The VW Golf mk1 Story

Volkswagen refreshed its entire range in the early 1970s, but the most important of these cars must have been the replacement for the venerable Beetle - the Volkswagen Golf. The Beetle was such an important part of VW’s history - for a long time it was the only vehicle that they offered - so it would be a tough act to follow. Yet the replacement thrived - selling over 37M cars over 8 generations, and counting. That’s compared to 21M Beetles over a longer period.
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Sources:
jalopnik.com/this-fascinating-stillborn-vw-prototype-would-have-been-1675948679
web.archive.org/web/20140512232023/http:/automuseum.volkswagen.de/108.html
web.archive.org/web/20140512231021/http:/automuseum.volkswagen.de/110.html
web.archive.org/web/20210803014312/newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/tbt-the-beetle-successors-that-never-were/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Lotz
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk1
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_Golf_I
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen
www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/publications/more/50-years-of-golf-2612
kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWLQe2x6l9p-bJo
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_discontinued_Volkswagen_Group_petrol_engines
www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a24487598/volkswagen-golf-jetta-passat-polo-name-origin/
www.stern.de/auto/service/volkswagen-die-macht-der-namen-3359124.html
www.autobild.de/klassik/artikel/vw-golf-der-bestseller-wird-40-5039400.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Leiding
web.archive.org/web/20191122063304/www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2019/10/the-glorious-seven.html
garagedreams.net/car-facts/why-is-the-volkswagen-golf-also-called-rabbit
www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/02/volkswagen-reviews-scandalous-hoonery-car-from-way-back/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_hatch
www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/the-new-golf-gti-6025/golf-gti-history-6034
www.vw.com/en/newsroom/lifestyle-and-heritage/gti-plaid.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk4
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_Citi_Golf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Citi_Golf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Caddy
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Jetta
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Jetta_(A1)
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formel_E_(Volkswagen)
#bigcar

[@claudiobizama5603]

I quite like how the cargo version was named "Caddy". Just like a golf caddy, who carries the stuff for the golf player 🏌️

[@Loony69]

the few Caddys I've seen did their duty as a work horse for companies, all looked like they went to hell and back

[@gabrielv.4358]

So that's the meaning, very cool

[@blatherskite9601]

German humour.

[@richardmorgan9273]

A colleague had a VW Golf Driver (here in the UK in about 1984) which I think was a limited edition version, again confirming the connection with the sport.

[@ca9968]

The Caddy was a half tonne pick up truck in South Africa, what they refer to as a Bakkie...we had a Nissan, Fiat, Opel, Chevrolet and Ford variety to chose from, all developed from an existing small car platform...

[@fedaltouma]

I can’t believe I just watched this for free.This man is a legend to say the least

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I always enjoy Big Car - always great videos.

[@ttngubs9311]

I hardly comment on KZbin videos but this really touched my heart. Great history. I'm from South Africa and I remember my father selling his first car so I can go to France for a student exchange program. I come from a poor background and his sacrifice helped to propel me in a different directions from most of my peers in the township. It was a yellow MK1, the car would get stuck now and then but we loved it. This video made me so emotional. God willing, I will buy him a yellow Golf one day as a thank you.

[@mohankang8062]

What a beautiful comment.

[@samuelmbokazi2318]

It is beautiful and very strong.

[@klutchcustoms2428]

Looks like I'm going to be half an hour late to pick my missus up. *Opens beer and sits on sofa*

[@johnlovenhill1]

I’m off beer for the month … that sounds so good

[@KarrierBag]

Low alcohol I hope

[@klutchcustoms2428]

@@KarrierBag f**k it. She's got bus fare. Shouldn't have pranged her Celica should she?

[@flori5548]

It’s 2am where I live. Looks like it’ll be 2:30 when I fall asleep.

[@klutchcustoms2428]

@@flori5548 "it's five o'clock somewhere" or so the song says.

[@thembanjoko2844]

The Mk1 Golf was so iconic that by the time the Mk2 was released in South Africa in 1984, the Mk1 Golf continued to be built and sold in South Africa as the Citi Golf. The Citi Golf became one of South Africa's best selling cars of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s and was sold alongside 4 Golf generations such as the Mk2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. South African Production of the Golf 1 ended in 2009, a 25 year production run and was replaced by the Polo Vivo, which is basically the previous 2 generation Polos for the entry level hatchback segment.

[@paulhargreaves1497]

I had a Citi.....great car.

[@VinDieselS70]

I've seen a few late Citi Golfs in Scotland and they still look rather stylish despite being designed in the early 70s.

[@ca9968]

I took my drivers license test in 1997 in a blue Citi Golf at the Wadeville testing station on the East Rand...then went home to a 1983 Alfa Sud 1.5 Super Hatch...

[@tolkien777]

Was about to say surprised not as much was mentioned

[@user-ut7dv2rq7w]

I always wondered how my 24 year old son knows so much about classic cars from the 60 till now and I now know how thank you so much for teaching my son he is learning more and more every day much love from South Africa ❤️❤️❤️

[@BigCar2]

😀 KZbin, it's more than cat videos!

[@thomasp.4649]

Italian design and German engineering, yes that was the key .🚗 The Golf is one of the car icons in Europe. Look now , boring uniform SUV design everywhere. 😉 Greetings from Germany.🍻

[@MrDuncl]

If you look at the dimensions many of the VW "SUVs" are only about 10cm taller than the current Golf. That said I replaced my Golf MK7 Estate with a Golf MK7.5 Estate. I would have got a VAG Cupra Formentor if it didn't have the hated touch controls.

[@Low760]

And mk8s aren't much to look at again just like mk4s

[@baronvonjo1929]

I'm sorry but that last comment makes no logical sense when the Golf looked nearly identical to so many other European hatchbacks of the time. I genuinely can't tell the difference when I see them in photos. Maybe if I was alive at the time I could tell you the difference. A VW Tiguan looks nothing like say a Mazda CX-5. Or comparing a BMW X5 to a MB GLE. Like what similarities are there that makes the cars indistinguishable to you? If being a SUV means it looks the same as every other SUV then being a sedan or hatchback will make it look like everything else in those body categories. There is a strong argument to be made about branding though. You see one modern VW, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes etc you have quite literally seen all they have to offer in terms of deisgn. Absolutely no passion anymore to make a brands cars standout much. I think Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai are the most notable exceptions where not every single car in the lineup is copying others completely.

[@thomasp.4649]

@@baronvonjo1929 Yes i agree with you in some points .(Golf class/ compact car) Im a child of the 70/80 th , in the 70/80 th you could see from the distance if the car was an Audi,BMW,Mercedes or VW ,Volvo , Citroen etc .. For me the most cars nowadays look more similar and the design is boring .🙂

[@marguskiis7711]

Golf is very boring car

[@mattalki]

I still have my mk1 Rabbit diesel that my family purchased new in 1981. It has around 318K miles on it, and still runs and drives. It's in need of a bit of restoration, which I've started. I was 7 when we bought it, and I used it as my primary vehicle in college. I currently have the Rabbit and a 2015 mk7 Golf TDI. Great cars.

[@Bucketroo]

That's funny! I moved to the US with my parents in 1981 and my dad also bought a Mk1 Rabbit Diesel with a manual transmission as our daily driver. He had failed to notice that diesel was actually more expensive than regular gasoline in the US. We didn't keep it for long.

[@andrewmellon5072]

I changed my 73 1600 variant square back for an 81 1600 diesel L, my fuel costs more than halved. I drove it 280000 miles. The frame rotted out in 91. I bought a 91 1600 diesel Jetta pacific I stopped driving in 12 with 405000 miles because I inherited a better car. I constantly changed wheel bearings and a number of head gaskets.

[@Pobrais]

I still drive ‘my’ Mk1 diesel which my dad bought new in 1982. She still takes my family and I on many road trips and takes the kids to school every morning. (Around 515k on the clock and still counting). Hard ride, slow, a bit smokey and rattly at times but I still love the old girl.

[@mattalki]

@@Pobrais That sounds familiar! Mine doesn't pull daily duty anymore, but it's an '81 that my dad bought new. She's resting in the garage while I start restoring her. I'm starting to document it on my channel 'Matt's Cave'. 515K for a Rabbit is amazing!

[@Pobrais]

Can’t find the channel but I’m very interested.

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

Thanks for mentioning the "Hoffmeister Kink", Andy. The 1960s and 1970s Maserati models were also named after winds: Merak, Bora, Khamsin, Khyalami, and so on.

[@voltaelektrifiera3556]

Finally! I'm saving this for tomorrow when I'm thoroughly rested, this will be my peak 28 minutes this weekend :-)

[@Jon-mf2no]

Great documentary, the quality of your research is amazing and you fashioned it into a great story.

[@trainglen22]

Thank you for a fantastic documentary on what I consider the best car from Germany that is not a Beetle!

[@ii7317]

Regarding design: the "Hofmeister Knick" was designed by Giugiaro and signed into production by Wilhelm Hofmeister, gaining the name.

[@michaeloreilly657]

It was also on Giugiaro's previous masterpiece, the Alfasud.

[@bertranddefrontenac]

Thanks a lot! I was a proud owner of a green 78 golf in 93 to 94. Manual, 4 speeds. The pictures of the dash in this video at 13:00 brought me a lot of great memories back. I've got tears in my eyes thinking about the holiday in the south of France I made with friends in that car. It was fun to drive since in order to get forward, you had to rev it hard if you wanted to exploit its 50 hps. It was super lightweight and the handling was great. No lateral protection, no electronic, no driver assistance, no airbag, no ABS. And it was going well in the snow too. I was young, I had hairs all over my head... Now I have hairs on my chest. I'm driving a BMW with 6 cylinders and 374 hps.... and it is boooooring! When you drive 90, it feels like you are driving 50. When you drive 150, it feels like you're driving 100. And it is heavy as f.... so you can't drive fast on twisty mountain roads. I'm selling it and I'm downgrading to something closer to the Golf MK1. It is not the performances of the car but the felt sensation behind the wheel that counts.

[@prothello]

Golf, Jetta, Polo, Bora and Scirocco are all wind phenomena. One of their rims are called Mistral too.

[@markmiwurdz2248]

And “Passat” comes from the German for “trade winds” - passatwinde.

[@prothello]

​@@markmiwurdz2248I totally missed that one !

[@anthonygray333]

Awesome video. A first gen GTI is on my bucket list. Growing up in Western Pennsylvania those Westmoreland VWs were EVERYWHERE!

[@drakeorion94]

Friend bought my GTI motor and trans and dropped it in his 1981 scirroco s.

[@Mike-rk8px]

I live in the US and my first car at age 16 was a 4 year old 1979 Golf (called a Rabbit in the US). It had mostly been kept garages since new because it was owned by an elderly couple who only drove to get groceries once a week. It was bright orange, which I hated, but it was a price my parents could afford. I’ll admit I wasn’t crazy about the car, it wasn’t something a 16 year old car crazy American kid lusted after. BUT once I drove it I was hooked. We lived in a hilly area of western Massachusetts with lots of rural winding roads, and the Golf was a real blast to zip around in. It always felt like you were going much faster than you were, and the handling and transmission were a joy. That car could take corners at speeds that my friends in their American muscle cars couldn’t handle. The next car I bought was a 1985 Golf GTi, which was a mind blowing car to drive.

[@macdaniel6029]

One of the best cars of all time. I love my MK2 as a daily driver but the mk1 is simplicity on another level. I bought mine last year and I am completely restoring it. It is truely amazing how simple everything is to disassemble and maintain even compared to the MK2.

[@mauritsvw]

Yes, one should be able to keep a mk1 going indefinitely thanks to its simplicity and parts availability.

[@MrOrtmeier]

I'm from South Africa but living in Europe. In 2005 I had returned to Johannesburg after 5 years in Germany and once I got a decent paying steady job bought a Golf Mark II from my mom's best friend who was looking to sell hers. It was red like the picture you showed, but by the time I got it was leaning towards orange 🤣 As old as it was, it was a great car. Spacious, reliable, good looking, good handling, cheap to maintain and well built. I eventually sold it to a co worker who also loved it. Sadly someone t-boned him at high speed and the car was written off. But he came out unscathed. So good was the safety cage.

[@SherwinR89]

Many South Africans are going to go nuts over this video 😂

[@MrOrtmeier]

@@SherwinR89 That's for sure. Citi Golf was a legend. "Red, yellow, blue, not green, red, yellow, blue. Shiny and new, red, yellow, blue." - Best ads ever.

[@gabrielv.4358]

Ah yes, The little car that could! The closest we had in Brazil was the Passat GTS Pointer, or the Actually closest one, the Gol GTi from 1989, 2.0L EA827 engine, EFI (First Car with EFI in Brazil) and the engine had a whopping 120hp's and 18kg of torque. Later we had the 2.0L 16v in the Gol GTI G2 (1996), and the last and the rarest and the best was the Gol G3 GTI with an 2.0L 16V 140hps and 200kph top speed! (2001) (And by the way, the Gol BX is really similar to the Golf Mk1. And I absolutely would LOVE to have or the GTi or the Citi Golf 1.6) Nice Video! Also as a curiosity we had in the Gol G3, the Volkswagen 1.0 16v Turbo, making the same power as the 2.0L GTI with 8v engine! Later Ford released the SuperCharged Fiesta with 1.0L and 95hps.

[@gabrielv.4358]

The next generations of VW Gol never had the GTI again, which was really sad...

[@nadeemchaudhry6585]

OMG thank you so much, my all time favourite car Works on hold for half hour 😅

[@lakidar1961]

My father bought a Golf in 1974. I bought a Golf V thirty years later. I loved these cars.

[@drewwagar]

Just a brilliant brilliant car... and the GTI *was* the first ever "hot hatch". There was no emissions tuning for the 1.8 GTI and it was quicker than the 1.6 to 60 by a second with a 2mph higher top speed.

[@MrDuncl]

That might depend on the country. California emissions regulations sucked the power from most cars in the 1970s.

[@theblackhand6485]

California is not leading. Of you make a overall video about a car sold worldwide then you should use factory settings or mention that only the Californian Golf was tuned back. ...but I'll guess the Californian version of the 1.8 GTi had more torque.

[@drewwagar]

It's a European car first. California was a niche foreign market.@@MrDuncl

[@MrDuncl]

@@drewwagar Surprisingly Mr Big Car is in the USA so Google might have given him the wrong answer. In fact has anyone else noticed the title seems to have changed from Golf to Rabbit.

[@marguskiis7711]

Golf is uncomfortable, narrow, small and very boring.

[@JohnMulhall1]

Thanks for finally getting around to the Golf story. And another 7 episodes to go...

[@MrDuncl]

And another twenty or so if you included all the VAG Golf variations like the Seat Leon and Skoda Octavia.

[@D0zer122]

I owned a 1989 VW Fox that had a 1.3L engine paired with a 4-spd gearbox. My first car. When I sold it it had done more than 384 000km, although I swapped the old engine with a modern 1.4L engine that came out of a VW Golf Mk1 CitiRhythm. The Fox was essentially a stripped down Mk1 Jetta here in South Africa. Loved how massive the boot was…enough space for a family of four in the boot!

[@MrDuncl]

The different names in different markets is confusing. The only VW Fox sold in the U.K. was the similar sized replacement for the Lupo.

[@Redmenace96]

I visited RSA a couple of years ago. Walking around I said, "Wow! Look at that beautiful, restored 1980 VW Golf/GTI !" Then I saw 50 of them. Then it was hundreds. And then I figured out they were still making them in the 2010's, ha,ha! Wanted to buy one and import it. They are cool and very functional.

[@aaronk534]

My father worked in the U.S. plant. Still see the building daily. I remember the drama over quality and such. Great channel

[@drakeorion94]

I had a west Moreland 1980 rabbit...the points screw would always come loose and the spot welds on the ribs in the roof would vibrate. Still miss that car.

[@aaronk534]

@@drakeorion94 oh that sounds right. It was like the movie Gung Ho. Strikes, labor/managment fights. Quality issues all over. But great cars.

[@willgarrod9907]

Your research is amazing…many thanks

[@JohnEvans-ct6mz]

Love the use of an “A-Team” quote at the end. An iconic show, to round off a video about an iconic car. Throw in a Flock of Seagulls song and I would feel as if I were in elementary school all over again.😊

[@JRL244]

Thank you for showing the Golf some love!

[@voltaelektrifiera3556]

Great video! Love watching these stories, typically on Saturday morning with a good cup of coffee.

[@gideon3648]

Great Video (as always). My first car was a Golf MK I, lovely memories.

[@splittin2atoms]

Nice touch to have a little recap at the end. With all the dense information, numbers and names it feels like I learnt a lot more.

[@seanhershey3390]

I had one Ls, 3 GTIs. a Cabrio , & a pickup…good times..( my last one was a 92 GTI 16v..good times.

[@djlondon7956]

You're an absolute Master of this format. Couldn't be better! Fun, informative and relaxing all rolled into one. 🎉

[@Micha-gh3jh]

I always enjoy watching your videos. The references to City Wok and the A-Team made me smile.

[@Yogi22727]

Fantastic detail making this a brilliant video about an awesome car!

[@andrewnorth4857]

Top notch quality as always. Thanks. 😊

[@MrBaskins2010]

your content is academic in its precision. love every upload, thank you

[@klasseact6663]

User are one of the very best on youtube at doing these type of videos comma thank you!

[@pllixer8334]

YESS I HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR THIS VIDEO

[@johna.4334]

Excellent video! Thanx for sharing

[@hypergolic8468]

How I'd have loved to hear the late Murray Walker commentate on Golf racing championships (0:21) : "And the Golf, followed by..."

[@BanjoLuke1]

This whole series just about changed everything on the European (and later global) car industry. Golf, Scirocco, Audi 50/Polo and Audi 80/Passat. They just tore it all up and re-wrote everything. That they came off the back of the Type 1, Type 3, Type 4 and K70 just makes it all even more impressive. In those few years in the 1970s, VW-Audi really did tear it all up. Added to which.... Jetta (Golf with a boot).... Karmann Cabrio..... Golf diesel..... Golf GTi..... And so it continued: Later came the Syncro, the Country, the G60 and more. And it all started with the Golf, the Scirocco, the 50/Polo and the 80/Passat.

[@stephendavis6066]

Great job.....we enjoy a human voice with a jeen mind and wrenchhead enthusiasm....

[@BlakesPipes]

my very first car was a 1980 VW Rabbit. loved that car! this goes down as one of my most favorite videos. thank you, sent it to my brother, as it was his first. i screwed it up with no oil changes. loved it

[@blazejnycz1]

Great complex episode. All the best from Poland 👍🇵🇱😎

[@alex_n8863]

Great video. My first car was an '83 Golf Driver. Such a great car, so many adventures. So many years later I miss it!

[@PhilipStorry]

Thanks to Russ for his memories. Clear and honest, just what this discussion needed!

[@robkleinlangevelsloo259]

I can't imagine the amount of research and effort that went into this video. Thanks again.

[@alwardryan]

Phenomenal video - I was hooked!

[@SimonGreenway-ih8lh]

Excellent content as always. I had a1980 GTi which i unfortunately sold about 15 years ago and as great a car as it was the rust was a never ending battel to cure

[@vitorafterglowferreira2172]

Fantastic video story for the most important car and the guiding light for the car world since the seventies. Personally, a mk1 diesel was the car where I had my learning lessons and my driving exam, back in 1982! 😊

[@anastasiskaz]

I am studying management science and I have to admit that I love your vocabulary on your videos. Keep it up!

[@PiperLund]

My first car was a (I might remember wrong here) 1981 or 1982 Golf C. A three door Golf. I used it to commute to my university studies about 140 km round trip, for about a year. I loved that car even though it was rusty and and a bit unstable in the snow on the highway. This was around 1999. After that my wife and I owned a Mk1 Golf diesel, in 2005/2006, which we crashed with. I remember that the steering wheel got very bent in the crash and the fire departement had to cut the roof since my wife was complaining about pain in her back and they had to secure her back and neck. All went well with her and there was no serious injury, but the car was scrap. We then bought a Mk2 Golf in 2008 and we had that one for about a year. The last Golf we owned was a 2015 Golf 1.6 Diesel which we also loved. The fuel economy was excellent. I have always had a thing for the Golf during the years.

[@christophetardivat234]

Thanks for the video that brought back memories of my second car, a GTI mk1 an early one , red, with 4 speed gearbox and the small rear lights! I was commuting between Paris and the Cotswolds and put it on Q plates, QY 338 if i remember! it was great fun driving up to boulogne getting on the hovercraft. It was before the M25 and a long drive from Dover to Broadway but always enjoyed it. I even put it on Michelin TRX.

[@cgmoog]

As long as you're bringing in guests this topic needs Jason Cammisa.Hope to see him here or you as a guest over at Hagerty.

[@BigCar2]

I'd never be able to get him! BTW, if you haven't already, check out his Rover SD1 video. Much better than mine.

[@cgmoog]

@@BigCar2Not necessarily better just different. He has a bigger budget but you punch above your weight. I enjoy watching both.

[@cornishrider]

@@BigCar2I think your version is far better

[@elicaul6506]

My Dad bought one of the first Rabbit Diesels in Napa, CA - Al Lyon Motors had a waiting list, and this was a dark Brown C with 'Radio Prep', a 4spd, vinyl seats and that was about it. Dad paid something like $190 additional for an AM/FM radio, I think it was a Becker but it was definitely mono and was played through the dash speaker. It sounded pretty good, actually. We immediately drove the car from California to Minneapolis in the summertime, no A/C, my Mum and Dad intermittently bickering to pass the time in the front seat and my year old sister and I fighting for space in the back seat! Back then it was a challenge to find Diesel anywhere but on the Interstates, but Dad found it it kind of didn't matter. That car got 50+mpg on the freeway, and high 30's around town, so you were never far enough away from the freeway for it to matter. He traded it in for a Rabbit Pickup (Caddy) in 1981 and that was nice because it had a 5 speed transmission, but not as nice because it was also very Westmoreland in feel, where the old Rabbit C was incredibly German all the way down to the sisal mats and the way it smelled. Did any other kid figure out that you could make the radio play, the windshield wipers go and the fan blow by turning on the parking lights and pulling the high beam stalk to 'flash to pass', even with the key removed? Lots of time in parking lots waiting as a kid. Thanks for another awesome, in-depth Big Car video!!

[@guestmatejek9029]

I love your lego cars in the background. I learned to drive stick and turn a wrench on 79 Scirocco. It had a 1.8i with a cam. Super light and blast to drive (when it was running).

[@maxmix-retrodisco]

Growing up in South Africa I owned x3 Golf Mk1's 🙂🙂🙂 The 3rd one branded as CITI Golf. To this day I have never loved a car as much as my first 1979 SA golf MK1

[@SupersonicFX]

This is gonna be a good one. Thx for taking on this topic

[@SupersonicFX]

Confirmed: that WAS a good episode

[@keithfletcher6123]

That was brilliant - amazing research and access to footage - I’d forgotten about the Burt Kwouk adverts (and ‘something’ fell off / left under the car as he drove off - old style editing ‘nobody will notice’ 😂)

[@toineleuverink9905]

It is so massively impressive how you get so much historical information into a perfectly coherent, yet compact documentary. I greatly respect the quality of your work and therefore your channel. Big hats off to you!

[@donaldmackay4837]

Still driving it’s descendent in 2024 ad loving it . Brilliant video. More please

[@stuartanderws5705]

My first car was a Mk 1 Golf. On L plates I drove myself and my 4 friends to work from Coalville through rush hour traif into Leicester. I did things in that car that todays cars would find hard to do. Speeds that defy the laws of physics, without a good down hill slope, 115 mph on the clocks and a bent crank. In its day it had lots of work done on it. New clutch, Big ends bearings, Crank regrind, New Big end bearings again, one new valve (still have its mangeld form),One new piston (burnt down the side from driving over Christmas on 3 cylinders ( see valve.) because it's christmas and i don't want to strip the head, it's cold outside.) It had 135000 plus when i scraped it. and needed two relays (bypassed) , new starter motor and carburettor (leaking air through some place and would tickover less than 2500 rpm, blip that throttle.) I loved that car in light blue.

[@robemslie5248]

That's an excellent exposé on a terrific model of car, Andy. I'd love to see your deep dive into the NSU/VW K70 and the complicated story behind the original Audi 100. Both are amazing tales.

[@donalroche5666]

Thanks. Great programme!

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Donal!

[@hawkeye454]

In 2003 I got my first car, an 81 VW Golf diesel (called the VW Rabbit here in the USA in the 80s) and it was clapped out but I loved it. 48 angry horsepower made it sooooo slow but it got 50mpg in town. I miss that car.

[@williesjohnson2673]

actually, andy, i'm currently on a search for a golf for my daughter's journey into the world of teenage driving (and parental dread) love the backstory of the car. keep up the good work, your channel is a keeper

[@floydblandston108]

My Uncle had one of the first 'Rabbits' here in the USA. It was a stripper, with drums on the front and this weird 'cardboard' on the doors instead of regular panels, but it had good ol' Bug front seats, went like stink, and got over 30 mpg, even being flogged in every gear. Rust was its kryptonite, though.

[@mgunther68]

My first car was a 1982 Golf diesel. I bought this in 1993 in Germany for 1,000 Deutsche Mark and it was going strong up to 333,333km in 2000. The Irish government paid 1,000 Pounds (approx. 2,400 DM) in a scrappage scheme at that time, so I actually *made* money with this😆 Great car, I'll never forget it!

[@ianalderton6683]

I bought a mk 1 as a winter car to 'save' my 1983 911 cabrio- which it did of course- especially when I stuck the golf in a field one night . . . difficult to say which was the better car ; ) . . . ironic was that my 'winter car' had a sunroof : ) PS I now drive a T4 van as a daily driver for the last 12 years- love it (petrol and 2 sliding doors : )) )

[@MrRea112]

It would be great if you did a story on Ferdinand Piech….his technical genius, ruthless resolve, incredible foresight and his shortcomings of course….. probably makes him one of the greatest leaders in the car industry up there with Sloan and Ford

[@robertmarsh3588]

Great video, thank you. I still recall seeing very early Golfs with great fondness on visits to Germany in the 1970s. I was also lucky enough to see the Wolfsburg factory twice. Later my father had a Mk1 Golf Driver, and I a Scirocco GTX. Lovely car, but appalling brakes, and mine had other issues as it turned out that it had been in an accident before I'd bought it!

[@SaturnCanuck]

That was great. I remember as a kid being in the VW showroom as my dad had his 1975 Beatle serviced and seeing the future of VW -- The Rabbit!

[@MisterMikeTexas]

My older brother bought a new 1975 2 door version in "African Red", with white interior. It was a 4 speed, and no air conditioning. It was badged as a "Rabbit" here in the US. I guess some time in the 80s, our versions became badged as "Golf" also.

[@titiparisien5915]

Excellent. Thank you. I happened to be in Frankfurt during the 1975 Motor Show. That is when they unveiled the Golf GTI. That really was a shock to me. As soon as I was able to buy a new car I got a GTI. Only it was a Peugeot 205 GTI...

[@metallicat72]

Passed my test in a 1976 VW golf. Loved it.

[@andersfalck6633]

My brother had 2, my friend had a GTI, still 4-speed, and eventually I found a used Jetta GLI with same specs and trims, almost. We had indeed fun with them. Thanks for very good recapture, as always.

[@CaSuMog]

18:50 - I still have a Kamei shift knob golf ball around in my shed….

[@gunnarkvinlaug9079]

The Opel Kadett showed here was still rear wheel drive! Not until the D modell came in 1978 it became front wheel drive.

[@VDub615]

As an owner of a Mk2 Gti (1989) small bumper 2door, I can't wait for your Video Great memories, especially when that inside rear wheel takes off during hard cornering

[@ExUSSailor]

My first car was a '79 with the 1.5L N/A diesel, and a 5 speed. It was the perfect car for a broke student. It was too slow to get into trouble with, and, it got 45 - 55 mpg.

[@andrewcocos]

I really enjoyed the story of Daisy! Your friend Russ has a great sense of humor!

[@mattw8332]

Almost everyone liked the GTi but I really liked the "luxury" 1500 GLS spec.

[@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu]

I had a VeloCiTi as a first car (2005 updated version). Loved the bits off of that thing.

[@RobinCapper]

Great video, the leap from the pre-Golf concepts (both FWD and mid-engine) to the Golf was vast. Giugiaro's crisp lines still look fresh.

[@rovingenglishman]

0:26 this footage here perfectly sums up the Mk1 GTI experience, more than any other clip or hr long YT video. The way mine would cock a rear wheel and always, always get me out of whatever ridic too-fast situation I got myself into with that little car

[@bultacotrial290]

Great VW video, thank you!! 🤩 A 1984 VW Rabbit Convertible and a 2007 VW Caddy here. Best regards.

[@santaclausutube]

Great video on a great car. Definitely Ned a Golf 2 video as well!

[@davidhinkson8856]

I clicked on this the moment I saw it, because I have always loved this generation of Golf. It's interesting to note that one of the original proposals carried the wheels that were later used on the higher end VW models, and it resembles a car they actually built in Brazil. Russ' account on his experience with the car is a great addition to the video. I remember those ads on TV in England when I was a child, but I didn't realize it was Burt Kwouk. I loved him as Cato, Inspector Clouseau's valet who was always surprising him with crazy karate moves, and I also remember Kenny Everett satirized those ads with the car dropping through the floor!

[@VinDieselS70]

My first and only Golf was a 1982 facelift wine red metallic Golf GLS 1.6 Automatic i bought off my neighbour in Sweden. I think it was a special version or something as my Gls had the fully black interior with black and white checkered seats from the GTI installed from the factory. I thought it was normal until i drove another gls but with an interior the same as the car itself. I loved my Golf and was relatively quick with the carb 1.6L engine. Thank you for the upload. 👍🏼

[@billolsen4360]

My first new car purchase was a 1980 Diesel Rabbit/Golf when I lived in Golden, Colorado. Did lots of winter sports at the time and it was ideal for driving into the mountains for backpacking and cross country skiing. Some people thought it was ugly but I thought the round headlamps made it cute. She had an incredible amount of luggage space for her overall size and got me to work during heavy snowstorms, which my old Oldsmobile wasn't always able to do. Especially loved her tailgaters' defense feature...if anyone was following me too close on the highway (as Denver area drivers are prone to do), all I had to do was downshift and hit the accelerator and they'd back off straight away thanks to the blast of black smoke from the tailpipe.

[@ilovetotri23]

I grew up in a household of aircooled VW's. I owned several. I learned how to rebuild engines with very few tools and a large part supply. My mother bought a 1979 Rabbit(US). It was super unreliable! Electronic nightmare. However, when my dads GM truck blew an engine he bought a 1985 GTI. My brother inherited my mothers 1979 Rabbit. He drove it to about 448,000 miles. He also put a new engine in my dads GM and sold it for what ever he put into it. Most interesting is when my Dad went to upgrade to a newer car my brother got his 1985 GTI. My brother drove it for many years...When I asked my brother how many miles he put on it he, "not sure odometer stopped working at 445, 000. I drive about 45 miles each day. The fuel yank started to leak at some point so I stopped using it as my daily driver. I put a fuel cell in and race it on the weekends".

[@ahmetyavuz8914]

It was so much fun to watch. Interesting that Golf could only now have its dedicated chapter on bigcar but I recall it was covered as a side story along with other models, a few times

[@TheEkkas]

I had a Golf MkI diesel around 1990 that was an old beat-up 'farm car'. My dad had a garage (spares+workshop) so we fixed and tuned that little diesel to perfection, brakes, suspension, etc. It was a 'Herbie' type car that could do anything and go anywhere for cheap. We moved refrigerators, double beds, and whatnot, on its roof, towed bigger cars, etc. When glow plugs go bad in the winter and you need to push-start, the car will keep you fit and strong. I managed to drive from Potchefstroom down to past Margate (800km)on +-40l diesel! Never exceeded 100Kmh and was light on the throttle, but the fuel efficiency of those old Golf diesels was astounding. To build a mini-camper, you could take the back seat out (no tools) and 2 bolts let you leave the passenger seat at home as well. Slap a mattress in the flat back and it's camping without the hassle of a tent. Amazing cars took us to places where 4x4s fear to tread.

[@matthewshambler2644]

Well put together video and very informative! I will always hold a special place for any Mk1- Golf, Jetta or Caddy. Some random info for those interested; Here in SA we had a 1800cc electronic fuel injection "Citi Golf" called the R-Line, as well as the final run of 1000 Citi Golfs that were branded the "Citi MK1" individually numbered 1 through 1000 (one of which did a country wide tour and people could write farewell messages on the car). Such an iconic bit of history.

[@mikewysko2268]

Excellent presentation. 😎 🚘

[@SFSDFR75]

I absolutely loved this episode. 1. I’ve been waiting for it forever. 2. You are truly masterful at telling the story. I got goosebumps. Thank you. Brought back many warm memories. BMW 3 series next? 😀

[@BigCar2]

You'll be happy I talk about the 3 series in the next video!

[@ofirs5830]

Great video!!!