The VW Golf Mk1 profile

When the VW Golf MK1 was launched in 1974, Volkswagen was on the brink of bankruptcy. But with the help of a small, angular automobile, Volkswagen revolutionised the automotive industry and saved itself from being a footnote in automotive history.

The MK1 VW Golf laid the foundation for the compact class, setting a benchmark that the manufacturers would struggle to compete with.

The then VW boss Heinrich Nordhoff had relied on the aircooled VW Beetle until the end of the 1960s, and had lost touch with what modern buyers really wanted. Nordhoff’s successor, Kurt Lotz, brought new momentum to the Wolfsburg-based company with the VW Golf I and VW Passat being created under his leadership.

Development of the VW Golf MK1

A big factor in developing a new front-wheel drive hatchback was the real threat from competitors such as Renault, Fiat and Peugeot – each had been building such compact cars since the 1960s. Volkswagen benefited from the technical know-how of the previously acquired Auto-Union. These employees made great strides in the development and are regularly called the “fathers” of the VW Golf I.

Due to the new Golf being such a departure from the Beetle, it wasn’t considered a direct replacement, but a successor in terms of VW’s mainstream offering all the same. Its transverse engine made it possible to improve practicality in a small vehicle. The first version of the VW Golf I, presented in May 1974, was equipped with engines from the Audi 50 and Audi 80 models. Even with the smallest engine option, customers enjoyed the sporty drive of this lightweight car.

In addition to the countless other legendary designs he became responsible for, Italian designer Giorgio Giugiaro was also responsible for the timeless look of the Golf.

VW Golf Mk1 models

The VW Golf offering became even more diverse with the market launch of the Cabriolet in 1979. The convertible model was developed and built at Karmann in Osnabrück, and until the end of production in 1993 it was the most popular convertible in the world. Various engines were offered for the topless car with outputs ranging from 70 to 110bhp.

The VW Caddy Pickup was manufactured on the bones of the VW Golf from 1983, being manufactured in Yugoslavia and the USA. However, the most revered VW Golf Mk1 has to be the GTI, which delivered 110bhp (later 112bhp when the engine was increased from 1.6 to 1.8-litres). This sporty addition allowed the Golf to appear to a new range of buyers who wanted performance at an affordable price.

In August 1979 the Volkswagen Jetta was presented. It was effectively a saloon version of the Golf for more conservative buyers. It could be had as a two- or four-door model, but its success in America couldn’t be replicated in Europe.

Conclusion

Between May 1974 and August 1983, a total of six million Mk1 VW Golf hatchbacks were manufactured. Additionally, the German coachbuilder Karmann produced around 389,000 convertible versions of the car between 1979 and 1993. Of the approximately six million units built, around one million were equipped with a diesel engine.

The VW Golf immediately proved to be a bestseller, and despite having powerful engines, the car was economical, too. The oil crisis only served to boost the car’s popularity as buyers moved toward more fuel efficient vehicles. Plenty of space for family trips, vacation and shopping made it the perfect fit for everyday life. As part of a facelift, the body was revised in summer 1978 with better rust protection and an improvement in the quality of steel used.

Today the Mk1 VW Golf is a sought-after collector’s item, especially the Cabriolet, GTI and pick-up variants. Fortunately, many examples have been preserved, thanks in part to their good build quality and high production numbers.

Text Jan Fröhlich  Fotos Volkswagen AG, Classic Trader

Author: Classic Trader

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