There's nothing abnormal or weird about a retro Volkswagen Golf coming up for sale on the other side of the world.
But then again, this isn't your typical Golf.
Having only learned about the existence of the Volkswagen Golf Country Synchro (known as the Cross Country elsewhere) when Matchbox made a pint-sized replica of it earlier this year (I should seek help, I know), I've been on the hunt for them ever since.
So you can imagine the rejoice when I saw this mint (in both condition and colour) 1990 example flash up on my screen. Perhaps it's for the best that it's all the way over in the Netherlands...
It a feisty looking little thing, but the Country was also very capable. It had an advanced all-wheel drive system that would enable it to be front-wheel drive in general commuting, but would feed power instantaneously to the rear wheels if the wheels started to slip.
Raised up high, a bash plate, bull bars, spare wheel, and fender flares helped keep it gruff and ready for adventure.
Perhaps more important than the cuteness or the technology is how close the Country Synchro was in terms of predicting the future. At the time it was a rather wild, left-field car. But fast forward to today, and almost every manufacturer make a jacked-up version of their hatchback.
Some repackage them to look like SUVs, but nonetheless Volkswagen were still ahead of the curve at the time. Sadly Volkswagen only made them for two years (1990 and 1991) before cutting the model for the introduction of the Mk3 Golf in 1992.
This example is in incredible nick, not only for its age but also for its kilometers. The 111,464km on the clock is relatively low for a car of this age, but barring the odd scuff the interior appears to be almost flawless. In little old Aotearoa that dashboard would've cracked apart in the sun many moons ago...
The vintage car purveyors at Classic Youngtimers Consultancy have the little Golf advertised for €18,500, which equates to NZ$31,800.
Oh to live in the Netherlands...
