When Volkswagen released the original Golf in 1974, the car was an overnight success. Easy, economical to drive and inexpensive to maintain. Volkswagen South Africa started the assembly of the Golf Mk1 under licence in 1978, however, when the second generation Golf arrived in 1984, Volkswagen South Africa found themselves unable to supply the demand for a small, affordable entry-level car, as the Mk2 was bigger and somewhat more expensive than its predecessor. The most viable option for VW SA was to continue producing a variant of the Mk1, designed to fill the gap in the market for a reliable, solid, safe car for the local population. Using the same body shell as the Mk1, the 'Citi Golf' was launched in 1984 as a mildly facelifted,1.6-litre, five-door, alongside companion saloon and two-door utility models. The Citi Golf's 25 year lifespan saw hundreds of modifications, both cosmetic, to satisfy consumer demand, and mechanical to comply with safety and emission standards. Cost savings from using the Mk1 shell allowed the Citi to be better appointed than its rivals, with accessories made available over the years from the Volkswagen Group parts department.

To commemorate the end of production of the Citi in 2009, the Citi Mk1 was launched. This edition was limited to just 1,000 cars, with special features that included lowered suspension, 15” alloy wheels, tinted windows, a leather sports steering wheel with airbag, and chrome foil side-stripes. The lovely example on offer here is Number 459 of those 1,000 cars and is finished in Black Magic Pearl, one of two colours available, and optioned with half-leather seats trimmed with black cloth. It was imported into the UK and registered with the DVLA on the 1st October 2019 as 'YL09 OZK, however, our vendor thought that particular registration did not quite suit the little Citi, so it now wears the current private registration, RRZ 9617, which will remain with the car.

Presented to auction in exceptional condition with just 16,598 kilometres or 10,313 miles at the time of cataloguing, the service book states that the most recent service was carried out less than 435 km ago 22nd September 2021 and the car has just been issued with an advisory free MOT. An official book commemorating the Citi, unused mats still in their Volkswagen packaging, VWSA brochures, main dealer service receipts, VW heritage letter, original radio and bill of sale accompany the car.

Whilst the car’s condition and rarity warrants a place in a collection, it is also eminently suitable as a daily driver for the enthusiast that loves the retro looks of a classic car but appreciates the modern enhancements fitted by the manufacturer from new. It sits within its own niche in the market and elements of the car’s features may seem incongruous at first glance but make perfect sense in context, however, you'll probably never see another and despite its humble origins, its sheer rarity means it would be welcome anywhere.