Thursday 14th July 2011

Spotted: Golf G60 Rallye

A little chunk of retro rally homologation from VW

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Let's face it, even if the prices we saw at the Bonhams Goodwood auction for road-going Group B homologation cars were a little over-the-odds, the truth is that not only are these cars out of reach of most enthusiasts but running one on a regular basis would be a bit challenging even if they weren't. But what about other rally homologation cars? Recently added to our classifieds is this Golf Rallye G60 Synchro.

In order to compete in the World Rally Championship VW built the required run of 5,000 of these cars at their Brussels plant with four-wheel-drive and a 160bhp, 1763cc supercharged version of their ubiquitous 1781cc single cam engine. The cost new was approximately double what you'd have paid back then for a boggo GTi 8V.

Of course if you think back to late Eighties and early Nineties rallying, cars like the Celica GT4, Delta Integrale, and Sierra/Escort Cosworth spring to mind. That the G60 Rallye doesn't is a reliable barometer as to the level of success it enjoyed...

But that alone shouldn't put you off. Looking at one today, it's not what you'd call a 'pretty' car, but if boxy be-flared low-volume Eighties cars do it for you, then one of these could make some sense. Ok, they're all LHD but only 100 were reportedly brought onto the UK originally so they're up there in terms of exclusivity. Value-wise it looks like these cars might have crept up a little in recent years. I recall a similarly good G60 selling in the UK for £7500 in 2008.

This one is in the Netherlands and is only for sale so that the owner can fund a rather special E30 M3 he's working on. It was imported from Germany to the Netherlands in 1998 and the previous owner (who was heavily involved in specialist VWs and, we're told, owned 15 of them) bought it in 2000 and kept it until about a year ago, at which point the vendor acquired it and carried out a lot of work including the vital supercharger service.Apparently the car still features the correct skid-plate underneath and the correct air-ducts in the bumper (both of which, he claims, tend to go missing), as well as the original radio and 'unleaded fuel only' sticker on the dash.

The asking price is 11,500 Euros, which works out to a shade over £10,000 at current exchange rates and seems like a good starting point. Although it's hard to directly compare it to anything else, fast Golfs will always be cool and in-demand. (...even ones with rectangular headlamps).

[chunkymonkey71]

It gets my thumbs up!

[bern]

I do love these, just not in red with that bloody awful rubber strip down the side!

[y2blade]

£10k?

[anonymous-user]

I had no idea this car existed. I bet it's a great drive too!

[Adz The Rat]

I know where there is one of these sat on a driveway, looks good condition but it hasnt moved for at least 5 years.
Im sorely tempted to knock on the door and offer them £1k for it.

[Mac555]

10k for a 'bargain' rally special????

I bought a import 1995 celebrtation '555' Impreza with 42,000 miles on it for half of that!

There are cheaper ways to get your rally thrills!!!

Love the boxed arches on the G60 though!!!

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

There's one in Hampton, Middx. The owner even keeps it on the road (he doesn't have a driveway). Dark grey from memory.

[sleep envy]

'tis a shame they're all show and not that much more go over a std 16v

still lovely cars though

[epom]

smashing car, but not in red tho !!

[GreatGranny]

£10k seems alot for a MK2 Golf but it looks in fantastic original condition. Loads have been "modified".

Considering a mint low mileage 16v will got for upwards of £4-5k and a G60 a little more this seems priced pretty sensibly.

[Cheburator mk2]

sleep envy said:

'tis a shame they're all show and not that much more go over a std 16v

still lovely cars though

Bin the supercharger and put a turbo on it - kits are available from many a reputable German tuner such as ABT or Oettinger - the engine electronics can easily cope with it without mods, and go M3/GT3 hunting. VW still stocks many of the motorsport parts which bolt on - suspension/brakes etc and the prices are reasonable. The VW rally cars actually were reasonably successful in the European Rally Championship, as well as in many local Rally Championships...

[SHutchinson]

It sports the correct missing radio trim too. Makes me miss my old Mk2 GTi.

[sleep envy]

Cheburator mk2 said:

Bin the supercharger and put a turbo on it - kits are available from many a reputable German tuner such as ABT or Oettinger - the engine electronics can easily cope with it without mods, and go M3/GT3 hunting. VW still stocks many of the motorsport parts which bolt on - suspension/brakes etc and the prices are reasonable. The VW rally cars actually were reasonably successful in the European Rally Championship, as well as in many local Rally Championships...

you make a good point especially if VWM still stock parts for it

[Wolands Advocate]

SHutchinson said:

It sports the correct missing radio trim too. Makes me miss my old Mk2 GTi.

Yes. Me too.

Used to really want one of these.

[Bottrill]

These are getting pretty rare now in standard spec hence the price. A little secret... VW actually made a couple of 16V G60 Rallye's with 210BHP which was out of the Golf Limited. VW have one in their museum which made an appearance in EVO last year at the launch of the new Golf R. I still preferred my G60 Edition One over the Rallye though.



Lee.

Edited by Bottrill on Thursday 14th July 13:58

[Dr G]

Was about to mention the 16v syncro but you beat me to it! I'd absolutely love one.

[356Speedster]

No, don't ditch the G-Lader for a turbo, anyone who does is not only missing the point of the car, they're also losing it's heritage and a supercharger that makes a great noise!

15yrs ago, I built up a 250bhp G60 engine for my old Mk2. It was a complete one off, bored out to 2.0 and with some tweaks to the 'charger's internals. With 250bhp/ton it was genuinely quick but made the most demonic, mental shrieking noise I've ever heard!

The G-Lader is a flawed unit, but if treated properly, was an absolutely awesome bit of kit. I miss it horribly

[mk1chopper]

The golf limited wasnt a golf rallye, it was a 5 door G60, a proper wolf in sheeps clothing, they even put the small bumpers on it rather than the big gti bumpers.

I do love the rallye but thats a pretty low spec one, no leccy windows and it doesnt have the lovely recaro sports seats either. Keep it supercharged but stick an eaton charger on there instead of the g ladder. A few tend to be found with the 20v turbo unit now aswell.

[r1ch]

Lovely car. You'd have to really love them to pay that kind of money, but i appreciate a car like that, retro cool, something different. Thumbs up from me too.

[snotrag]

Interesting you say that 356speedster - a friend of mine a fews year back built a Mk1 with a G60 engine, 16V head, IIRC it was about 265bhp. It was very quick but it also sounded ACE - in a nod to the Golf Limited it had a Blue grill etc. Cool car.