Behind the name: VW Golf
In fact, everything is very clear. Or not at all?
Golf, Ibiza, A4: What is written on the back of the car sounds familiar to most people. VW Golf became VW Golf in 1974. Dot. But why is it called that? Where do the model names come from? After all, even abbreviations such as A4 or A5 have a certain meaning. From now on, the German edition of Motor decided to regularly shed light on this issue.
The idea for this arose when journalists on the site read in detail about the origin of the name in a book about the Ford Fiesta. Interesting and exciting topic. And what could be more obvious than the most popular car in Germany: the VW Golf.
Golf has been on the market for 46 years and is now in its eighth generation. As for his name, the explanation seems obvious: the inspiration comes from the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic or golf.
But, probably, not everything is so simple. In retrospect, the EA 337 project, which will be the first Golf, has several names to choose during the development phase. Blizzard is failing over the ski maker, and Caribe is allegedly being discussed as an option as well.
EA 337 prototype (left) and latest VW Golf I.
Russell Hayes notes in his book VW Golf Story that according to a note from a conversation in September 1973. For the world market, the name Pampero is considered, and for the American - Rabbit. Pampero is the name for a cold and stormy winter wind in South America, so it pairs well with the Passat and Scirocco winds. In fact, the Rabbit name was later used for golf in the US and Canadian markets.
Jens Meyer talks in detail about the VW Golf I "VW Golf 1 - Alles über die Auto-Legende aus Wolfsburg", which is worth reading: the company's board of directors agreed that numbers instead of a name are not suitable. As a result, they burden the marketing department with this task and let their head smoke. There are suggestions from the world of sports, music, even the names of gems. City? Continent? Universe? Or small predators such as weasels, goldfinches, lynxes or ferrets.
In early September 1973, people at the company were still thinking about the Scirocco name for the EA 337 (its sporty sibling would simply be called the Scirocco Coupe). Anyway, production of the experimental series began in January 1974, so time is running out. In October 1973, the council finally decided: Golf for the subcompact 3,70 meters long, Scirocco for the coupe. But where did the name Golf come from? From the Gulf Stream, which matches the warm Passat and Scirocco winds?
Hans-Joachim Zimmermann, head of sales led by directors Horst Münzner and Ignacio Lopez from 1965 to 1995, unraveled the mystery during a visit to the VW Museum in 2014. At the time, Zimmermann was also so president of the Wolfsburg Riding Club. One of his horses, a Hanoverian breed, was hired by Munzner in the summer of 1973. Horse's name? Golf!
Zimmermann with a portrait of his famous horse
A few days after Münzner praised the Honya, the board showed Zimmermann one of the brand new compact prototypes - with the letter combination GOLF on the back. Zimmerman is still happy 40 years later: “My horse gave the model its name – it means class, elegance, reliability. May golf be a long-term success - my horse lives 27 years, which is 95 people. This is a good omen! ”
