Lot 664: Golf GTI Cabriolet

Launched in 1974, the Golf represented a complete break with Volkswagen tradition, yet would prove as big a sales success as its Beetle predecessor. In GTI form the Golf has become one of the great icons of modern motoring, giving rise to an entirely new class of sporting saloon - the 'hot hatch' - in the process. First seen at the Frankfurt Show in September 1975, the GTI came with a 1.6-litre, fuel-injected, 110bhp engine which, in a car weighing just 846 kilos, made for a performance package of a type not seen since the demise of the Mini Cooper 1275 S. Increasing competition from rival manufacturers prompted the introduction of a 1.8-litre GTI in 1982, and although maximum power increased only slightly to 114bhp, there was a considerable improvement in mid-range acceleration. The Golf emerged in restyled Mk2 form for 1984, the GTI gaining an alternative engine the following year when a 1.8-litre, 139bhp, 16-valve unit becoming available alongside the existing 8-valver. Introduced in 1980 and built by coachbuiders Karmann of Osnabr�ck, the Golf cabriolet side-stepped the Mk2 body style completely, continuing to be built in Mk1 form until superseded by the Mk3 version in 1993.
This example of one of the most collectible of 1980s classics has been in the current owner�s hands for the past eight years. Finished in silver with black interior, the car has covered a total of only 38,000 miles and is described as good in all areas. The vehicle is offered with Republic of Ireland registration documents.