114 proofs of love

How many Golf does one person need?
As with most passions, this one was harmless at the beginning. The first Golf was followed by a second, then a third. Only then it just went on. And on. And on. Until it reached today’s number of 114.

Josef Juza on starting his Golf collection, the ”Golf Pack”: “When I sat in a Golf for the first time I just had the feeling that this car had been built for me alone. The seat position, driving fun, everyday usability, it was all exactly as I like it.”

This early model was the first “unnecessary” Golf and, as such, can be seen as the official start of the collection. This was back in the mid-Nineties, and once Josef Juza had found this passion then temptation was to be found nearly everywhere. “I only had to have a quick look in the Internet and I soon found another great vehicle that cost practically nothing. The transport was often more expensive than the price of the vehicle.”

The beauty of everyday things
There may be some people who apply the same level of emotional attachment to a car as they would to a kitchen appliance. The Golf is clearly a logical choice for these people. The car can, however, also be a wonderful projection for passions and individuality. In this context, the Golf, with its clear message and unpretentious appearance, is a perfect canvas for personal expression. The power of this spirit can be seen impressively at the GTI meeting at Wörthersee every year.

Josef Juza understands both approaches and has chosen Golfs as examples of all perspectives. Alongside the rare vehicle highlights, Golfs can be found in his collection for racing, Golfs for living, Golfs for luxury, but also others which were used to collect rubbish during their active working life. And then there are the countless special models!

• Rally Golf. Homologation model for motor sport based on the Golf II. Built 5000 times.

• Eco-Golf. Based on the Golf II, 11 test vehicles were built which were used to test future-oriented technologies such as Start-Stop and engine switch-off at idling speed.

• Two of three gangway vehicles for Bremen airport.

• Countless vehicles used by various different authorities.

The museum of real life
The “Golf Pack” is, in one point, considerably different from other collections. The vehicles have been left in their natural state and thus make an honest impression, which can certainly also be attributed to the fact that Josef Juza works on his own. 114 vehicles without a team of mechanics and auxiliary personnel is definitely an organisational challenge.

But exactly this point, which would normally seem to be an issue, lends the “Golf Pack” its charm. The best example is the “Million” Golf: this model which, with its verifiable one million kilometres on the clock, corresponds visually, in feel and in smell exactly with what you would expect of a vehicle with this kind of performance. It is therefore a wonderful example of contemporary history.

“Today, some people say Tupperware Golf when referring to the typically broad vehicles built in the Eighties. These are all mementoes for me of a certain time. Back then you were the king of the disco with a Golf like this.”

The vision for the future of the Golf Pack is clear: Josef Juza wants to be the director in his own Golf museum. The plan is for this loose collection to soon become an exhibition open to the general public. A plan for the position of the vehicles has already been drafted and additional space has also been made available. The doors are scheduled to be opened next spring. More information: www.golfsrudel.at

The last question for Josef Juza: If he could only keep five cars which ones would he choose?

“I think I would close down the entire collection. I would prefer to do without al of them than have to choose just a few”. That’s true love, don’t you think?