BUYING GUIDE (1974-1984)
This legendary hatchback is celebrating its 50th birthday, and there’s no better time to bag an original. Here’s what you need to know to find your perfect MkI
There aren’t many models that have lasted for half a century but the evergreen VW Golf, now in its eighth generation, has become a global automotive success story. It all began with the version here, which was officially launched in May 1974 – it arrived in the UK later the same year – and went on to sell in the millions.
Giorgetto Giugiaro’s smart, compact design for the hatch was just what the market wanted and, being front-wheel-drive, a much more modern rival to other similarly sized family cars. And, of course, it would spawn the iconic
GTI, although we’re concentrating here on the less sporting versions. There was much to like about these, too, from the spacious cabin to the sturdy construction; and while you wouldn’t call them exciting to drive the sure-footed handling and reliability were big pluses. Buyers also appreciated the wide range of engines, with the petrol motors joined by frugal diesels in 1976, and the hatchback would later be joined by Jetta saloon and stylish Cabriolet variants. It really was the complete package and such was its success that an entire decade passed before the MkII replaced it in 1984, although the Cabriolet soldiered on.
Fast-forward 50 years and the famously classless Volkswagen still makes as much sense as it ever did. They’re still temptingly affordable but prices are beginning to rise. If you’re after a sensible classic that you can enjoy on a daily basis, few other cars from this era do it better.
5 WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER
There are all manner of options if you fancy replacing the standard engine with something punchier. Some swaps are easier than others and you may need to re-locate engine mounts, depending on the chosen unit. It can all get a bit involved, so chat to people who have done it. And, given the wealth of experience within the MkI Golf Owners’ Club, we’d start there.
There’s a wide variety of possibilities here, depending on how far you want to go and how much you want to spend. A better set of pads and discs is the easiest and cheapest route – budget £150-£200 – or fitting GTI front brakes. Also consider the Golf MkII’s larger servo and master cylinder or a full-on rear disc conversion. Discussing with the club or a specialist is a good move.
It’s easy to upgrade a MkI’s handling – a common method is replacing the springs and dampers with adjustable coilovers. It’s something that you can do yourself but costs vary widely so you’ll need to budget somewhere between £300 and £1000, depending on the make and specification that you choose. A set of polyu
