The history of the GTI
1969
1975
Italian car designer Giorgio Giugiaro of Ital Design, the creator of the Lotus Esprit, begins prototype designs for what would become the VW Golf. Tasked with creating a range of models for VW to revitalise business after the 30 year reign of the Beetle, Giugiaro began to make his paper dreams a reality.
1972
The summer of '75 in Wolfsburg, Herbert Schuster and his dedicated team of VW engineers have been working on a special project - the 'Sport Golf'.
This was to become the first 'Hot Hatchback'. Convinced of it's merits, the team persuaded VW's marketing department to have some protype models produced, featuring the 1.6 GTI engine.
The first car wearing a GTi badge was unveiled to an interested press, and one month later the first offical production model appeared at the Frankfurt Motorshow.
1979
Giugiaro's completed designs for a range of Volkswagen models, including the Golf, are submitted to head office for production planning.
1974
July - The GTI reaches UK shores and makes itself at home. The Golf throws dust in the face of it's contemporary rivals.
1982
The Hot Hatch is born again! VW introduce the new top of the range 1.8 GTI with 112Bhp, 0-60 in 8.2 seconds.
1983
The Volkswagen Golf is born, officially launched at the Geneva Motorshow alongside the Mk1 Scirocco. Two Golf models are avaibable,
with either 3 or 5 doors, and a 50Bhp 1100cc engine, or a 75Bhp 1600cc engine.
August 1983, VW produce the last batch of 1.8 GTIs A limited number 'special edition' Golfs were manufactured, These are known as the Campaign Golfs
Present Day Present Time
The Mk1 Golf GTI is now 30 years old. A design that was conceived of as early as 1969 is rapidly becoming collector’s items for classic car enthusiasts.
