It all began with Uncle Wolfgang. Without him, Andreas Wehlen from Waldorf, about 40 Kilometers south of Bonn, would probably not have encountered the Golf so early: in 1979, Wolfgang drove Andreas to his first day at school in the Golf I. ‘Signal Yellow, unforgettable,’ recalls Andreas in his pleasingly melodic Rhineland accent. ‘There is even a photo of it,’ says the cheerful soul, reaching into the glove compartment. And indeed there is. The three of them are there: Andreas, his little brother Christian and Uncle Wolfgang’s 1976 Golf L. The now 46-year-old smiles while running his fingers across the photo, before lovingly placing it on the parcel shelf of his own car – a Lofoten Green Golf L, also built in 1976. It just had to be, didn’t it?
Starting school in a Golf
Few other cars are so deeply rooted in the lives of their drivers as the Golf. In the series entitled ‘It’s my Life’, we present people who drive the Golf – and live for it. In part one, Andreas and Bianca Wehlen explain why they could never do without their Golf MK I.
‘We have always had Volkswagens. My father drove a Passat, Uncle Wolfgang had his Golf I and I myself started out with a Polo 86 C,’ explains Andreas, who is a teacher. He shares his profession and his love of the Golf with his wife Bianca. ‘I join in with everything and I love it!’ she laughs, before going on to reveal that the air vents continued to spit out confetti, still months after taking part in the Ahrweiler carnival procession …
Bianca and Andreas not only cherish and care for their Golf, which they bought back in 2001, they also use it ‘properly’ – and regularly. Using the tow bar, the 50 hp Golf, which has just 78,000 kilometres on the clock, tows a 1966 ‘Brüderchen’ caravan. The couple use it to tour from one meeting to the next, travelling to events such as the Classic Days at Schloss Dyck or taking it on holiday. It’s just like it was back in 1976, because the chopper bike, appropriate camping chairs and other accessories of the era complete the stylish look.
Green and reliable
Incidentally, in 1993, immediately after his first Polo, Andreas switched to a 1982 Golf I C. Two models, one after the other, accompanied him through his degree and teacher training. A Passat 35i and Golf IV Estate then became the cars for everyday use. A little later, however, Golf fan Andreas started to get wistful: ‘I already knew even back then that the MK I would be a classic one day!’ he says, explaining the reason why he bought the oldie from the original owner in 2001.
Now, 18 years later, when he slips into the driver’s seat, turns the delicate key in the ignition and listens to the purring of the 1.1-litre four-cylinder engine, a smile flashes across his face. ‘Back then, on the journey to my first day at school, I was allowed to sit in the front, next to Uncle Wolfgang,’ he recalls, still as proud as punch.
The fact that he now commutes in a Golf MK I as a teacher on many an occasion is as remarkable as it is somehow logical. When asked to sum up the car in one word, Andreas says: ‘Green!’ Bianca, meanwhile, thinks more about its inner qualities: ‘Reliable!’ Andreas nods: ‘That’s true. It has never let us down,’ he confirms. ‘But you knew that, right?’
