Arun District: The Classic-VW Enthusiasts Mecca

G-werks may have gone up in a flash of bad reputation and dodgy business, but that doesn’t mean the Littlehampton area has no facility to offer the passionate VW enthusiast or Corrado owner:

On the very same plot the infamous G-werks rose and fell in Lyminister is a bespoke interior specialist who has a penchant for VW’s and across the lot is also a body spray shop – ‘Total Paintworks’. These guys sprayed Karmann Dubz (my 93’ 16v) in Flash red and the finish was sublime, and very reasonable. Chris who owns Total Paintworks is a decent guy who visually upgrades a good rotation of expensive cars, so from my experience and what I’ve seen he is very good.

Down the road a few miles in Littlehampton behind the Tesco is John Mitchell Racing. Mr. Mitchell has a long history of attending to the older and classic VW’s and in particular specialises in Corrado’s. He also taught Darren (of G-werks), but this should not put you off – the passion for the German technik is shared between them, nothing more. In fact I am due to have my sunroof fixed by him soon. So any problems and ill update this post.

In Angmering village, maybe 4 miles away are another couple of VW orientated ‘Roughs’ where you may find the Diamond your looking for. The first caters in particular to the VW Camper or Beetle enthusiasts more than the more recent ‘classics’ such as the Golf or Corrado, and can be found next to Mayflower Way’s ‘Roundstone Car Sales’ although the name of the yard escapes me, it is there! 

The second is Arundel Road’s ‘Volkswagen And Audi Recycle Parts Centre’ in Angmering, and is a stone’s throw away from my house. Of all the places, this one is closest to mine, and yet it has been of the least help. They always have a wealth of 80’s, 90’s and 00’s VW’s including the rarer ones we’re focusing on, but they never seem to have any parts as they do most of their business via online sales – so once its in, its straight out again. Because of this consideration, if you are travelling quite a distance to visit, it would be a good idea to phone ahead and check the stock.

It is also worth noting as a compensatory post script that Parris Motors is adjacent to the Parts Centre and David  - one of the mechanics - owns and maintains a very good example of an Series 3 Golf. David and Parris Motors generally have done a fair amount of mechanic work on my car I can say that they are trustworthy if you need anything fixed and you happen to be in the area.

Finally if you cant find what your looking for around Littlehampton the VW Dealership in Goring may supply what your after, or even better: 5 miles down t’road in Worthing / Lyons Farm is ‘GSF Car Parts’. They are very competitive and reliable from what I’ve experienced in the past.

Well there we have it, all is not lost in the wake of G-Werks.