First and Finest of the Hot Hatches

by Christopher Santos.

Every now and then a great car arrives on the market. In the 1970s, it was Wolfsburg's Mk1 Golf. This was, at last, the modern front-wheel drive, water cooled replacement, for the ever green Beetle, the world had wanted, and when launched became an instant hit. But Volkswagen were not going to rest on their laurels for they were about to create one of the most influential cars in motoring history. 

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has become a much imitated icon. Making its official debut in 1976, the Golf GTI Mk1 was the world's first hot hatch, defining what was to become an all important motoring genre. Such was the desirability of the car when launched, it effectively killed off the affordable sports car market for almost a decade. VW's benchmark sporting hatchback remained the class leader, and the opulent models of today still bear the genes of its revered ancestors. 

The words Volkswagen and GTI have long been associated with the Golf. In recent years, however, VW has tried to replicate the magic by adding more models to the GTI family. But for many the GTI will remain synonymous with the Mk1 Golf. In this new Millennium, classic car enthusiasts are beginning to remember just how much of an outstanding car the original Golf GTI was. It is because of this that many experts are predicting a dramatic rise in value of these models during the next decade.  

Cars relating to the Yuppie / Thatcher era of the 1980s will soon become much sought after and none more so than the Golf GTI Mk1. It is also encouraging to see the original Golf GTI is now included in many respected hard-back classic car books (left) and its participation in such publications, along with other well established marques, can only raise the profile of this iconic car even further.

Pristine examples of the Mk1 Golf GTI are now regular participants at the established Volkswagen shows put on throughout the year.

This website (launched in 2001) brings together more than twenty years of enthusiastic ownership. Back in 1983, I was one of the lucky few who took delivery of a brand new Mk1 Golf GTI Campaign in Mars red.

Today,  I own a rare 1979 4-speed gearbox model, and thanks to some fortuitous circumstances, the same Mars red 1983 Golf GTI Campaign I had from new all those years ago.

"... thanks to some fortuitous circumstances, I now own the same Mars red 1983 Golf GTI Campaign I had from new all those years ago."

Various motoring publications have suggested that my 1979 Golf GTI may possibly be the best surviving early example in the UK. This car has featured in an official Volkswagen press advert - as well as many VW magazines and classic car books.

I also find myself in the unique position of owning my 1983 Golf GTI Campaign for the second time in its life - after owning it new in 1983, I subsequently sold it in 1986. 15 years later I bought it back again. This car was featured in Autocar magazine's Golf GTI supplement that celebrated 25 years of the marque as well as other magazines including Volkswagen Driver.

Both of these cars have been professionally restored and are featured on this site - together with other archive information on the Mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The Golf GTI Mk1 remains fun to drive.

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