Test drive Golf 1: how the first golf almost became a Porsche
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Test drive Golf 1: how the first golf almost became a Porsche

Porsche EA 266 - in fact, the first attempt to create a successor to the "turtle"

By the end of the sixties, it was time to create a full-fledged successor to the legendary "turtle". It is a little known fact that the first prototypes based on this idea were actually created by Porsche and bear the designation EA 266. Alas, in 1971 they were destroyed.

Project start

It would take VW a long time to come to the conclusion that their future bestseller concept would be a front-wheel-drive, transverse-engined, water-cooled Golf concept, but the rear-engined EA 266 project reigned for a while.

Test drive Golf 1: how the first golf almost became a Porsche

VW prototypes are 3,60 meters long, 1,60 meters wide and 1,40 meters high, and during development the entire family of models, including the eight-seater van and roadster, were carefully thought out.

The initial challenge is a vehicle that costs less than DM 5000, can easily carry up to five people, and has a payload of at least 450 kg. The project manager is not just anyone, but Ferdinand Pietsch himself. At first, the most important thing was to respond to criticism of the outdated design and the small "turtle" barrel. The location of the motor and drive is still a free choice of designers.

The Porsche project has a water-cooled four-cylinder engine located centrally under the trunk and rear seats. Versions with a working volume of 1,3 to 1,6 liters and a capacity of up to 105 hp were planned.

As an alternative to the five-speed manual transmission, work is underway to install an automatic transmission. Thanks to its low center of gravity, the car is quite agile and also has a tendency for the centrally located engine to skid towards the rear when the load changes abruptly.

Test drive Golf 1: how the first golf almost became a Porsche

Volkswagen later decided to develop the EA 235 with a water-cooled four-cylinder engine located at the front. The prototypes were originally air-cooled, but now front-wheel drive. Thus, the original idea was to create a new type of car and retain part of the "turtle" image.

There are even attempts to design a type of transmission: with an engine in the front and a gearbox in the back. VW is closely watching competitors such as Autobianchi Primula, Morris 1100, Mini. In Wolfsburg, what impressed me most was the British model, which is ingenious as a concept, but the workmanship has a lot to be desired.

VW technology is also being tested based on Kadett

One particularly interesting stage of development is the one in which Porsche is used. Opel Kadett as the basis for testing new technology. In 1969, Volkswagen bought NSU and, together with Audi, acquires a second brand with experience from the previous transmission. In 1970, Volkswagen released the EA 337, which later became the Golf. The EA 266 Obama project was stopped only in 1971.

Test drive Golf 1: how the first golf almost became a Porsche
OF 337 1974

Conclusion

It's easy to follow the beaten path - which is why the project launched by Porsche on the successor to the "turtle" from today's point of view seems curious, but not as promising as the Golf I. However, we cannot blame VW for initially thinking about this type of design - in the mid and late 60s, front-wheel drive cars were far from commonplace in the compact class.

The Kadett, Corolla, and Escort remained rear-wheel-drive, while the Golf was initially considered quite low-key: however, over time, the front-wheel drive idea has established itself in this segment thanks to its passive safety and interior volume advantages.

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