Hughs Golf GTi

Hugh's mynt Golf mk.2 16v:

September 1986 was an important date, that's when Wolfsburg gave us the 16-valve Golf. The only clue that this had eight valves more than the standard GTi was a bright red badge below the logo, and if you took a tape measure to it, you'd find it 10 mm closer to the ground. Under the arches sat stiffer springs, 10% more (front), 20% more (rear), with modified shocks and anti-roll bars. Even the ventilated front discs were larger, at 265 mm, helped out by beefier brake pistons all round. The 6 in rims wore 185/60VR-14 tyres, and the standard spec included central locking, electric windows and sunroof. The really important component though, lay beneath the bonnet. A cast-alloy, thermally hardened 16-valve cylinder head, operated by two counter rotating, chain driven camshafts. Both shifted competition spec inlet and exhaust valves and were mated to hydraulic tappets. The set up needed an oil pump from a diesel engine to stay lubricated. A 10:1 compression ratio and Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system helped increase power by more than 24 per cent over the 8-valve. A bhp of 139 at 6300 rpm and peak torque of 121.5 Ibf.ft at 4600 rpm, translated into a 129 mph top speed and 60 mph in just over seven seconds. Developments were pretty much as the 8-valve, although in February 1987, 16-valves were offered with nasty digital dashs, but few were actually ordered. Everyone wanted the special equipment versions in summer 1988, though. In August 1989, big bumpers arrived, with front fog lamps and larger side rubbing strips. Although smoked rear lamp clusters and BBS alloys were fitted, out went electric windows. Power steering was now part of the spec. January 1990 welcomed the five-door 16-valve. In November, electric windows reappeared on the spec sheet. October 1991, and a Panasonic RDS pull-out radio/cassette became standard. Like the 8-valve, the model was discontinued in February 1992.

(Taken from http://www.golfinger.co.uk/history-mk2.htm )