The Golf Turns 40 As TTAC Looks Back At The Man Behind The Launch
March 29th, 1973 marks the anniversary of the Volkswagen Golf’s introduction some 40 years ago. Although Volkswagen’s official communications tout the car as a runaway success, the front-drive, water-cooled car wasn’t met with such an enthusiastic reception at the outset.
The true story of the Golf (or at least an entertaining one that runs counter to the PR hagiography disseminated by Volkswagen), and its success can only be told by one Bertel Schmitt, who recounted it in “The Autobiography of BS”, back in 2009. Rather than relay it here, I urge you all to check out the original, which is best relayed with Bertel’s unique diction, droll sense of humor and his eye for the absurd.
During my time working with Bertel, much of our business was conducted via the phone, with hour-long chats where Bertel would relay the “directors cut” version of his time working with Volkswagen. Much of it was unpublishable, and I was often left reeling at the end of it, having difficulty processing the sheer amount of information and detail. But the end result was a “Karate Kid” style of mentorship. Bertel was effectively planting the seeds of industry knowledge in my brain, giving me the context and background knowledge I needed to do my job, while giving me enough autonomy to let me screw up, get things wrong and learn the hard way – by getting flayed by the B&B in the comments.
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Though I recognize the ultimate importance of the Golf and a 40 yrs run (though of course its been many cars under the same name) is impossible to ignore, the Golf has never done it for me. I always thought the competition offered better and I'd always choose one of them over the Golf. From the first to the seventh. As to Bertel, whatever where his peculiar viewpoints and opinions, his role in the industry and knowledge of it is undeniable. Anyways, happy 40th Golf!
When the GTI first reached our shores I just HAD to have one...but I was so upside down on my car it was mission impossible. Like a Honda, despite intents and desires I've never had the opportunity to own one (I've always needed more cargo space), but I will someday. Golfs are beautiful cars - driver's delight, always function before form. It is rumored/gossiped they'll be bringing over the Golf convertible to replace the Eos...this I would love.
> Bertel was effectively planting the seeds of industry knowledge in my brain, giving me the context and background knowledge I needed to do my job, while giving me enough autonomy to let me screw up, get things wrong and learn the hard way – by getting flayed by the B&B in the comments. Bertel for all his pretense was remarkably unaware of industry details. I wasn't really looking at TTAC at the time but happened upon the self-proclaimed informative article about modular platforms while researching it myself: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/mqb-fud-burdened-by-legacy-platforms-gm-fights-off-the-kits-and-what-are-those-kits-anyway/ For all the praise in the comments this is nothing more than regurgitating press materials and looking up what kit means in the dictionary. Even worse, none of the "B&B computer experts/engineers" managed to point out the value of abstract interfaces despite its coincidental reference in the article.
Sorry, your much beloved and often butt-kissed Bertel was nothing more than a petty tyrant who couldn't even run an autoblog. His pettiness and childishness turned many a reader away from TTAC. Berthle's almost daily anti-American rants where mildy amusing at first, and unacceptable at the end. Was I shocked when the "Emperor of TTAC" was told he had no clothes? Nope, not a bit. His inglorious exit was totally appropriate for a man of his intellect and caliber. Yeah, you could say I loathed The Banhammer.