Volkswagen Classic presents early Golf GTI at LeJog rally

Volkswagen Classic highlights the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI with two early models shown after the LeJog rally. Discover the context and history.

Volkswagen Classic is opening the anniversary year marking 50 years of the Golf GTI with a gesture that goes beyond a static celebration. The brand is highlighting the model’s legacy through real-world endurance, combining a demanding historic rally with a public appearance at one of Europe’s most important classic car shows.

From 30 January to 1 February 2026, the Bremen Classic Motorshow will host two first-generation Golf GTI models that illustrate different sides of the icon. One is a rare 1979 Golf I GTI finished in Mars Red, preserved in an exceptionally original condition. The other is a 1983 Golf I GTI in black, shown with its authentic rally patina — exactly as it crossed the finish line after completing the legendary LeJog rally.

LeJog, short for Land’s End to John O’Groats, covers around 1,500 miles (approximately 2,400 kilometres) across the United Kingdom, running from the south-western tip of England to the far north of Scotland. Completed over just a few days, the route leads competitors along minor roads, through hills, remote areas and water crossings, turning the event into a demanding test of reliability rather than outright speed. Entering a near-production Golf I GTI into such conditions underlines the car’s versatility — a defining trait since its earliest days.

The Golf GTI made its debut in 1976 as a compact sports car producing 81 kW (110 PS). Originally planned as a limited run, it quickly exceeded all expectations, with demand multiplying in its first year alone. In total, 461,690 units of the first-generation Golf GTI were produced, forming the foundation of a model line that has since surpassed 2.5 million vehicles worldwide.

Focusing on the original GTI for the anniversary is a deliberate choice. The first generation not only shaped the idea of the sporty hatchback on the road, but also proved its resilience in competitive and endurance environments from the late 1970s onwards. The 1983 car displayed in Bremen, still wearing the marks of its LeJog journey, serves as tangible evidence that the GTI’s character was forged through use, not just design.

Both vehicles will be shown at Stand D08 in Hall 5 of the Bremen Classic Motorshow, an event traditionally regarded as the opening highlight of the classic car season and one that attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across Europe. Presented alongside Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Oldtimer, Audi Tradition and Autostadt Wolfsburg, the display places the Golf GTI firmly within the broader historical narrative of the Volkswagen Group.

The anniversary year has only just begun, but Volkswagen’s approach is already clear: the story of the Golf GTI is not limited to styling cues or production numbers. It is equally about durability, adaptability and the ability to master challenges such as LeJog — qualities that continue to define the GTI half a century after its launch.