Polo Driver

On 3 July 2010, Volkswagen Classic (the company’s ‘heritage’ division) sent 12 teams to compete in the Youngtimer Tour 2010, a 220km-long road rally organised by German motor magazine Auto Zeitung. Seventy teams took part in the circular run to the Nürburgring from Euskirchen and among Volkswagen’s entries were an example of the stylish Porsche 914 (we’re big fans of the chunky 1970s VW/Porsche baby here at PoloDriver) and a 1973 Apal Buggy. The bulk of the company’s entires were made up of early VWs, though, with old Golfs, Passats and even a K70 joining a classic Polo. Nestled in the exhibits at the Volkswagen exhibition at the Euskirchen start and finish venue were the Eco Racer concept from 2005 and the Golf GTI W12 from 2007.

Only cars built between 1969 and 1990 were eligible to take part in the Youngtimer Tour 2010, and all of Volkswagen’s teams completed the event, the K70 of Volkswagen Executive Vice President Dr Rudolf Krebs, Plant Manager of Salzgitter (and Manager of the brand’s Future for Electric Vehicles division) crossing the line in third place overall. The more modern era of the Volkswagen Group was represented by a Lamborghini Jalpa, a Series 2 VW Scirocco, and a Skoda Fabia vRS. It’s not the first time Volkswagen has entered vintage Polos into road rally events; in 2005 it entered two older examples of its supermini on the Hamburg to Wolfsburg Creme 21 Youngtimer Rallye (pictured above), both of which were taken from the AutoMuseum Volkswagen.

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Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen is a special place for Volkswagen fans. Tucked away from the global headquarters of the German giant in a side street in Wolfsburg, its long been a mecca for Volkswagen enthusiasts. How long? 2010 marks 25 years since the innocent-looking building opened its doors to the public, and laid bare its secrets for all to see. Jam-packed to its industrial rafters are Volkswagen Group models of all shapes and sizes, most of them prototypes which have rarely been on public view. A sizable chunk are Beetles of the air-cooled variety, but there really is something for everyone. There’s now more than a handful of Polos, including a Series 1 of 1975, a pair of record-breaking G40 Polo coupés from 1985, and the very first Series 3 Polo from the production line in 1994.

To celebrate Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen’s quarter of a century, its doors are open for a special ‘25 years AutoMuseum Volkswagen’ exhibition. Running until 19 September 2010, it worships the car’s ever-changing role in the culture, economic, social and technological arenas and celebrates its contribution since 1985. Twenty-five specially-selected exhibits tell the story, and to ensure that visitors can see all the jewels in Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen’s crown, its opening hours have been extended. Now accepting visits from 10am to 6pm, if you find yourself visiting the ‘Volkswagen town’ of Wolfsburg, make sure you take a trip to Dieselstrasse. Although there’s a new, purpose built and brilliant car museum – the ‘Zeithaus’ – at nearby VW theme park AutoStadt, you just might uncover something extra special at Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen…

• Keep visiting PoloDriver for a series of features on the different Polo exhibits in Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen

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The three letters G, T and I have played an important part in Volkswagen’s history for the past 34 years, and have earned respect from critics and enthusiasts the world over. Huge armies of devoted fans across the globe follow the performance Volkswagens (us at PoloDriver.com included), and events such as GTI International cater for these specific interests. Beginning as a small meeting of Golf GTI enthusiasts in 1988 at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, the ‘UK’s greatest gathering of of VW and Audi enthusiasts’ is now traditionally run at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Leicestershire over the last weekend in June.

[Click 'Read More' below for gallery of pictures at end of post.]

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The VW show scene is so diverse. One week there’s a national show, the next a local event, the next an international or continental gathering. Stanford Hall started our season this year, but this weekend we took in a more local event closer to home. The Essex Vee Dubbers club have organised the Battlesbridge VW Weekend Show for a while now, and as it was only 10 miles or so down the road, it would have been criminal if we hadn’t given it a look. With show ‘n’ shine and concours classes both days, we were hoping there would be some a good Polo turnout.

Staged in fields at the back of Battlesbridge Antiques Centre in Battlesbridge, Essex, the Essex Vee Dubbers show attracts cars and traders galore, if not quite on the same scale as Stanford Hall. With air-cooled and water-cooled Volkswagen of all types in attendance, there were a fair number of Polos on display both in the car park and the main show arena. Local club Renegade Dubs were there, as well as VW retailer Inchcape Chelmsford, who took along a smart-looking new Polo fitted with an optional body kit and large alloy wheels. Click on the gallery below for a small slideshow.

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The first Bank Holiday in May means only one thing to VW enthusiasts of a classic persuasion; Stanford Hall. The long-running Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Owners Club show has kicked off many enthusiasts’ seasons for the last 34 years and is usually blessed with good weather. This year wasn’t quite so good on that front (in fact, at times it was very cold), but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the owners who brought their classic Volkswagens to the grounds of Stanford Hall itself, just outside Lutterworth.

Traditionally a show with an air-cooled bias, the water-cooled fraternity have been embraced in recent years and 2009’s event saw something of a Polo coming, with the forming of a dedicated single-model concours class. It was the same again this year. The field may have been a little down on 2009 with only four cars vying for points, but 2010’s competition threw up a few surprises. One of which, was Nathan Popple’s 1986 Polo C hatchback, which has appeared on the scene after being liberated by a selling elderly owner. Not the first choice for a concours car you may think, but for a first time out, the low-mileage ‘breadvan’ picked up a respectable 108 points out of 150.

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