Open Air Golfing

Open Air Golfing

UNTIL the late 1960s convertible versions of many popular European saloons were offered. Remember the Consul, Zephyr, Super Minx and Morris Minor convertibles for instance? The line finally dried up a couple of years ago with the death of VW’s Beetle Cabriokt. In recent times the man who wanted the acconunodation of a full foursater popular saloon with a fully convertible top had to tureen specialist conversion been like Crayford, or move up-market to a BMW Cabriokt or Lancia Beta Spider, both of which rely on Targa-type centre sections and separate, fold down rear sections. Last year VW plugged the popular convertible gap on the Continent with the ICarmann-designed, soft-top Golf. Now the Golf Convertible is available in Britain, but only in the top of the range, fuel-injected GTi forrn. At £6,852 it is roughly £1,400 dearer than the hatchback Golf GTi — and just as delightful to drive. A full road test of the hatchback model appear.’ in the March 1980 issue of MOTOR SPORT. The convertible is unchanged • mectumically, using the same, smooth, crisp and responsive 110 b.h.p., fuel-iniected engine, front-wheel-drive and five-speed gearbox. Maximum speed is quoted as 112 m.p.h. and a 0-60 time of 10.2 sec. is claimed. Numerous body reinforcements arc included to give structural rigidity, of which the apparent cent are ajdknce uerthedtshbordLacra,vergfoundtics,:u,

hood reasonably easy to lower and erect on the recent Press launch, but regretted that it could not be made to fold away more neatly. A glass rear window with heating clement is incorporated. A top-hinged, vertical boot lid gives acc,ess to a conventional boot and the rear cat folds flat.—C.R.