PoloDriver.com Performance Polo Special: Issue 1, Series 1 Polo GT 1979-1981

Performance Polo Special Issue 001 // March 2011

HISTORY //

Sport for all

The history of the performance Polo Series 1 Polo GT 1979-1981

The first generation Series 1 Polo GT 1979-1981 Every Polo generation has had a sporting model in its range, from the Series 1 GT of 1979 to the latest Series 5 GTI. And although the larger Golf GTI has always overshadowed it, the sporting Polos have long offered poke on a much more affordable budget. In a series of special issues, we celebrate the sporting Polo’s development. First up, the Series 1 GT of 1979

I

WORDS // rich gooding pictures // volkswagen group

t is well documented that the Volkswagen Polo was presented to the public in Hannover in March of 1975, and was a low‑cost and lower‑equipped version of the Audi 50. But, what is less well known is that the sporting Polo was first born in 1979, and that the 32

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years that the ‘performance’ Polo has been around is almost as long as that of the iconic Golf GTI. Flushed with success and adulation from the hot Golf’s launch in 1976, VW took the opportunity to launch a sports variant of the Polo when the

‘The sporting Polo was first born in 1979 – it’s almost as old as the Golf GTI.’ page 03 | polodriver.com | Polo 1 GT sport for all

car was facelifted for the 1980 model year. Making a ‘hot’ Polo was easy – the car only weighed 685kg, and so a powerful, large‑capacity engine wasn’t needed. The engineers took the 1272cc, 60bhp unit that was already giving service in the range-topping GLS version on the Continent – UK GLS cars had a 1093cc 50bhp engine fitted, the three-box notchback Derby having the more powerful version sometime later – and installed it into the GT. By adding sporting addenda and interior trim, the ‘performance’ Polo was born.

Sporty (from top): Polo 1 GT featured special badge on rear hatch, front grille and steering wheel; racy red-accented seats; black and red steel wheels and chin spoiler. Optional kit included bonnet vent and twin-light grille

Destined only to be sold on the Continent, and therefore not produced in right-hand drive, the GT posted a 0-62mph time of 12.9 seconds and a top speed of 95mph. The model was introduced to the public at the Frankfurt motor show in September 1979, with customer deliveries beginning at the end of that year.

Extra equipment over the GLS included a front chin spoiler, red‑trimmed grille borrowed from big brother Golf GTI, red and black painted steel wheels with wider 155/70 SR 13 tyres, ‘GT’ badges

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Technical specification

on the front grille and rear tailgate, and special ‘GT’ side stripes – again, a feature borrowed from the hot Golf. Interior changes included a ‘GT’ emblem steering wheel, a rev‑counter, red‑trimmed instruments, and very bright racy red‑striped seats. As with that original Golf GTI, the Polo GT was only available in Black, White, Mars Red, and Diamond Silver Metallic.

The Series 1 Polo GT was produced for two years, until the introduction of the boxy Series 2 model in October 1981 – once again at the Frankfurt motor show.

Model VW Polo GT (1979) Displacement (cc)/cylinders 1272/4 Power output 60bhp @ 5600pm Maximum torque 70lb ft @ 3400rpm Carburettor Single down-draught with single choke Transmission Front-wheel drive, four-speed manual Top speed (mph) 95 0-62mph (seconds) 12.9 Braking system Diagonally split circuit with discs (front); self‑adjusting drums (rear) Running gear Independent with MacPherson struts, coil springs, single track control arm, anti‑roll bar (front axle); torsion beam with trailing arms and coil springs (rear axle) Steering Self-adjusting rack and pinion with negative roll radius Wheels 4.5J x 13 pressed steel Tyres 155/70 SR 13 Unladen weight (kg) 685 Dimensions (l, w, h, 2mm) 3510/1560/1344 Track (front/rear, mm) 1296/1312 Wheelbase (mm) 2335 page 05 | polodriver.com | Polo 1 GT sport for all

Everything Volkswagen Polo

Next issue Series 2 Polo GT and G40 1982-1994 Visit polodriver.com/heritage for the full history of the Volkswagen Polo