The first thing that strikes you about the Golf Mk1 is its size. Even in isolation it looks tiny, more like a very large toy rather than an actual car. Place it beside the latest Mk8.5 on the road ...

The final design of the Golf was known as the Type 17. The Golf Mk1 went into production in March 1974, and sales officially began in May of the same year. About a year later, the hatchback ...