The big story

Rising VW Golf GTI values

Every so often a landmark comes along, and creates its own market segment. It’ll be copied by other car makers, but as is so often the case, the original is best.

The Golf GTI MkI kicked off the whole hot hatchback market segment. Offering great performance and great handling but – more importantly – the versatility of a compact family car, it was a winner – perhaps in ways that even the VW marketing department hadn’t anticipated.

But where do Golf GTI MkIs fit into today’s market? To the newcomers, looking to buy their first classic, the first-generation performance Golf is an old car, and probably even feels like one. It lacks later hot hatchbacks’ kick-in-theback power, but still offers a lively turn-of-speed and great handling.

South Western Vehicle Auctions’ Chris Holmes says: ‘I had the great pleasure driving one of these amazing cars on a test day, back in 1975. It was the very first hot hatch to hit the tarmac with immediate acclaim from the motoring press. The other makes chased their tails trying to play catch up.

‘The market is strong right across the hot hatch spectrum but the GTI MkI will always have the edge over its rivals. An excellent example I would tip as a good investment for now and the future.’

First-generation Golf GTIs might remain prized by a strong VW movement, but it has been overshadowed by recent interest in fast Fords and the Peugeot 205 GTI.

That slightly lower-profile image doesn’t do the model any harm, but the finest cars are likely to strengthen in value to levels some might have thought impossible just two or three years ago.

Classic Car Auctions’ general manager, Gary Dunne, says: ‘The Golf GTI is the original hot hatch and is finally seeing values start to move upwards, as is reflected across the VW range. It is still true to say that only the very, very best cars are the ones that will attract astronomical numbers, and I believe the very best Golf

GTIs may well start to attract Audi quattro levels soon.’

‘They may attract quattro values soon’

That prophecy could be just around the corner, as a low-mileage, fine order 1976 Golf L was away for £10,120. If that price was achievable on an (albeit very early) base model, could Gary Dunne’s predictions for the halo model come to fruition sooner rather than later?