You all know just how much we love the VW Golf and its modifications. What better way to pay homage to what this site is all about than to go back to the very first generation of the VW Golf. As you all know, or should know the VW Golf Mk 1 wasn’t sold in the US and Canada by that name. It was called the VW Rabbit.
A Little Bit Of History
One of the most famous VW vehicles is the beetle. Back in the day, the engine was found at the rear and the car is designed as a rear-wheel drive. The production of the VW Golf signifies the shift of the brand from producing rear-mounted and rear-wheel drive engines to vehicles with a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive.
The VW Golf MK1 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had a signature style of using flat planes and sharp corners on his designs. His earlier prototypes even included rectangular headlamps but these were eventually replaced with round headlamps when production of the MK1 started. Additionally, the MK1 was also known for having the “Swallowtail”.
Why We Love The MK1
The MK1 started it all. With the water-cooled four-cylinder engine on the front, it offered a roomy space for luggage at the back. It was fitted with a reliable and modern drive system. The interior is spacious and practical. It has low rear windows too, which helps with better visibility while backing the car up.
The Golf GTI
As a racer beetle was released, the company was also in the works to produce a faster VG Golf. For this, they designed it to have a fuel-injected engine with a Bosch K-Jetronic system. This produced more power while still minimizing the noise. The acronym GTI is used and stands for either “Grand Tourer Injection” or “Gran Turismo Inienzione”.
The GTI Rabbit
As we’ve said the Rabbit is actually the Golf MK1 sold in the US and Canada way back in 1975. Although sold in the US, they were first produced in Germany and were simply exported. However, in 1978, the Rabbit is was now produced locally in the Westmoreland plant in Pennsylvania. The production of the Rabbit continued until 1984. Rabbits were used as taxi cabs because of fuel efficiency.