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VW Golf and Rabbit: Books - History, Models and Construction

A book on Volkswagen Golf or Rabbit cars? Explore here illustrated books on the history, types and construction of Volkswagen cars.

VW Golf Mk I - IV

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In 1974, the Volkswagen Golf replaced the iconic Beetle, redefining the family hatchback. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it featured a transverse engine for enhanced space.
Richard Copping's book delves into the Golf's global success, tracing its development and key design choices. It explores the Mk 2 (1983), Mk 3 (1991), and Mk IV (1997), highlighting design and engineering advancements like increased size, new engines, and the acclaimed GTi. The fourth-gen Golf introduced efficient diesel engines. Variants, including Jetta, Vento, and Bora, were pivotal in the US market.

Author:Richard Copping
Specs:96 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 in, paperback
Illustrations:100 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Amberley Publishing (GB, 2023)
ISBN:9781398113374
VW Golf Mk I - IV

VW Golf Mk I - IV

Language: English

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Thirty Years of the Volkswagen Golf & Rabbit

This book covers the fascinating transition from Beetle to Golf and the subsequent development of the car that became Volkswagen's new icon. Included are Volkswagen archival photographs of early development projects and details about the people who built these charismatic cars.

The story is more than facts and figures. It is an adventurous tale of a company whose future rested on the fenders of a hatchback economy car - a car that ultimately became a favorite of car enthusiasts around the world.

Author:Kevin Clemens
Specs:128 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 1 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.39 in, paperback
Illustrations:130 b&w photos
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2006)
ISBN:9781583881583
Thirty Years of the Volkswagen Golf & Rabbit

Thirty Years of the Volkswagen Golf & Rabbit

Language: English

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VW Golf Cabriolet (1979-2002)

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet models from the years 1979-2002. Describes the VW Golf Cabriolet and Rabbit Convertible, GLi, GTi, TDi, Clipper, Avantgarde, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, Mk 1, Mk 3 and Mk 3.5.

Pages of the book VW Golf Cabriolet 1979-2002 (1)
  • The articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
  • Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.
Specs:160 pages, 28 x 21 x 1.1 cm / 11 x 8.25 x 0.43 in, paperback
Illustrations:profusely illustrated
Publisher:Brooklands Books (GB, 2010)
ISBN:9781855209091

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

VW Golf Cabriolet (1979-2002)

VW Golf Cabriolet (1979-2002)

Language: English

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Volkswagen Golf - Les modèles depuis 1974

Depuis sa création en 1974, la Golf commandée par Volkswagen au designer italien Giorgetto Giugiaro, ne cesse d'enthousiasmer les amateurs de mécanique de qualité, les fans de sportives récréatives et tous ceux qui veulent choisir sans se tromper.

À travers sept générations de Golf, cet ouvrage revisite l'histoire de l'une des voitures les plus vendues au monde : 35 millions à ce jour. Cette icône automobile a brillé par ses qualités routières, mais aussi séduit par sa polyvalence. En effet, la Golf est la seule voiture de série à avoir été à la fois un diesel économique, une super-sportive de 360 chevaux, un cabriolet, une berline, un break, un 4x4... sans jamais perdre ni son âme ni son style depuis près d'un demi-siècle.

Author:Benjamin Cuq
Specs:160 pages, 20.5 x 29.5 cm / 8.1 x 11.6 in, paperback
Illustrations:numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Editions E/P/A (F, 2019)
ISBN:9782376710240
Volkswagen Golf - Les modèles depuis 1974

Volkswagen Golf - Les modèles depuis 1974

Language: French

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Volkswagen Golf 1 - Le vent du renouveau

En 1974, la Golf concentre un haut niveau de technologie ; des éléments de sécurité de qualité et des aspects pratiques indéniables, avec ses deux ou quatre portes et son hayon. Le risque est mesuré pour Wolfsburg, car toute la partie technique est reprise de modèles ayant déjà fait leurs maladies. Les lignes, signées Giugiaro, sont classiques et dynamiques, mais ne heurtent pas la clientèle.
Le succès ne se fait pas attendre. Avec la Golf, Volkswagen est enfin entré dans l'ère moderne par la grande porte. Ses qualités font rapidement de la petite nouvelle le numéro un du segment C. Elle inspire la concurrence et deviendra très vite celle qu'il faut détrôner. Son image séduira de nombreux marchés. Déclinée en berline à coffre, elle prend le patronyme Jetta.

La Golf ayant remplacé la Coccinelle, il était normal d'en dériver un cabriolet... Toujours produit chez Karmann, celui-ci dispose d'un arceau fixe et ménage de l'espace aux occupants arrière. Du côté des utilitaires légers, la Golf s'impose également, avec une version tôlée puis un pick-up qui survivra près de dix ans aux versions trois et cinq portes.
Polyvalente, la Golf se mue aussi facilement en sportive accomplie, la GTI, qu'en championne de l'économie dans la performance, avec ses versions Diesel puis turbo Diesel.

Au fil des ans, la petite Volkswagen se forge une image "en béton" qui n'aura de cesse que de perdurer et s'amplifier de génération en génération. À l'heure où la Golf 1 et ses dérivés entrent de plain-pied dans le monde de la collection, il était indispensable de se pencher sur sa riche histoire et d'en proposer une synthèse la plus complète possible.

Author:Dimitri Urbain
Specs:240 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:624 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:Top Model
ISBN:9791028300517
Volkswagen Golf 1 - Le vent du renouveau

Volkswagen Golf 1 - Le vent du renouveau

Language: French

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VW Golf Story - Alle Generationen seit 1974

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The VW Golf, initially awaited as the much-needed successor to the VW Beetle, became one of the most successful stories in the automotive world.
With its water-cooled front engine and new hatchback design, it quickly became a bestseller and defined the so-called "Golf class." To this day, the Golf remains one of the best-selling cars worldwide.

In this book, Russell Hayes narrates the story of the VW Golf from its beginnings to the present, providing a detailed introduction to all eight generations. This work honors this remarkable vehicle from Wolfsburg.

Author:Russell Hayes
Specs:320 pages, 27 x 23.5 x 2.3 cm / 10.6 x 9.25 x 0.91 in, hardback
Illustrations:390 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2024)
ISBN:9783613046429
VW Golf Story - Alle Generationen seit 1974

VW Golf Story - Alle Generationen seit 1974

Language: German

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Volkswagen Golf

A title in the historic Nada catalogue series, this time on the Volkswagen Golf, a cult car. The models under the microscope are the classics, those of the first series, including the variants like the Van, Caddy, Rabbit, Cabriolet and right through to the South African Golf Citi, which was a German first series Golf produced until just a few years ago.

The catalogue's layout is the traditional one, with period photographic material and an organisation of chapters on the different models - as well as a brief guide to restoring the cars and their critical points.

Text in Italian.

Author:Marco Batazzi
Specs:96 pages, 27 x 24.5 cm / 10.6 x 9.7 in, paperback
Illustrations:76 b&w and 90 colour photos
Publisher:Giorgio Nada Editore (IT, 2015)
Series:Le vetture che hanno fatto la storia
ISBN:9788879116145
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

Language: Italian

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Related titles:

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Volkswagen Golf GTI

James Richardson | English | hardback | 208 p. | 2008

VW Golf GTI 1976-1991

VW Golf GTI (1976-1991)

English | paperback | 136 p. | 2004

You & Your VW Golf GTI

You & Your Volkswagen Golf GTI - Buying, enjoying, maintaining, modifying

Andy Butler | English | hardback | 160 p. | 2002

[EBG] VW Golf GTI (1979-1992)

Volkswagen Golf GTI (1979-1992)

Richard Copping, Ken Cservenka | English | paperback | 64 p. | 2009

Das grosse VW-GTI-Buch

Das grosse VW-GTI-Buch (Reprint)

Rolf D. Busch, Thomas Fuths, Thomas M. Imhof | German | hardback | 168 p. | 2018

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The TMB Bookshop presents not only general books on Volkswagen . Click here to discover all books on Volkswagen (including technical books like workshop manuals, restauration manuals, driver's handbooks, parts catalogues, etc.).