VW Golf celebrates 45th birthday 29 | 03 | 2019
EUROPE’S FAVOURITE, AND most successful car, the Volkswagen Golf, celebrates its 45th birthday today. Since it was launched back in 1974, a new Golf has been ordered every 41 seconds. That equates to 35 million Golfs being sold in its lifetime. (Related: VW Golf GTI TCR launched)
On March 29, 1974, the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg officially started production of what would become its best-seller. Back then, nobody at VW had any idea that the successor to the legendary Beetle would end up selling more than 35 million units all over the world … and still selling 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’s an average of around 780,000 vehicles per year.
“The Golf is at the very heart of our brand,” Ralf Brandstätter, chief operating officer of Volkswagen, said. “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 made its mark on an entire generation.” (Related: New VW T-Cross compact SUV on sale)
Brandstätter went on to emphasise: “For seven 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.”
Dr. Stefan Loth, plant manager at VW in Wolfsburg, explained: “In 1974, our employees were facing the challenge of switching from the Beetle to the Golf. Since then, we have consistently continued to develop our main plant and today, in addition to the Golf, we produce the e-Golf, the Golf GTE, the Golf Sportsvan, and three additional models here in Wolfsburg.” (Related: Mapping the Atlas Mountains in a VW Touareg)
As one of the compact models on the global market that most defies classification, the Golf is set to remain a key product pillar of the Volkswagen brand. With its state-of-the-art drive, assist systems, Infotainment and operating systems, it will provide a decisive impetus for the future of mobility.
Important data on the debut of the Golf I (Pictured above):
March 29, 1974: First Golf rolls off the assembly line – Start of series production
July 8, 1974: Golf is available in showrooms of Volkswagen dealerships
August 5, 1974: Delivery of the new Golf to customers begins
The 1974 Golf I
Design: 2-door and 4-door vehicles with boot lid
Interior: Five-seater, 300-litre luggage compartment, foldable rear bench seat
Engines: 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, 37 kW / 50 PS
1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, 51 kW / 70 PS
Drive: Front-wheel drive, four-speed manual gearbox, three-speed automatic available as an option
Maximum speed: 140 km/h (50 PS, manual gearbox)
160 km/h (70 PS, manual gearbox)
Models: Golf and Golf L (both 50 PS) Golf S and Golf LS (both 70 PS)
Related: VW unveils portable EV charging station
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Jim McGill