Replacing the venerable Beetle was a daunting task for Volkswagen. The brand experimented with dozens of prototypes, many different drivetrain layouts, and numerous approaches to design ranging from evolutionary to revolutionary. The end result was the first Golf, which entered production in Wolfsburg, Germany, on March 29, 1974. In hindsight, the little hatchback was exactly the right car at the right time.
Volkswagen didn't set the template for the city car as we know it today. Lesser-known models, such as the Autobianchi Primula and the Simca 1100 , offered a transversally-mounted engine and a practical hatch before executives gave the Golf the proverbial green light for production. The brand deserves credit for improving and popularizing the concept, however.
America got the Golf without getting the Golf. Sales in the United States started for the 1975 model year, but Volkswagen gave the Beetle's successor the Rabbit nameplate. At launch, buyers could choose a two-door hatchback or a four-door hatchback. Power initially came from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 70 horsepower and 81 pound-feet of torque, though the 1976 model year brought a 1.6-liter four.
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