  • Security EquipmentNone

Optional

  • Power SteeringYes
  • Air ConditioningYes
  • Power WindowsYes
  • Roof DescriptionManual Sun/Moon Roof
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Common Questions

The value of a 1987 Volkswagen GTI can vary greatly depending on its condition, mileage, options, and history. Typically, you can expect to pay around $16,300 USD for a 1987 Volkswagen GTI in good condition with average spec.

The highest selling price of a 1987 Volkswagen GTI at auction over the last three years was $11,964 CAD. The highest prices are usually reserved for rare or exceptionally well-maintained examples with desirable features or modifications and excellent history.

The lowest selling price of a 1987 Volkswagen GTI at auction over the last three years was $11,964 CAD. The lowest prices are usually paid for examples that have extensive maintenance needs, differ greatly from their original configuration, or have accident histories or title problems.

In the last three years there have been 1 1987 Volkswagen GTIs sold at public auction.

The most recent auction sale of a 1987 Volkswagen GTI was $11,964 CAD on September 20, 2024 by Bring a Trailer.

Many factors can increase a car's value including excellent condition, exceptional originality, a recent restoration, low mileage, unique provenance, desirable options, popular or unique color choices, and excellent maintenance records. Upgrades and modifications that enhance performance or aesthetics can also add value.

Factors that can decrease a car's value include unusually high mileage, poor maintenance history, visible wear and tear, accidents or damage, title issues, and gaps in ownership history. Additionally, less popular color choices and extensive modifications that don't appeal to a broad audience can reduce value.

Mileage plays a significant role in a classic car’s value. Lower mileage usually increases value because it indicates a higher degree of originality, is rarer, and suggests less wear and tear. However, cars with exceptionally low mileage may also have maintenance needs due to lack of use. Whether someone should pay more for a vehicle with lower miles will depend on how they plan on using it, and the vehicle's specific condition.

The value of modified cars differs widely based on the type and quality of modifications. While some modifications can significantly increase value, especially performance enhancements and high-quality custom work, others may not add much or could even detract from the car’s value if they appeal to only a limited audience.

All prices shown here are representative of stock condition vehicles only and based on various data sources, as detailed in About Our Prices. Value adjustments for optional equipment are in U.S. dollars. More information on how forecast models are calculated can be found on Forecasted Values page. For additional information and a complete description of benefits, visit hagerty.CA/legal. Purchase of insurance not required for membership in HDC. Hagerty, Hagerty Valuation Tools & Hagerty Drivers Club are registered trademarks of the Hagerty Group LLC, ©2024 The Hagerty Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.