The 1996 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin was a special edition model where each vehicle was given a single base color and panels with various other colors. This quirky variant may have confused the car buying public at the time, but they are sought after these days, as seen by this rough example Barn Finds user Cheato found here on eBay. Located in Andover, New Jersey, this Harlequin uses a Pistachio Green base color – a color that was otherwise unavailable on U.S. market Golf models.
Nobody knows the exact number of Golf Harlequins that Volkswagen produced, but most speculate there are between 250 and 275 examples in total. Of course, there is a registry documenting known details about the existing Harlequin models, but a VIN search of the registry does not reveal any information about this example.
Each Harlequin uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 115 horsepower. This example has covered over 200,000 miles, as it was once used by an auto parts store as its delivery vehicle. It will also need a catalytic converter in order to pass inspection in its home state, as well as other “TLC” – the advertisement did not specify what that entails.
Due to its past life as a parts hauler, the seller describes this Golf Harlequin as “well driven.” There is rust and rot forming on the rockers, the wheel wells, near the rear doors, on the front fenders, and the hood too.
The trunk? You guessed it, a rotted mess, and a Grateful Dead sticker to boot. The Harlequin also has an exclusive interior upholstery theme, but unfortunately, the seller did not provide any pictures of the interior. However, this photo does show that the rear seat is still a Harlequin-exclusive bit.
Astonishingly, at the time of this article being written, bidding for this Harlequin is at $5,000 USD. There’s no beating around the bush – this example is in sorry shape, and the ad provides little insight into what problems it may hide. Despite that, this is undoubtedly a piece of Volkswagen history that deserves saving. Do you see potential in this rusty Harlequin, or would you pass it up?
Ze Germans cuttin’ loose and gettin’ wacky. This is possibly the only car that can properly wear Ronal Teddy Bears.
Rust is a color, too. Extra rare.
Growing up in Toronto in the 80’s Harlequin was a fine local bar band.
https://youtu.be/WW9r3YPm-QM
and in toronto just north of it is richmond hill ontario which is filled with chinese people lots of there women drove these ugly things and later those scoin square box contraptions
The owner has good taste in music….✌
I pass this every day. Had no idea it was for sale. Out of my price range for sure.
There should be a Neil Young sticker on the back, too, because-you know-Rust Never Sleeps!
Here in EU we only have them in Polo version. They are so ugly imo.
Crush them all
264 Golf Harlekin were (exclusively) built for the American and Canadian market.
First the cars were built in plain colors and then the corresponding parts were changed by hand.
Actually the idea came from the marketing department who had built 20 VW Polos as harlequin models for advertising purposes. It was just stupid that the customers also wanted to buy this car. 3806 pieces later Mr. Piech pulled the plug (although it’s a miracle that he allowed this at all).
This would be very useful if you got in a wreak you replace the panels without even painting them.
I would not want this vehicle representing my auto parts store.
Partridge Family scout car.
Usually when I buy a used car, one of my first purchases is a bottle of touch-up paint. With this VW, that purchase might exceed the total cost of buying the car in the first place! Now, “Gimme an R…. gimme a U…. gimme an S…. gimme a T… what does it spell?…..”
Back when I was on the job a couple of guys robbed a liquor store in a black Impala with a white Hood and a beige door they got caught about two blocks away
Reminds me of the car from an old Mopar ad.
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/wild-1970-plymouth-barracuda-famous-muscle-car-never-existed/
during the Atlanta Olympics there were 20 of these parked at a VW dealership out next to the road. I remember they had sponsorship signs on them , I thought they were Swatch or Polo or someone like that. The dealer got the cars from VW
with a diagram of what parts went to what cars and the body shop changed them in house. they had trouble with the VIN numbers not matching and VW sent them new vins to put on the parts. On guy in our shop, after them sitting there about three weeks was asked what he thought about them and he said he never say them. Can you imagine a red light that you have to sit thru at least 3 cycles In the morning and never seeing 20 of these sitting across the street? I just remembered they had Benetton logos on the windshield
Harlequin is a popular (my fav) strain of high CBD/THC ratio medical cannabis. Drove my ’85 Golf by one of these head-turners in a VW dealer showroom back in ’96 when in Santa Barbara, CA for a cycling race. Wanted one ever since.