Harper Lin
The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin is one of the rarest and most unique versions of the popular hatchback. It was first introduced in Germany as the Volkswagen Polo. Due to its popularity in Europe, Volkswagen of America decided to produce four of them for the 1995 auto show circuit. The car was painted in four distinct colours: Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red, and Chagall Blue. There seems to be some discrepancy in the total number of Harlequins produced, with some sources claiming 275, while others state 264. However, it is generally agreed that the car was not well-received upon its initial release in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and only a limited number were produced. Today, the Golf Harlequin is considered a collector's item and has gained a cult following within the Volkswagen community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number produced | 264 or 275 |
| Colour schemes | 4 |
| Colours | Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red, Chagall Blue |
| Engine | 2.0-liter fuel-injected four-cylinder with 115 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque |
| Transmission | Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic |
| Original market | North America (US, Canada, Mexico) |
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What You'll Learn
The Volkswagen Harlequin Golf was a factory-made car
The Golf Harlequin was based on the entry-level GL model and featured a 2.0-liter fuel-injected four-cylinder engine with 115 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque. It was offered with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The car's most distinctive feature was its colourful body, with four colour schemes: Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red, and Chagall Blue. To create this unique look, VW painted four complete Golfs a single colour and then swapped body panels to create the Harlequin.
Despite the initial excitement, when the production version of the Golf Harlequin was released in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, it did not receive the same level of enthusiasm. It was considered too odd for American taste and took a long time to sell. However, over time, the car's bold and cheerful style has gained more appreciation, and it is now considered a cult car within the Volkswagen brand.
Today, the Volkswagen Harlequin Golf is highly coveted by collectors and enthusiasts, with its extreme rarity making it valuable. It has become a symbol of optimism and cheer, and its colourful design has even inspired fashion trends. While there may be some discrepancies in the exact number of Harlequin Golfs produced, there is no doubt that it is one of the rarest and most unique versions of the popular hatchback.
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Only 275 were produced, with 4 colour schemes
The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin is one of the rarest versions of the popular hatchback. Only 275 were produced, with 4 colour schemes: pistachio green, ginsters yellow, tornado red, and Chagall blue.
The car was first introduced in Germany as the Volkswagen Polo. Due to its popularity in Europe, Volkswagen of America decided to produce four of these vehicles for auto shows in 1995. The car was a follow-up to the successful 1995 Polo Harlekin, which was only available in Europe. The four test cars received a positive response from VW's American execs and dealers, showgoers, and the public. This led to VW North America producing 264 units at its Puebla, Mexico plant.
The Golf Harlequin was painted in the same colours as the Polo Harlequin. The cars were initially monochromatic when they rolled off the assembly line. VW North America then scrambled the panels, ensuring that every grille matched the front fenders and that the front and rear doors matched. The original body colour is detectable by the rear quarter panels, roof, and rocker panels. The interior cloth seats featured the four exterior colours in the fabric's pattern.
Despite the initial excitement, the production version of the Golf Harlequin was not well-received in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It was considered too odd for American taste and was quietly dropped by the fall. However, over time, its unique, high-fashion looks have gained more appreciation, and it is now considered a cult car within a cult brand.
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They were made in VW's Mexico plant
The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin is one of the rarest and most unique versions of the popular hatchback. VW North America produced 264 units at its Puebla, Mexico plant. The car was initially released in Europe in 1995 as the Mk3 Polo Harlequin hatchback, with only 20 cars in the first batch. However, as enthusiasm for the design grew, VW produced 3,000 more.
The Golf Harlequin was then introduced in North America in 1996. The car was produced at VW's Puebla, Mexico plant. The body panels were interchanged to create the Golf Harlequin, resulting in the same four variations: Chagall Blue, Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, and Tornado Red. These colours were exclusive to Europe and not found on American Golf models.
VW initially produced four Golf Harlequins for auto shows in 1995. The public showed interest in the concept, so VW produced 60 more to be distributed among dealers in 1996. Despite the lukewarm response, VW produced another 200, bringing the total number of Golf Harlequins produced to 264.
Today, the Golf Harlequin is considered a rare collector's item, with only about 100 reportedly still in existence.
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They were based on the entry-level GL model
The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin was based on the entry-level GL model. The car was introduced in 1995 as a follow-up to the successful Polo Harlekin, which was only available in Europe. The Harlequin was produced in Volkswagen's North American plant in Puebla, Mexico.
The Golf Harlequin was mechanically identical to the standard Golf GL. It featured the same 2.0-litre fuel-injected four-cylinder engine, producing 115 horsepower and 122 lb-ft of torque. The car was offered with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. While the Harlequin was based on the entry-level GL model, it stood out with its unique multicoloured body panels. The four colours used were Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red, and Chagall Blue.
To create the Harlequin, Volkswagen painted four complete Golfs a single colour and then swapped body panels to achieve the distinctive multicoloured look. These initial four cars were produced as a colour concept for auto shows in 1995, where they received a positive response. As a result, Volkswagen decided to produce more Harlequins for sale. The production version of the Harlequin featured a mix of matching and contrasting body panels, with each grille matching the front fenders and doors. The interior of the car also featured a unique fabric pattern incorporating the four exterior colours.
The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin was produced in limited quantities, with estimates ranging from 264 to 275 units. Despite its initial popularity at auto shows, the car was not well-received by the general public in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, over time, the Harlequin has gained a cult following and is now considered a collectible item due to its rarity.
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The Harlequin Golf was a commercial failure
The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin was a commercial failure. The car was released in 1996 as a follow-up to the successful 1995 Polo Harlekin, which was only available in Europe. The Harlekin was never offered in the United States, so Volkswagen decided to try out the multicolour concept on the Golf model instead.
The Harlequin Golf was certainly unique, with four specific colour schemes: pistachio green, ginster yellow, tornado red, and Chagall blue. The car's body panels were scrambled, with each grille matching the front fenders, the front doors matching, and the rear doors matching. The interior cloth seats even featured all four colours in the fabric's pattern.
Despite initial excitement, the car was not embraced in the same way as its subcompact sibling when it was released in North America, Canada, and Mexico. It was deemed "too odd for American taste" and conspicuously weird. While a few buyers loved them, most took a long time to sell, and the model was quietly dropped by the fall. One dealer, Atlanta's Jim Ellis Volkswagen, received some unwanted Harlequins used during the 1996 Olympics and had to reassemble them as solid-colour cars to sell them.
It is estimated that only 275 Harlequins were produced, and perhaps as few as 264. While it was a sales flop, the Harlequin has since become a cult car within a cult brand, with registries and owners' groups closely tracking the cars. They are now considerably more valuable than other Mk 3 Golfs, and those that are traded fetch impressive sums.
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Frequently asked questions
It is believed that no more than 275 VW Harlequin Golfs were made, with some sources claiming 264.
No, the Harlequin Golfs were factory-made. Four complete Golfs were painted a single colour, and body parts were swapped to create the Harlequin.
The Harlequin Golfs were multi-coloured, featuring pistachio green, ginster yellow, tornado red, and Chagall blue (which some describe as more purple).
The Harlequin Golfs were made in 1995 and 1996.
The VW Harlequin Golfs were not initially popular, and the model was quietly dropped. However, in recent years, they have become more appreciated and are now considered a cult car.
