RUSSELL HAYES
In May 2014 the Volkswagen Golf turned 40. With 30 million produced, and counting, the second 'people's car' remains all-conquering. And while the Golf wasn't the first front-wheel-drive hatchback, its interpretation set the benchmark by which all others are still judged today.
The Volkswagen Golf Story pays tribute to the car in the fullest detail yet, beginning with the crisis Volkswagen was suffering in the 1960s when its over-dependence on the Beetle threatened to bring it down. This chapter includes pictures and details of fascinating stillborn prototypes, created as the company tried to find its future.
The development of the first Golf is covered in great detail and includes significant derivative models from around the world such as the American Rabbit and the South African CitiGolf. Each generation of Golf is put in the context of its time and in relation to the other Volkswagen bestsellers - the Passat, Polo and Scirocco. The story is brought to life by insights from original interviews with key figures including the Golf's first designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, former Volkswagen chairman Carl Hahn and the team behind the first GTI.
Every Golf from the humble basic models to the top performance derivatives is covered, as well as a dip into the Golf in motor sport, the customised Golf and hybrid and electric versions.
Containing over 350 photographs and much original material, this book is both a timely reminder of the Golf's enduring appeal and a fitting tribute to a motoring legend.
