The year 2024 is all about celebrating half a century of the VW Golf. A GroupForum exhibition traces the history of the iconic vehicle from its beginnings to the present day, marking this great achievement and the archetypal all-rounder now in its eighth iteration driving all over the roads of the world.

BEGINNINGS – THE DAWN OF AN ERA

How did it all start back in 1974? Our exhibition tour starts with a Golf I surrounded by the mood of the world as it was in the seventies; this model comes from our ZeitHaus automobile museum collection. Wall designs depict some of the major events back in the day such as the 1974 World Cup and inauguration of Helmut Schmidt as the Chancellor of Germany. A display case shows the initial Giorgetto Giugiaro design sketch as well as the Golf logo lettering used in generations one to eight.

DEPENDABLE COMPANION

The model showcased in this area is a second-generation Golf Cabriolet from 2002. Audiovisual displays show Golf drivers telling their stories from “Generation Golf.” This is all about the Golf as a versatile, practical, and dependable partner in any life situation.

PERFORMANCE – THE GOLF AS A SPORTS HATCH

The W12 special edition from the ZeitHaus museum makes for an especially eye-catching exhibit. We couldn’t do justice to the Communities, Tuning and Motorsport topic without the Golf GTI. The exhibit presents all kinds of interesting info on the GTI – its aesthetics as well as hard facts and figures – from its beginnings to the present day. Also on display, Rheila Golf sponsorship and the TCR racing series have been two of many manifestations accompanying the Golf in motorsports. This is also where we cover the R models – their unique look alongside fascinating facts and figures about the R models, and how they developed from the initial R32, all presented on wall displays.

GOLF GOES GLOBAL – INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND HIGHLIGHTS

The fifth part of the exhibition looks at how the Golf developed into a bestselling world icon. A central LED wall display showcases a selection of commercials from international markets. This exhibit also showcases special vehicles, highlights, and milestones in Golf history. There is a comfy corner to relax and watch the exhibition. A showcase displays various exhibits from international golf production such as Rabbit manuals and car parts. The model on display in this area is a blue Citi Golf.

FINGER ON THE PULSE – THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AFTER HALF A CENTURY

Our journey into Golf history ends in the here-and-now. The original Golf 8R that took part in the Ice Race in Zell am See in January 2024 provides a vivid depiction of what fifty years of development has led to. This Golf model is staged a winter-themed “ice tunnel” exhibit displaying snapshots from the Ice Race and Ice Experience – ideal for taking photographs to take home and add to your own personal Golf story.