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Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet as a 50th birthday gift: Ron Jongenelen and his 1981 GLS
The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is one of those cars that has been around for decades without losing its place on the streets of enthusiasts. For Ron Jongenelen from Zoetermeer, it even became a very concrete birthday present: when he turned fifty in 2014, the idea of an electric bicycle was taken off the table and replaced by an open-top Volkswagen. It was a 1981 Volkswagen Cabrio 1.5 GLS.
That choice didn't come out of nowhere. Jongenelen primarily wanted to drive and already owned a car with a roof. Moreover, it had to remain affordable. That ruled out a large part of the classic car world, but the Golf Cabriolet turned out to be within reach. And not just any one: he was specifically looking for an example that was as original as possible, something that is not a given with this type. After all, there was plenty of aftermarket accessories for sale in the 1980s, and many convertibles have been modified over the course of their lives.
Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet: the 'strawberry basket' and the search
When you say Golf Cabriolet, you also say the fixed roll bar behind the front seats. That bar earned the car the nickname 'strawberry basket' and is simultaneously a key distinguishing feature of the model. The convertibles were built in Osnabrück by Karmann, which makes the car, for many enthusiasts, just a little more than an open version of an everyday Golf I.
Jongenelen made the selection primarily online, via Autotrader, Gaspedaal, and Marktplaats. Together with a friend knowledgeable in automotive technology, he viewed several cars, where the difference between the advertisement and reality sometimes turned out to be greater than hoped. Eventually, a silver-grey 1981 Golf 1.5 GLS Cabriolet came into view, featuring original Volkswagen alloy wheels. The car was located at a private seller in Enter. A viewing and test drive followed on a Saturday morning, after which the convertible was taken to Zoetermeer.
The first introduction on the road was immediately educational. Without power steering, maneuvering simply requires muscle power, and on the return journey via the A1, technical signals also presented themselves. Halfway through, the engine temperature warning light flashed intensely, while the temperature gauge showed no alarming value and the cooling fan did not switch on. To be on the safe side, the heater was turned up to full blast and a door window remained half open. At the same time, it was noticeable that the speedometer was erratic and showing too much. The kind of details you don't get from an advertisement, but do from the first few dozen kilometers.
Original enough, but not untouched
On closer inspection, the Golf turned out not to be entirely standard. It had a steering wheel from an early Golf GTI and a five-speed gearbox under the car. Such modifications can make the car more pleasant to drive, but they also clash with the pursuit of originality. It is precisely these trade-offs that make a Golf Cabriolet interesting: how far do you go back to the factory specifications, and what do you leave out simply because it works well in practice?
Quite a bit was known about the history. The convertible had been imported from Germany in 1998 and completely restored in 2009 by a former owner, with a photo report serving as documentation. However, it soon became apparent that there was work to be done after purchase. In the summer of 2014, the car was still parked outside under a lamppost in the street, and the convertible roof turned out not to be watertight. The first step was therefore very practical: a garage box in Zoetermeer, so that the Golf could be kept under cover from then on.
This was followed by maintenance befitting a classic without a conclusive service history: from checking the ignition and electrical contacts to changing fluids. During flushing with fresh coolant, the radiator was found to be leaking and was replaced, as was the timing belt. Later, work was carried out on the chassis and brakes, among other things, and rust was tackled with newly welded sills.
The exterior also reverted to the GLS in some respects, with choices that speak to both taste and the spirit of the times: less emphasis on 'styling', and a return to how the car was intended. Meanwhile, it remained primarily a utility classic, for summer drives, weekend getaways, and touring. Sometimes you get lucky: when the clutch cable broke at the end of a tour, it turned out a new cable could be ordered and installed yourself for less than 15 euros.
The full piece is in the April issue of Auto Motor Klassiek, now on sale.
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You can find more photos below.
Keeping a Golf convertible like this original seems like almost the hardest part to me; everyone has tinkered with it at some point. I'm curious how much of that '80s accessory' is actually still fitted from the factory on this one.
I always wonder if a 1.5 is still reasonably quick with the roof down and two people on board, or if you mainly have to shift gears a lot to keep up.
Strawberry basket remains a top nickname.
My father had one like that for about four years. I learned to drive in it too. This is the nicest version, without any frills. The facelifts were misses, with thicker body-colored bumpers and ugly grilles.
The Golf 1 is (just like the 2) a monument like the Beetle, 4L, Mini, and 2CV, with something for everyone. Unfortunately, they are becoming too expensive for small budgets.