Golf, the most successful European car, has turned 45 years of age. On 29th March 1974, the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg started production officially of what would become its best-seller. Back then, nobody at Volkswagen had any idea that the successor to the legendary Beetle would end up selling more than 35million units all around the world, or that it would still be selling them to this day. In purely mathematical terms, a new Golf has been ordered somewhere in the world every 41 seconds, every day, without interruption, since the start of production 45 years ago. That is an average of around 780,000 vehicles per year.
Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of Volkswagen, stated: “The Golf is at the very heart of our brand. It stands for progress and technology like no other car. For example, the Golf made safety technology affordable for millions of people for the first time. Thanks to this, it has made its mark on an entire generation, perhaps two. For seven model generations, the Golf has made a contribution to the development of Volkswagen as a brand and as a group, into one of the most important automotive producers in the world.”
In 1974, VW employees faced the indomitable challenge of switching from the Beetle to the Golf. The two cars could not have been more different. Since then, the company has continued consistently to develop its main plant and today, in addition to the Golf, it produces the e-Golf, the Golf GTE, the Golf Sportsvan and three additional models purely in Wolfsburg.
As one of the compact models on the global market that almost defies classification, the Golf is set to remain a key product pillar of the Volkswagen brand for many years to come. With its state-of-the-art drivetrain options, assist systems, infotainment and operating systems, let alone the GTi, an icon within an icon, Golf provides a decisive impetus for the future of automotive mobility.
Important data on the debut of the Golf:
29 March 1974: First Golf rolls off the assembly line; start of series production
8 July 1974: Golf is available in showrooms of Volkswagen dealerships
5 August 1974: Delivery to customers of the new Golf commences
Design: 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks
Interior: Five-seats, 300-litre boot, foldable rear bench
Engines: 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine 47bhp
1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine 67bhp
Drive: Front-wheel drive, four-speed manual gearbox, three-speed automatic available as an option
Maximum speed: 90-100mph
Models: Golf N and Golf L (47bhp); Golf S and Golf LS (67bhp)
Features: Plaid trim available; golf-ball gear-knob
Other Golf ‘firsts’: Slush-moulded trim; stop:start technology; providing platform for many other Group models.
