For a long time, Volkswagen was the most important automobile manufacturer in the world. The company, which in its early days was practically focused on a single model, had recognized the signs of the times by the end of the 1960s and began to fundamentally reform its product range. In 1971, the age of the Golf finally began, which with its sister models Polo and Passat not only revolutionized the Wolfsburg-based group, but also influenced the entire automotive market. The classic is now produced in the eighth generation, while the first versions enjoy cult status today. This is especially true for the Golf GTI as a sporty variant, which still inspires horsepower enthusiasts and tuning enthusiasts today and is now a popular collector's item.

In this auction, a VW Golf 1 GTI from 1979 is offered, which was first registered for road traffic in January 1980. The first owner was a motorsport fan from Reggio Emilia in northern Italy and, after some modifications, preferred to use the car for hill climbs. Previously, the vehicle offered here had already appeared in a test report of the Italian magazine "Autotest", about which an enclosed copy provides information. In 2013, the lively VW Golf returned to Germany and was technically expertly overhauled, since 2019 a doctor has been the owner of the historic automobile certified for H license plates. A checkbook is not available, but the VW Golf has matching numbers and has remained accident-free in the current possession. Despite temporary deregistration, the vehicle is equipped with a TÜV certificate valid until May 2023 and will be fully ready to drive and handed over to the new owner with a new TÜV with the original keys.

The VW Golf 1 GTI presents itself with a black paint finish, which gives it a particularly dynamic character in keeping with its performance. The red border of the radiator grille and the white decorative stripes on the sides underline the sporty look, while the body has remained unchanged since commissioning. Dents and dents are not present on the vehicle, minor damage due to stone chips or scratches was removed as part of the partial painting.

In the interior of the VW Golf 1 GTI, black seats with grey fabric upholstery are installed, which harmonize perfectly with the exterior paintwork. In general, dark colors dominate the vehicle cabin and were used both on the inside of the doors and in the footwell. The dashboard is classically designed and, like the rest of the interior, shows only slight signs of wear, while the steering wheel in spittoon design gives the Golf 1 additional authenticity. The equipment of the vehicle is as usual for the GTI original type at that time rather spartan, only a radio provides entertainment and additional travel comfort.

The sporty GTI has covered just over 46,000 kilometres since its commissioning. This can be easily read on the speedometer display and is also partially documented by the existing documents. All controls in the vehicle are fully functional, and no failure symptoms could be detected on the displays.

The offered VW Golf 1 GTI uses a four-cylinder in-line engine with 1.6 liter displacement, whose power has been increased from the original 110 hp to 140 hp. The cylinder heads were revised and fan manifolds were installed. It reaches a top speed estimated at over 200 kilometers per hour and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 9 seconds with a manual 5-speed transmission. The last service on the vehicle took place in September 2022, and no defects in the engine and technology could be detected. The subfloor is in good condition and is rust-free, avoiding damage even under heavy load from a special oil pan with cooling fins. A Super Sprint silencer system ensures the right sound.

The VW Golf 1 GTI was technically checked in 2013 after a re-import and put in perfect condition, since then only minor repairs have been necessary. Nothing is currently known about impairments or signs of failure, so that workshop visits should only be necessary on the recommended inspection dates.

The VW Golf 1 GTI was the first vehicle in the compact class in which a powerful, sporty variant was brought to series maturity through modifications. Despite the contrary opinion of critics, it became a real bestseller and was extremely popular with tuning friends. The original GTI is the blueprint for many subsequent "hot hatches" generations and has therefore enjoyed cult status for a long time. Less than 10,000 of the vehicles built in large numbers exist in Germany today, but they practically never have a performance and history like the black power package offered in this auction. The new owner thus acquires a real rarity that is predestined for maximum fun.