WHAT IS IT?
Cars with off-road pretentions like jacked up ride-height and body cladding are commonplace in 2025 when nearly every brand “Outbacks” their models to appeal to modern taste for perceived ruggedness. Subaru was really first to perfect this rebranding but now that Porsche and even Lamborghini are following suit perhaps we’ve reached the “jump the shark” stage? Regardless, Volkswagen was also an early player in the game with the Golf Country back in 1991. This was a Mk. 2 Golf with some serious factory modifications (reportedly built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch) including a Synchro all-wheel-drive system, increased ride height, front and rear brush bars, additional lighting, a skid plate, and rear-mounted spare tire. Fewer than 8,000 were built making this a rare sight. It likely performs better off road than most of the modern CUVs on the market.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
For sale in Philadelphia with a US title, this car was originally sold in the Netherlands and appears to be entirely correct and very clean with under 68,000 miles. The only two modifications are an aftermarket stereo and an added gauge on the dashboard of unknown purpose. While rarity alone doesn’t guarantee TBOOTP cred, it certainly doesn’t hurt that this is likely one of the best bang for your buck cars under $30,000 measured by attention at local car events. You certainly won’t see another. The teal Montana Green paint is period perfect, the decals and interior appear to show only the most minor wear, and it generally appears to have lived a very pampered life for an affordable car with off-road pretensions.
It likely performs better off road than most of the modern CUVs on the market.
1991 Volkswagen Golf Country – Highly Original Example Ready For… – Hemmings.com
This is really a super nice example of a rare Golf variant that was never sold new in the U.S. Is it the best on the planet, I don’t think so. It’s just slightly rough around the edges, the black trim is faded, and there’s something funky going on with the textured paint on the rear valance. Also, there appears to be overspray on the tow hook. There’s also one of these at VW’s Zeithaus Museum in Wolfsburg that truly is a museum piece. So, I’m going with nice, but not the best here.
A Radwood gem, this rarity might be the best one we’ll see gracing our digital pages. Choice teal paint that’s relatively unblemished, those plaid seats, and a near-flawless interior (save the faded-looking carpets), I’m betting this one’s never seen dirt, which is both a blessing and a shame. To Sass’s point, while there is one in VW’s museum but no one likes a guy who brings a bazooka to a knife fight. I’m giving it more props than he does.
Rare to see in Europe let alone the States; even more impressive that the decals are intact and the interior so clean. Only bummer is the aftermarket Blaupunkt—it’s a lesser evil, but not as cool as if the original head unit was present.
I can only imagine the engineer in charge of this project had spent his 1988 winter holiday in New Hampshire and had seen an AMC Eagle…. coming back to Wolfsburg somehow he had the personal fortitude to take the inevitable ribbing he got from his team mates for his proposal… Such a wonderful part of VW history. To me, I agree with Rob, likely not the BOTP, but nice enough to go to any local VW show, stop traffic and most importantly actually drive.
As someone who grew up with Golfs and now drives mostly Land Rovers, the Golf Country has always been on my radar. I had a chance to drive a friend’s very similar one a couple years ago, something a younger me never would have believed. And it reminded immediately of the 2 Mk II GTIs I owned, but on stilts. Judging from the pictures alone, it’s hard to imagine a better example. Seriously, what’s not to like? The floor mats?