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Cabriolet
Facts & History |
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| Timeline |
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Date |
Notes |
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December 7, 1976 |
Karmann presents Volkswagen with a Golf I
convertible prototype. |
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September 1, 1978 |
Karmann begins mass-producing the Golf I
Cabriolet (18,000 total were built in the initial production run);
the first mass-produced Golf Cabriolet rolls off the assembly line on
this day. |
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March,
1979 |
Golf Cabriolet makes its public debut at the
Geneva Auto Show. |
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July,
1979 |
Golf Cabriolet goes on sale.
Name changed to Rabbit Convertible for
North American market and has a 1.6L fuel injected engine; Rabbit
Convertible goes on sale in the latter half of 1979 as a 1980 model year. |
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1981 |
First major changes are made to the car:
introduction of the "Cabby dash" and installation of 1.7L fuel injected
engine for North American market. |
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1982 |
Top frame is slightly altered so that the
top folds down farther to increase rearward visibility; top boot is also
re-styled to fit the flatter-folding top. |
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1983 |
Rear seat is "split" for a more modern
appearance.
Debut of the Wolfsburg Edition for the
North American market. |
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1984 |
More changes: Plastic fender flare
extensions are added to give the car a better appearance with the
installation of wider wheels (5½J); fuel tank volume is increased with
the introduction of the space-saver spare tire (1984.5); in-tank fuel
pump added (1984.5). |
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1985 |
Name changed to Cabriolet for North
American market. |
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1986 |
Shock-style bumper brackets are replaced
with solid brackets which bring the aluminum bumpers closer to the body
of the car (North American market).
Third brake light added per federal mandate
(North American market). |
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1988 |
Major aesthetic change: Clipper kit added along with
a dual-round grille to update the car's appearance.
Name "changed" to Golf Cabriolet for
Canadian market. |
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1990 |
Driver's side airbag installed for USA
market per the pending 1991 federal mandate. In 1990, the Cabriolet was
the only Volkswagen model to sport an airbag. |
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1991 |
Mid-model year: Rear seat shoulder belts
installed for USA market per federal mandate. |
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June 24,
1991 |
The Golf Cabriolet sets a new world record:
It becomes "the world’s most sold convertible". |
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April 23,
1993 |
The last Golf I Cabriolet rolls off the
assembly line. According to Karmann, a total of 388,522 Golf I
Cabriolets were built during the car's 14-year production run. Total
sales of the convertible in the USA were just over 100,000; the best
sales years for these convertibles in the USA were 1984-1988, during which time
over 10,000 per year were sold.
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| Sales
Numbers |
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| 1980 |
13,390 |
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1980 |
719 |
| 1981 |
12,115 |
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1981 |
851 |
| 1982 |
8,984 |
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1982 |
1,035 |
| 1983 |
9,613 |
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1983 |
1,076 |
| 1984 |
11,559 |
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1984 |
1,170 |
| 1985 |
12,637 |
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1985 |
1,054 |
| 1986 |
14,275 |
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1986 |
1,427 |
| 1987 |
13,563 |
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1987 |
1,660 |
| 1988 |
12,591 |
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1988 |
1,763 |
| 1989 |
9,891 |
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1989 |
2,565 |
| 1990 |
7,615 |
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1990 |
2,389 |
| 1991 |
5,401 |
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1991 |
1,730 |
| 1992 |
n/a |
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1992 |
1,019 |
| 1993 |
n/a |
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1993 |
511 |
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1994 |
5 |
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1995 |
2 |
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Source: VWoA &
"A1_Lover" of VWvortex.com |
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Source:
vwgolfmk1.co.uk & VAG UK |
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| Fact
or Fiction? |
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Myth: The
Volkswagen Golf I Cabriolet is just a Golf I hatchback with its roof chopped
off.
Fact: The Volkswagen Golf I Cabriolet is of uni-body
construction (with reinforcements welded in) built entirely at the Karmann
factory, from stamping to final assembly. Volkswagen supplied the engine,
suspension, interior, etc. for Karmann to install. The Karmann badges exist
on all Cabriolets to pay tribute to the company that built the cars;
therefore, there is no such thing as a "Karmann Edition".
Myth:
European Volkswagen Golf Cabriolets had a diesel engine as an option.
Fact:
Research shows that diesel engines were never a factory option for
the Golf I Cabriolet.
Myth:
The Volkswagen Golf I Cabriolet is a Type 1, Type 17, Type 19, etc.
Fact:
The Golf I Cabriolet is, in fact, a Type 155.
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| Names |
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Model Year |
Chassis |
USA Name |
Canada Name |
Europe Name |
UK Moniker |
Europe Moniker |
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1980 - 1984 |
A1 |
Rabbit Convertible |
Rabbit Convertible |
Golf Cabriolet |
Mk1 cabrio |
Golf I cabrio |
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1985 - 1987 |
A1 |
Cabriolet |
Cabriolet |
Golf Cabriolet |
Mk1 cabrio |
Golf I cabrio |
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1988 - 1993 |
A1 |
Cabriolet |
Golf Cabriolet |
Golf Cabriolet |
Mk1 Clipper cabrio |
Golf I cabrio |
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1995 - 1999 |
A3 |
Cabrio |
Cabrio |
Golf Cabriolet |
Mk3 cabrio |
Golf III cabrio |
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1999.5 - 2002 |
A3 |
Cabrio |
Cabrio |
Golf Cabriolet |
Mk4 cabrio |
Golf IV cabrio |
NOTES:
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Golf is pronounced "gulf".
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Volkswagen/Karmann never built a Golf
Cabriolet on the A2 chassis.
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A Mk2 Golf Cabriolet does not exist unless an
individual chopped the roof off of a Mk2 Golf hatchback.
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"Cabriolet" is French for "convertible" and,
therefore, "cabrio" is just like saying "'vert". Using "cabrio" (with a
lowercase "c") is not incorrect, but those in North America posting on
Volkswagen forum sites should be prepared to be badgered by those who are
language ignorant due to Volkswagen's ingenious idea of naming the A3 Golf
convertible "Cabrio" in the States. When posting about your car on these
car forums, always use the year of your car and do not capitalize the "c"
and, if necessary, post
this picture (or a link to it) of a German dealer brochure to prove
that you're correct in using the word.
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Please see the models
page for further name information.
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| What
the monikers mean |
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A1
is the official Volkswagen chassis designation given to the first generation
Golf/Rabbit convertible. All of these convertibles are A1 chassis
cars.
Mk1 (pronounced "mark one") is a
British moniker meaning "version" (referring to the car's body
style) given to the first generation Golf/Rabbit
convertible. All 1979-1993 Golf/Rabbit convertibles are Mk1s; the 1988-1993
Cabriolets are usually referred to as "Mk1 Clippers" to distinguish the
later models.
Golf I is the
European moniker used to distinguish the generations. All 1979-1993
Golf/Rabbit convertibles are Golf I generation cars.
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| Are
Cabriolets "chick/gay cars"? |
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The single-most annoying, immature and, yes, stupid
question asked on Cabriolet Forums. If you'd like to incite a riot,
go ahead and ask this question for the hundredth time on the forums; however,
right here and now, this question is being answered on behalf of forum
members, in the hopes of putting this juvenile question/theory in its
grave:
NO!!!!!
"If you think your
cabriolet looks "gay" then you aren't trying hard enough to appreciate
your car and/or to do the work needed to make it look nice(er). If this
is the case, do the community a favor and not buy a cabriolet... "
"...if you think your
car is "Gay" get rid of it now. I had no problem with my car, it was great
fun and I never cared what others thought."
"Drive what YOU like.
If you drive cars based on what OTHER people think, you're living a pretty
pitiful life."
"I am a guy and love
my cabby. I think there are more guys in this forum that have cabbies than
girls. I think it is a great car (helps me get girls). I am also secure
about my sexuality no matter what my friends say."
"These cars are chick
magnets!! I get a lot compliments from the female types."
"Chick cars? Only if a
chick owns one!"
"Who cares what cars
are labeled as (insecure men have this incessant need to label every damn
thing that goes against the male "norm")? If YOU like the car, get it --
YOUR opinion is all that matters."
"Seriously, if this
immature nonsense is a consideration in a potential purchase then perhaps
this car is not for you."
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