Fore! Volkswagen Makes 30 Millionth Golf
In 1973, I had a little hand in launching the Volkswagen Golf. It hit the market in 1974. Today, it hit a new record. I wish I would have received a buck for every Golf sold. I would have $30 million by now. Today, the world’s 30 millionth Golf rolled past “Zählpunkt 8” and off the assembly line in Wolfsburg.
In line with the green leanings, the 30 millionth car is a Golf TDI BlueMotion; a car that is said to use just 3.2 liters for 100 km, something we shall put to the test a little more than a week from now when I return to the scene of my former crimes in Wolfsburg.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
More by Bertel Schmitt
Comments
Join the conversation
My mother drove a '96 Golf GL for a number of years. According to MSN Autos, had a 5.7L V8 with 395hp and 407lb/ft of torque. The gearbox must have been terrible b/c I remember 0-60 times above 10 seconds. To this day, I still have no idea why my mom was interested in owning a base model VW, it certainly had nothing to do with lack of finances, but I like the Dub so I bought a new '01 GTI. Best/worst car I've ever owned, and had little or no similarity to its GL predecessor, which proves that these vehicle production records are essentially meaningless. The 21M VW Beetles produced between 1938-2003 are about the only cars that can lay claim to any production record. The Beetle barely changed for a half century.
Having driven and ridden in many Golfs it always the same strong body and solid handling that seems to shine. I have not always been a fan of the brand but I own a Golf now and am starting to see what all the fuss is about. It's VW's ability to hit the middle ground and do it well that keeps them in business.
I remember it well. I have a great deal of respect for a company that realizes the road they are on is coming to an end, and is willing to bet the farm on something different. The Type 1 and the rest of the air cooled rear engined VW's represted a technological dead end in 1972, at least as far as the developed world was concerned. The last gasp was the abysmal 411/412. And even though the Dasher was dicey at best, liquid cooled front wheel drive was the way to go. The Golf/Rabbit was a winner, I knew it the first time I saw one. Alec Issigonis had the right idea all along.
Great success for a latecomer. Let's remember the Fiat 127/128, let's not forget Renault or Peugeot with the 204. Somehow, they botched it up, however.