1976 - Golf GTI Mark 1: Did you know VW only planned to make 5,000 units of the first Golf GTI? It was unveiled at the1975 Frankfurt International Motor Show but the carmaker went on to sell 461,690 units enjoying global success before it was replaced by the Mk2. The original was concocted by VW staff in secret who developed a sporty version of the Golf called the Sport and when it was presented to Toni Schmücker, Chairman of the Board of Management, he gave it the green light. It had a fuel-injected four-pot generating 110 horsepower and the name was changed to GTI but it could have been called the TS or GTS. It featured black wheel arch extensions, a black frame around the rear window, red edging around the radiator grille, plaid sport seats, a golf ball shifter knob, and a sport steering wheel.
Volkswagen