With spring well sprung and summer just around the corner, how about a fun little convertible? Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this 1991 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet Etienne Aigner Edition is available here on Hemmings for $7,500 or best offer. Thanks to Boot for the tip!
The Golf Cabriolet is an interesting car from a number of perspectives. In 1974, Volkswagen introduced the Mk 1 Golf as a successor to the venerable Beetle. It represented a radical shift from tradition: an abrupt transition from rear-mounted, rear-wheel drive, and air-cooled to front-mounted, front-wheel drive, and radiator-required. Despite a relatively lukewarm reception when it arrived on American shores in 1975, the car was a sensation in its home market and rejuvenated the Volkswagen brand, setting the company on the path to becoming the automotive juggernaut that it is today. Small wonder, then, that the Karmann factory approached Wolfsburg as early as 1976 with a convertible version. With minor alterations, this would become the Mk1 Golf Cabriolet: a convertible so good that it would outlast its parent car by two generations.
This example from 1991 is one of the later Mk1’s, having received the benefit of incremental upgrades. Equipped with a transversely-mounted 1.8L inline-four that was good for 94 hp, the car would have been capable of a 0 to 60 time in around 11.6 seconds… if not for that automatic transmission. The car looks to have been treated well, and there is little sign of rust or major damage. The interior appears to be worn but serviceable, but here is the first fly in the ointment: while the Etienne Aigner edition would have been an interesting option package in 1991, today it’s not going to be easy to get new upholstery to match the old.
All together, this car appears to be a nice example of one of the most popular convertibles ever to exist– a perfect recipe for fun in the sun. With such a long run for the Mk1, most parts are plentiful and relatively inexpensive, and fuel economy isn’t to bad, either. If you are shopping for a car to take to the kids to the beach or for romantic moonlight drives, this might really fit the bill.
Now, with that out of the way, let’s talk about an engine swap, brake upgrades, and getting rid of that automatic…
Pronounced “Eh-Tee-Enn Ahn-Yay”, not “E-Tie-Een Egg-Ner” FYI.
Carry on….
I like “ag-nur”. There is a burg/merlot colored Aigner for sale in central Indiana for $3,500. The subject car looks like fun but I believe the wheels are incorrect.
Well spotted, here in Europe these editions had flat faced 7 hole alloys. I have never seen one in the UK .
Thank you! Not too proud to admit I never knew how to pronounce the trim level, even when these were on the dealer lots.
“Folks-Vahgen Ca-Bree-O-Lay”
Please continue.
Thank you so much. I’d hate to get that wrong while wrenching in the garage.
I remember these along with the triple black and triple white editions as VW was trying to keep the mark 1 Rabbit alive until the Mark 3 cabriolet came out. A lot were fitted with automatic transmissions, power windows, cruise control, power locks. I got a 87 for my sister. It was a great car. Fun to drive with the GTI mechanicals and a real pleasure to drive on the back roads with the top down. I always wanted to stuff a 2.0 16V engine in one but the opportunity never came. Not a fan of the designer editions though.
Wheels look like off a stock E30
They are
Bought my son a 89 cabriolet. White on white. I think I love it more than him. But he seldom let’s me near it.
When you just have to have the fanciest “B#tch-Basket” on the block 😂