AUTO1 Group SE
AUTO1 Group SE
12/27/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/27/2024 05:56
Fifty Years of the VW Golf Through the Eyes of AUTO1 Group Employees
Fifty Years of the VW Golf Through the Eyes of AUTO1 Group Employees
27 December 2024
To celebrate the VW Golf's 50th anniversary this year, we asked our employees to share some pictures and a few even shared their most cherished memories of the car. Their stories paint a vivid picture of why the Golf has remained a beloved classic for half a century.
A Car That Inspires Dreams
The VW Golf was a car some people dreamed of owning long before it became a reality. For example, Dustin Knoll, Mobile Evaluator in Germany, had his heart set on a Golf 1 as a child. After years of searching, he finally fulfilled his dream four years ago when he found the perfect five-door model. But for Dustin, owning the car was just the beginning, as it turned into a passion project that reflected his creativity.
"I first rebuilt it with the typical old-school tuning that was popular at the time," he shares, referring to modifications like lowered suspension, retro wheels, and other period-correct upgrades. But Dustin wanted to take things further. "Since last year, I've completely rebuilt the Golf," he explains. Inspired by the Group H racing cars of the past, Dustin transformed his car into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece with a widebody conversion. "What's so special about it? It's on a five-door model, making it the only one in Germany with this unique conversion!"
For others, the Golf marked a turning point in their lives. Phil Forbes, Senior SEO Manager, remembers buying his first Golf, a 2006 IV Diesel Rabbit, after years of owning heavily modified cars that were not suitable. "I'd always driven cars that were lowered to the point they couldn't go over speed bumps, with loud exhausts and lumpy cams," he says. "They were fun, but they were expensive and completely impractical." Getting the Golf symbolized a new chapter. "It was one of the more 'adult' decisions I made at the time," he reflects. The car's reliability and understated design helped him appreciate the finer, more practical things in life.
From left to right, VW Golfs from Dustin, Nadina (Junior Service Assistant in Spain), and Phil
A Companion Through Life's Journeys
The car model has also been a reliable companion through some employees' life's ups and downs. Asmir Smajlovic, IT System Administrator, remembers buying his Golf just three days before undergoing major surgery, and it became a source of hope and joy during a difficult time in his life. "For a month, I couldn't drive it - I could only look at it in the garage," he says. Once he recovered, the car became a gateway to new experiences, introducing him to amazing places and lifelong friends. "It never let me down, even in insane driving conditions." Though he eventually sold the car, Asmir still considers it one of the best cars VW ever made.
Fetullah Topal, Purchaser in Germany, recalls a cold winter evening during his student days when his trusty Golf III became the centerpiece of an unforgettable adventure. "It was a stressful week of exams, and my friends and I decided to escape the stress of everyday life," he says. They packed blankets, a thermos of hot tea, and a small barbecue, and drove to the Swabian Alb to enjoy the clear starry sky. "We opened the tailgate and played music from the Golf's radio while roasting sausages." As the night went on, it became even more magical. "It started to snow lightly, and the atmosphere was just incredible - the smell of the barbecue, the crackling of the snow under our feet, and the gentle hum of the Golf in the background. It was one of the best nights of my life."
At the Heart of Family and Friendship
Some of the most cherished memories tied to the Golf come from its role as a family car. Theodoros Rodopoulos, Business Analyst in the Netherlands, recollects his family's first car, a black two-door Golf, with great fondness. "It was the car that took us everywhere - road trips to the village, celebrations, my first day at school," he says. "For us, the Golf wasn't just a car; it was a vessel for countless memories and experiences. Even though it's long gone, the memories it created will always stay with us."
Jerry Nelson, Senior Quality Manager, also thinks back to the joy his Golf brought to him and those around him. His bright yellow 1975 Golf I was a head-turner, bringing smiles to everyone who saw it. "What I remember most is all the happy faces on the sidewalks when people spotted it rolling down the street," he says. "It was such a fun car to drive, and it brought so much joy to me, my friends, and my family. I still miss it a lot."
From left to right, VW Golfs from Luisa (Operations Manager in Germany), Theotime (Junior Purchasing Process Manager in France), and Jerry
A Car That Never Lets You Down
Reliability is one of the reasons the Golf has earned its legendary status. Oliver Korn, Purchaser in Germany, learned how to drive in his grandfather's two-seater Diesel Golf in the early 1990s. "That car forgave every bit of nonsense I put it through," he laughs, recalling a muddy field escapade and a spontaneous trip to the 1998 World Cup celebrations in Paris. "It was always ready for anything and might just be the best thing ever put on wheels in Germany."
Similarly, the 1987 GTI from Daniel Schulze, Team Lead Quality Management, never let him down during the twelve years he drove it. "I've been everywhere with that car," he says. Though it's now parked safely in storage, Daniel plans to refurbish it one day, keeping the memories alive.
From left to right, VW Golfs from Robin (Quality Manager in the Netherlands), Oliver, and DanielSo what makes the VW Golf so special? For fifty years, its reliability, versatility, and timeless design have made it a car that adapts to the needs of its drivers, whether it's a fulfilled childhood dream, a family's first car, or a faithful partner on life's adventures. From childhood dreams to family road trips, from wild adventures to moments of quiet reflection, the Golf has been there for it all, and these stories from AUTO1 Group employees show just how much this iconic car has meant to people over the years.