Older automobiles that show mismatched colors across different panels are often the result of damaged sheet metal being replaced with pieces from another vehicle, sometimes sourced from a salvage yard, or a customized exterior envisioned by someone who appreciates patchwork quilts and Neapolitan ice cream. It may be hard to imagine, but this 1996 Golf GL Harlequin here on Craigslist was actually assembled by Volkswagen in the plethora of hues it displays, and it’s also quite a rarity in the VW marketplace. This highly unusual hatchback is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and comes with an asking price of $12,000. Tony Primo, thanks for sending us such a colorful tip here!
The story goes that the inspiration for this Golf came a year earlier, when VW issued a European-only Mk3 Polo in a variety of colors, also known as the Harlequin. After an initial run of 20, an additional 3,000 units were produced. However, when the same concept was applied to the Golf in ’96, the North American Volkswagen plant in Pueblo, Mexico, apparently cranked out just 264, with the seller telling us his is example #94.
These cars all started out as a single color, which can be identified by looking at either the roof, quarter panels, or rockers. Workers then began swapping panels around that featured an assortment of hues, and not all of the outcomes matched, so there are different variations of these running around with miscellaneous exterior appearances. Although this one has a few minor body blunders and a large collection of stickers on the back, I’m not spotting any obvious corrosion on the sheet metal, so it’s probably got a strong foundation if the future owner chooses to make some repairs outside.
Kudos to VW for continuing the amusing theme for passengers, as the seats also feature fabric with some similar colors as found on the exterior. Fortunately, the condition here seems excellent overall, with the airbag section on the right side of the dash showing a bit of light wear. The window tint is bubbling, so just scraping the film off would be a quick and free improvement that would instantly make this one look a lot better.
The owner says the power comes from a 2.0-liter fuel-injected inline-4 engine, which most potential buyers will be grateful is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. This one’s been driven 169k miles, but the seller assures us it’s been regularly maintained, though he reports that rodents have chewed some of the wiring. The rarity and unusual nature of this 1996 Golf Harlequin make it desirable, at least to some, and I’m kind of finding this one fun and whimsical. How about you?
Cool find!
Wouldn’t mind driving this, depending on what effects the chewed wiring have had on various electrical components (I’m a big believer in “trust but verify). The stickers and tint would be the first to go, then I’d just clean it up and head out to make people smile.
Didn’t know these were ever offered in the U.S. I’ve only ever seen one, and that was in Germany.
If nothing else, it would drive the paint shop crazy if you took it in for a respray.
Ray T- I too think the stickers need to go. They make it too ‘busy’ looking.
!2 grand for a beater status Golf Harlequin… wow!! At least it is rust free.
The only Harlequin cars in Germany were Polos.
5sp is practically mandatory on most VWs. Fun drivers cars.
Don’t understand how removing the window tint makes the car look better. Take it off to put new tint on especially if you live in Florida. They don’t call it the sunshine state for nothing. Over 100 degrees and no clouds today. Looks like a fun car to me.
What clown would pay 12K for this car? See what I did there….
I agree with taking the window tint off but then I would put the darkest tint available back on it so people couldn’t see it was me driving a car like this.
Why? I am guessing you drive a boring Volvo or Mazda. Dave life is too short to drive boring cars
How many Volkswagens is this? I like these, makes the roads more entertaining.
If I remember right they were built for the Atlanta Olympics. Made in two different color patterns.
Four, same number as the colors used. I’m not sure if they were built as solid teal, deep blue, red and yellow cars and the body parts literally swapped around at a Cars and Concepts/ASC-type facility or there was some other reason they had the same number of each panel in each color as though they had done that.
Didn’t I see this car on Sesame Street?
With a bit of wiring repair, and body work this would be great for the radwood car shows. I would have fun driving it unlike a few of the other people who commented here. To them I say life is too short to drive boring cars!!!!!!!!
Burning Man, here I come!
Easier on the eyes than a ’69 Pace Car. lol.
Two point slow.
There’s one for sale in West Virginia that is very similar for a whole lot less.
For the US market they only made 264. I can see why!!!
I should have mentioned that there was one in St Petersburg Florida. That was my first realization of it and I researched immediately. Actually, it is a funny idea, not at my age, but it would have been fun in High School.
Looks like a “Copart Special” rather than a Harlequin!
What color goes on registration? Would love to drive this near the World Cup game in Boston today!!
Clearly they missed the opportunity for a United Colors of Benetton collab on this one.
Volkswagen built a total of ~4,070 factory Harlequin models, primarily spanning two different production runs. The multi-colored cars were created by intentionally swapping out base panels (doors, hoods, and fenders) between four different paint colors. Here is the breakdown by model and market: Volkswagen Polo Harlekin: ~3,806 built. Originally intended as a 1,000-unit promotional run, the European Polo was so popular that VW ultimately produced nearly 3,800 units over a three-year period. Volkswagen Golf Harlequin: 264 built. Following the Polo’s success, North America received a limited batch of the larger Mk3 Golf, assembled at VW’s plant in Puebla, Mexico. Volkswagen Beetle Harlequin: Exceptionally rare (exact numbers unknown). VW also produced a very small niche run of Harlequin Beetles for the Mexican market. Source: Das Internet, nein?
Mexico made 141 air cooled beetles as harlequin models too. Based on yellow shells.
At least it is a manual! What do you say when you see this car drive by. I think it was a blue or green or yellow or red VW that drove by.
Just a glaring reminder of how boring the white, black, silver, and charcoal gray color choices of today’s vehicles are.
Correct!
Actually Volkswagen started doing this for dealerships to display the various colors available for a particular year. You’re going to vision it better in person on a car that in a printed brochure.
I visited a dealership in mid 80s to look at a GTI and I remember seeing one in corner of the showroom.
Actually one now out front of a dealership in Bernardsville nj.
Atleast it was 2 months ago.
Instant clown car.
Shirley Partridge’s between-gigs car.
Harlequin Golf – what a novel idea!