Volkswagen Golf Cabrio 1979

The 1979 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet marked a significant milestone in the history of compact convertible cars. Unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in February 1979, this model was produced in collaboration with Karmann and signified the end of the Beetle Cabriolet's production. With its sleek design and innovative features, the Golf Cabriolet quickly captured the European market. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)

Have you spotted this car?Scan it: your photo enriches this page and helps the community.

Scan this car

Photo by @kd367

History

The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in February 1979, succeeding the Beetle Cabriolet. Production began in June 1979, initially alongside the Beetle Cabriolet, with the last unit assembled by Karmann in Osnabrück in January 1980. This model was the first in its class to feature a fixed roll bar, providing enhanced protection for occupants. A total of 388,522 units of the first-generation Golf Cabriolet were produced, surpassing the Beetle Cabriolet and becoming the most successful convertible of its time. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)

Latest scans

Photos added by the community for this page.

5 photos

Add yours

Technical data

8 powertrains recorded for the Golf Cabrio. Some figures apply to the version as a whole rather than to each engine.

Compare powertrains

Pick a powertrain: the detailed sheet below follows your selection.

Comparison of official powertrains. Selecting a column updates the detailed sheet.
Criterion
Power	37 kW	44 kW	51 kW	40 kW	37 kW	44 kW	51 kW	40 kW
Torque	78 Nm	93 Nm	110 Nm	100 Nm	78 Nm	86 Nm	110 Nm	102 Nm
Gearbox	Manuelle, 4 rapports	Manuelle, 4 rapports	Manuelle, 4 rapports	Automatique, 4 rapports	Manuelle, 4 rapports	Manuelle, 4 rapports	Manuelle, 4 rapports	Manuelle, 4 rapports
Drivetrain	Traction	Traction	Traction	Traction	Traction	Traction	Traction	Traction
Fuel	Essence	Essence	Essence	Diesel	Essence	Essence	Essence	Diesel

Showing: 1.5L 4MT FWD

This powertrain

Power: 51 kW
Torque: 110 Nm
Transmission: Manuelle, 4 rapports
Drive type: Traction
Fuel: Essence

Recorded across the whole version

0-100 km/h: 8.2 - 16.8 s
Top speed: 140 - 188 km/h
Displacement: 1093 - 1781 cm3
Consumption: 6.7 - 8.8 L/100 km
Dimensions: 3820 x 1610 x 1410 mm
Weight: 750 - 845 kg

Source: cardatawiki

Anecdotes

The 1979 Golf Cabriolet was the first in its class to feature a fixed roll bar, providing enhanced protection for occupants. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)

Production

A total of 388,522 units of the first-generation Golf Cabriolet were produced, surpassing the Beetle Cabriolet and becoming the most successful convertible of its time. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)

Press reception

The 1979 Golf Cabriolet was well-received by the automotive press, praised for its sleek design and innovative features. It quickly captured the European market, becoming an iconic model of its time. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)

Evolution

Following the success of the first-generation Golf Cabriolet, Volkswagen continued to develop this model. In 1993, the second-generation Golf Cabriolet was launched, offering significant safety improvements, including airbags for the driver and passenger, as well as ABS. This model was produced until 2001, with a total of 600,585 units manufactured. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)

1993Golf Cabrio

Same variantPhotos: 0

1998Golf Cabrio

Same variantPhotos: 1

2011Golf Cabrio

Same variantPhotos: 0

Variants

The 1979 Golf Cabriolet was available in several versions, including the GLS equipped with a 1.5-liter engine producing 70 horsepower and the GLi featuring a 1.6-liter engine delivering 110 horsepower. These engines provided varied performance to cater to driver preferences. (volkswagen-newsroom.com)