Audis!

[FMJ]

'1983'? noooo, that shape Polo/ Audi came out in 1975.

Yes, and VW was on their last legs in 83. Audi basically gave them a car they were phasing out, VW made it into the 84 Rabbit, and it became a sensation, bringing the company back from the precipice.

 

[legrandefromage]

I dont think we are discussing the same VW that the British rebuilt after WWII

The MK1 Golf was a massive success along with the Polo which outsold the Audi 50

The 'Rabbit' that you refer to is the VW Golf. In 1983 the Golf MKII was launched.

I read that in a book, not just the web!

*EDIT

I'll also carefully add that take apart just about any Audi / VW and you'll see both logos on the parts. The engines in Europe are all the same, the components are the same and so many parts are interchangeable.

Apart from the plastics - spot the difference!

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

The Audi 50 is a VW Polo with different badges, dropped from the range because it was pointless to compete against themselves with an identical model. The MkI Polo long outlived it. VW had the platform all along, cos it was their baby to start with. Golf II didn't clocks along until 2 years after that platform was consigned of the bin.

My old Ma was a director at the then oddly named VAG, the UK importer, itself an independent company owned by Lonhro. She retired about 1986 and somewhere I have reams of period brochures, books, some models, key rings, at least one Audi Sport rally team jacket, all sorts of guff. I ought to make the time to root through it as some of it might fetch a few notes on the bay.

 

[legrandefromage]

The Audi 50 is a VW Polo with different badges, dropped from the range because it was pointless to compete against themselves with an identical model. The MkI Polo long outlived it. VW had the platform all along, cos it was their baby to start with. Golf II didn't clocks along until 2 years after that platform was consigned of the bin.

My old Ma was a director at the then oddly named VAG, the UK importer, itself an independent company owned by Lonhro. She retired about 1986 and somewhere I have reams of period brochures, books, some models, key rings, at least one Audi Sport rally team jacket, all sorts of guff. I ought to make the time to root through it as some of it might fetch a few notes on the bay.

There, see? I thought I was going mad. I have read that the North American market wasnt good but then that was at the end of the air-cooled age.

 

[legrandefromage]

Anyway, its all 30 years ago.

If I didnt already have a lump of 1980's German V8 out the front, a Coupe would be on my list

more VAG porn

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Can anyone make me cry with joy with a pic of an original 200 Turbo 5T?

 

[legrandefromage]

They're not that exciting, I've got a write up in my book, the later version is better, in my opinion...

 

[legrandefromage]

whilst the Germans were running riot with turbos and 4wd, we, the Brits, were, er... um... promoting these:

Although, this wasnt too bad (I've owned five series 1's):

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Ah, cheers dude! Mine was a dark met blue, with wonderfully sumptomuous deep velour seats. Such understatement. The fastest mass production saloon in the World when it was launched. My Ma had a visually identical (except for being green) 5E non tubby for a while. Can't remember why I ever got rid of it, except that I get bored quicky with cars. I'd love another.

 

[legrandefromage]

Not so sure about the fastest in the world as there were the Mercs and BMWs around at the time.

Coincidentally, the Rover SD1 did genuinely hold the fastest saloon car record with the Vitesse and the fastest diesel (2400D) for a while.

The SD1 rally car got the Audi boys over with its immense Kielder Forest V8 soundtrack

EDIT*

I want!