The Country’s story begins in 1989 at the Geneva Motor Show. Volkswagen had been building all-wheel drive Golf variants since the mid-1980s, but for 1989 VW swung for the fences and released this teeny off-roader as a concept car. Unsurprisingly the press and public loved the plucky little Golf 4×4, and for 1990 it was pressed into production.
Like many Volkswagen Golfs, initial assembly began at VW’s Wolfsburg production line, however that’s where things take a turn. The Golf Countrys were then sent to Graz, Austria to be outfitted with their ‘Syncro’ all-wheel-drive gear, courtesy of Steyr-Daimler-Puch.
All Volkswagen Golf Country Syncros came exclusively with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a five-speed manual, and readied a handful of unique exterior mods. These included tubular bumpers front and rear, a swing-out tire carrier, skid plates, big fender flares, and a high-riding suspension.

Under typical conditions, the Countrys would putter around in front-wheel drive, but when wheel slip was detected, up to 50 percent of engine power could be routed to the rear axle via the Syncro viscous coupling all-wheel drive system. This made them impressively capable, though not fast.
In total 7,735 Volkswagen Golf Country Syncros were produced, with the last one rolling off the line at the end of 1991.

See on the last picture the 438 parts that where used for the Volkswagen Golf Syncro.

Exterior:
– 4-door
– Alloy Wheels 6Jx15 (Speedline Design)
– Tires 195 / 60R15H
– Steel frame for protection headlights, color graphite
– Steel frame rear with full spare wheel, color graphite
– Cover spare wheel with white “VW” sign
– Increased bodywork (120 mm)
– Increased soil clearance (60 mm)
– Grill with double headlights with stone protection
– Fog lamps with stone protection, mounted to the bumper
– Black cladding
– Black wheelbase widening
– Asperic mirror, left
– White flashing lights for
– Heat-resistant glass around
– Partly dark rear lights
– Special “Country” strip on the side and back
– Soil protection plate

Interior:
– Sport seats with “Montanakaro” fabric lining on the center lane sides of the seat in gray leather
– Rear seats at the front seats
– Harmonious door and sidewall coverings
– Front and rear headrests with “Syncro” indication
– Partially folding rear seat
– Luggage room lining in Schiefer
– Black sky cover
– Leather switching knob and steering wheel
– Artificial leather switchboard cover
– Door protection in luggage compartment
– Lighted luggage compartment
– Height adjustable driver’s seat
– Two-color dashboard

Functional implementation details:
– Power steering
– Without ABS

This in first paint example was built on the 5th of April 1990. Finished in “Montana-Green Metallic” with 111,464 km on the odometer.