About the very first Golf GTI (Gran Turismo Injection) are all sort stories around…. It all start with the Beetle, In 1973 a sport version comes to market, a yellow- black racer... not much special , apart some better seats and a leather steering wheel and 50 Hp from 1600 cc … it proved to be a success in sales. This triggered some ideas within the Volkswagen factory …. that a car with more dynamic, more power, more agile... could bring new clients…. 18 march 1973, research engineer Alfons Lowenberg sent an internal note to some colleges within the R&D department if there cant be thought about a more sports model for the new to release model with internal code EA337 (Golf) which is in its last phase of development. In first instance most of them where holding off, while chassis specialist Herbert Horntrich and head of the research department Hermann Hablitzer show some interest, at least in great lines… Lowenberg doesn't give up and he find more like minded...as Marketing man Horst-Dieter-Schwittlinsky and Anton Konrad, head of the Press office at Volkswagen. Konrad invites the secret developers of the sportgolf at home. Hablitzel, Horntrich, Konrad, Lowenberg and Schwittlinsky talk about various possibilities…. After that meeting, Hablitzel is now convinced ... and with his silent agreement go Lowenberg and Horntrich at work, a Scirocco is used as prototype which received a rockhard suspension, drastic lowered and the 1.5 L engine is tuned from 85 to 100 Hp and he car is fitted with a huge exhaust and so it sounds.... Prototype 1 proved to be the wrong approach…. the sportgolf should have that sporty feel, but it should also be a discreet car….. well certainly not OTT So Lowenberg and Horntrich design a more civilised version Hablitzer informs the director of research, professor Ernst Fiala about the new playtoy…. far too costly, are you mad, is the verdict... Anyway the prototype of the sportgolf on basis of the Scirocco get official approval as research chassis....but at the same time there is still research done which is not official approved… Until in the spring of 1975 the board gives its go ahead… Six various prototypes are built from a really sporty to a more comfy understatement version…. Head designer Herbert Schafer is responsible for the smaller details that should give the future GTI that extra touch that makes him different of a normal golf... The red frame on the front grille, a bigger front spoiler, the black wheel arch extensions, black roof lining, the golfball gearknob and the seats ... The modern 1.6 L of 110 Hp / 140 Nm is realised in cooperation with Audi In 1975 the Golf GTI makes it début at the Frankfurt Motorshow... `The fastest Volkswagen ever` as it was advertised It proves no empty promise…. In 9 seconds from 0 - 100 km/h The public respond so enthusiast that VW could no other than approve a special series of 5000 GTI`s ….. The rest is history ….. Note: Many years later Volkswagen wanted to go into world championship rally and a car had to be build on basis of the Golf Mk3, the A59 project as its known… and Herbert Horntrich was the Co-ordinator between Volkswagen and some external companies … small world...
wish I could find an early car suitable for classic tarmac stage rallying. I'm sure it would be competitive with all bar the fancy escorts Jon
just getting hold of a non rotten early shell/ID would be an excellent start, I probably have enough bits to build a group A spec car! Jon
