Volkswagen Golf GTI British Version Cabriolet 1984 Car | COBI 24661 – Action Town 1:35

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI BRITISH VERSION CABRIOLET 1984 MODEL | COBI 24661 

A model kit of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet with right-hand drive, manufactured for the British market in the German city of Osnabrück. The car is finished in a rich blue colour with black stripes running along both sides. Behind the front seats is a roll-over protection bar designed to protect the occupants in the event of a rollover. The model is produced under the official license of Volkswagen AG.

Did you know?

The first generation of the classic VW Golf was introduced in 1974 as the successor to the VW Beetle. Since Volkswagen had no experience in designing modern convertibles, the company turned to its long-time partner, Karmann of Osnabrück. Karmann had been producing convertible versions of the Beetle since 1949 and was one of Europe's most respected convertible manufacturers.

Development began around 1976. Karmann engineers built several prototypes with different methods of reinforcing the bodywork. The greatest challenge was maintaining sufficient body rigidity after removing the roof. To ensure safety, the sills, floor, windscreen frame and other structural parts of the body had to be strengthened. The result was the distinctive fixed roll-over bar between the front and rear seats. It significantly increased body stiffness while also providing protection in the event of the vehicle rolling over.

Series production began in 1979, with the Cabriolet initially offered with 1.5- and 1.6-litre engines. In 1983, an upgraded 1.8-litre engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection was introduced. For the 1984 model year, this engine became the basis of the British GTI Cabriolet.

Vehicles destined for the United Kingdom were built on the same production line as other European models. Only during final assembly were they fitted with components that met British regulations and market requirements. The main differences included right-hand drive, headlights designed for left-side traffic, and instruments with a speedometer calibrated in miles per hour, accompanied by a smaller km/h scale. The dashboard and controls also featured English-language labels. Once production was complete, the vehicles were transported from Osnabrück to the ports and then shipped by sea to the United Kingdom, from where they were distributed to Volkswagen dealerships.

The VW Golf GTI Cabriolet was produced exclusively for the British market. Elsewhere in Europe, the Golf Cabriolet was sold with minor modifications under the name GLI. In the United States and Canada, it was marketed first as the VW Rabbit Convertible and later as the VW Cabriolet. This makes the 1984 British Golf GTI Cabriolet truly unique. It's not only the right-hand drive that sets it apart – the United Kingdom was the only market in the world where Volkswagen officially sold the first-generation Golf Cabriolet under the "GTI" name.

Technical specifications: 

• Vehicle length – 3,820 mm
• Vehicle width – 1,620 mm
• Wheelbase – 2,400 mm
• Body style – two-door convertible
• Seating capacity – 4
  
• Front-wheel drive
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Engine – 1,871 cm³, 8V, 82 kW
• Top speed – 174 km/h
• Fuel tank capacity – 55 L
• Combined fuel consumption – 8–9 L/100 km

An unnamed British motoring journalist once said about the Cabriolet:

"...A beautiful car... but it looks as though someone forgot to remove the handle from a shopping trolley."

About the COBI model kit: 

• COBI model kit 24661 consists of 93 high-quality ABS building bricks
• Action Town collection, 1:35 scale
• Pad printed – no stickers
• Authentic detailing
• Made in the EU
• Compatible with other major building brick brands