Event: Volkswagen Owner's Day
A little while ago I was invited down to Volkswagen’s head office in Milton Keynes for their VW Club Member's Day.
Invitations were sent out to Volkswagen employees, VW club members and anyone from the press, especially those who either owned a Volkswagen or currently had a VW press vehicle on loan. I had the Amarok Trans Americana on loan, and have the Bugster, a 1970 VW based Doon beach buggy at home, so I fitted the bill.
Wandering inside the showroom, I was confronted with some very special and rare classics.
In the far corner sat the ‘Hulk’ Touran from the Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift film. Interestingly, Volkswagen Group Paint and Body apprentices were invited to revive this car during National Apprentice Week (6-10th February 2023). It was an opportunity to showcase their final-year project challenge by restoring it.
The Volkswagen Touran 'Hulk' that was originally produced to support the press and marketing of the 2006 film, and is one of only three cars of its type in existence.
Sat next to the ‘Hulk was a Giorgetto Giugiaro styled Silver Green metallic 1981 Mk I Scirocco Storm 1.6-litre, and next to that sat a rather scruffy Beetle. Rumour has it that this was amongst the final production run for right-hand-drive Beetles made by Volkswagen in Germany back in 1977.
I’m not certain where it was stored, or found, but during its life almost all of its silver paintwork has been protected, and continues to be, by the original factory wax coating. It’s also never been driven on the road.
Further along sat a vehicle that I’ve never heard of before - the CitySTROMer. Inspired by the German word for 'current', which is ‘strom’, this is a fully electric Golf and one of only two built in right-hand drive - this is believed to be the only one remaining.
Both cars were sold to Southern Electric, with this example registered on 16 September 1985. Southern Electric sold it into the private car market in the mid-1990s and at that point a number of unauthorised modifications were made to the electrical components to modernise the car. That led to the motor failing under the additional strain. Volkswagen UK purchased the car in 2010, becoming the fourth keeper.
The CitySTROMer has a four-speed manual gearbox and at constant 31mph has a range of 50.3miles.
By the entrance is a stunning XL1 that’s powered by an 800cc TDI two-cylinder common rail diesel engine linked to an electric motor and produces 75 PS all-in.
The TDI is linked to an electric motor and a seven-speed direct-shift gearbox with an automatic clutch mounted between each unit. if and when required the electric motor can either work independently of the TDI engine or in tandem when accelerating.
Weighing in at just 795 kg, Volkswagen developed and patented a new system for the manufacture of the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) parts on the car called the Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) process. Despite being as long as a Volkswagen Polo its height (1,184 mm) is more akin to a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. It’s a fairly rare sight as only 200 vehicles were built at Dresden's Die Gläserne Manufaktur Factory.
It wasn’t long before the car park in front of the main building began to fill with classic VWs from campervans to Golfs. Amongst the latter in the Golf line up was Volkswagen UK PR boss, Mike Orford’s super-clean Mk2 Golf GTI 8, as well as beautifully maintained Phaeton, owned by another staff member (sorry, I didn't write down your name).
By now it was time to eat and drink, which also gave me the opportunity to sample Volkswagen’s best selling product - part number:199 398 500 A
I can sense that you’re confused, 'eating a part?'
The number is for Volkswagen's XXL Currywurst - which confusingly is not curry flavoured, and last year 6.81 million of them rolled off the production line at the firm's Wolfsburg factory, making it VW's best selling part!
I can happily state that it was rather tasty, and if you want to try these 25cm sausages for yourselves our favourite purveyors of authentic German Sausages - The Sausage Man does them. After a quick peek at the new Tiguan and a sneaky ice cream from pollys-parlour.co.uk I had another wander around the superb collection of cherished Volkswagens.
Unfortunately there were no beach buggies, it would have nice to have turned up in the Bugster, but I wouldn’t have relished the 3½ hour drive down the M6 with no roof or doors, and besides, she’s still languishing in my mechanic’s garage, clutchless.
And so it was, after another currywurst and cup of hot chocolate, I figured it was time to leave for home, the new Amarok did a mighty fine job of easing the constant stop / start traffic that added an extra hour and half onto my journey!
