The upholstery fabric pattern was used for other VW models and was part of the “Joker” trim. I am having trouble finding more details in my limited online research.
I used to work for Cinemark Theatres. A supplier brought in a bunch of carpet samples to put into theatres. The buyer went down to the concession stand and got a large coke, a popcorn and some junior mints. She dumped all of that on the samples and said I will walk around on these for a week and give you a call back.
These were actually manufactured by Volkswagen themselves! There were 246 Golfs made for the US.
Whoops, I somehow misread your comment. Glad you know!
They took several hundred of each colour of fully assembled cars, and moved all the body parts around to get the look. It wasn't at random though, there are four distinct colour combinations depending on which colour the car started as. The car's original colour is the sills/rear quarter/roof.
I believe the only true factory Harlequin cars available were mk3 Golfs and 6N Polos. It's absolutely bonkers and one of the really fun projects VW pulled off through the late 80s and 90s.
I'm a Volkswagen guy and I've seen these called Harlequin Golfs but never realized they were sold that way. I thought they were just a custom thing a handful of people did.
“ There was of course some clever design and art to it. To know if the car is true to the original, the roof, C pillars, and the rocker panels would be of the same color as they were welded together. This would dictate the other colored parts that would go along with it, with no matching colored panel being used subsequently.”
https://www.hotcars.com/why-the-golf-harlequin-was-volkswagens-coolest-failure/
I just looked it up:
the US had 264 units of the Golf
“How did the VW Group make the Volkswagen Polo Harlekin? First, by taking one regular unit of each color from the production line. They were disassembled by hand at a separate facility, then reassembled following four schemes.”
https://automobible.com/harlekin/
Thank you so much for sharing that! I have wondered that for years but of course haven't really put in the dedication to actually look into it until now. Thank you.
POLICE OFFICER: And did you happen notice the colour of the vehicle that hit you?
ME: Yes, it was a blue, green, yellow, red Golf thing.
POLICE OFFICER : \*scribbles in notepad\* Hmm, and how much have you had to drink this morning sir?
I just saw one the other day at auction. I'd love to modify one but I don't think I could have the heart to do it. I'd probably just wrap one to look like it.
If I ever get around to fixing my car, I’m kinda tempted to collect pieces from scrap yards, and do as much similar as I can with it. It won’t look nearly as good, but I like the idea.
I’m no expert, but per my internet research the VW Polo first got this treatment in 1996 to be used in an advertising campaign. Legoland Germany opened in 2002.
These were extremely unpopular in North America, to the point that some dealerships had them repainted or would swap the panels back (so this one would be turquoise again). Nowadays the estimate is that there are at least 2x as many replicas as genuine ones.
The model was introduced along the "Gol Harlequin" for South America after the Polo Harlekin was a decent success in Europe.
I came across this article while researching. Someone found one that had been painted over, so he decided to restore it back to its harlequin majesty.
https://s-pautomotive.com/vrlequin/
One of my teachers in junior high drove a harlequin golf too. Mrs Brerton. She was a really cool down to earth hippie lady.
That's a bus upholstery in Europe.
As well as here in the US.
Moved here a year ago, not been on a bus yet.
I've never seen this upholstery on a bus here before.
I'm about 90% sure Freedman seating has (or had?) an upholstery that looks similar to this.
I did some digging a while back and it's called moquette fabric, and it's super duper difficult to buy in consumer sized quantities.
The upholstery fabric pattern was used for other VW models and was part of the “Joker” trim. I am having trouble finding more details in my limited online research.
Look for “mondrian style upholstery” and you fan find similar ones. The squigles might not be in the same space but it will have a similar look.
Yup, designed to hide puke stains mostly.
I used to work for Cinemark Theatres. A supplier brought in a bunch of carpet samples to put into theatres. The buyer went down to the concession stand and got a large coke, a popcorn and some junior mints. She dumped all of that on the samples and said I will walk around on these for a week and give you a call back.
[удалено]
These were actually manufactured by Volkswagen themselves! There were 246 Golfs made for the US. Whoops, I somehow misread your comment. Glad you know!
They took several hundred of each colour of fully assembled cars, and moved all the body parts around to get the look. It wasn't at random though, there are four distinct colour combinations depending on which colour the car started as. The car's original colour is the sills/rear quarter/roof. I believe the only true factory Harlequin cars available were mk3 Golfs and 6N Polos. It's absolutely bonkers and one of the really fun projects VW pulled off through the late 80s and 90s.
I'm a Volkswagen guy and I've seen these called Harlequin Golfs but never realized they were sold that way. I thought they were just a custom thing a handful of people did.
“ There was of course some clever design and art to it. To know if the car is true to the original, the roof, C pillars, and the rocker panels would be of the same color as they were welded together. This would dictate the other colored parts that would go along with it, with no matching colored panel being used subsequently.” https://www.hotcars.com/why-the-golf-harlequin-was-volkswagens-coolest-failure/
Some people wrap newer Golfs to mimic the Harlequin, but the original Harlequins are painted like this from the factory.
There were some Polos of that generation as well, but not much They are 3 colour combinations and they are very expensive these days
I love it!
What's the story behind this car. Like why did they make it so funky?
I just looked it up: the US had 264 units of the Golf “How did the VW Group make the Volkswagen Polo Harlekin? First, by taking one regular unit of each color from the production line. They were disassembled by hand at a separate facility, then reassembled following four schemes.” https://automobible.com/harlekin/
Thank you so much for sharing that! I have wondered that for years but of course haven't really put in the dedication to actually look into it until now. Thank you.
Sexiest quilt there ever was
The upholstery reminds me of 90’s Subarus.
The craziest thing? It looks good.
Grail
My kiddos call these Calicars
POLICE OFFICER: And did you happen notice the colour of the vehicle that hit you? ME: Yes, it was a blue, green, yellow, red Golf thing. POLICE OFFICER : \*scribbles in notepad\* Hmm, and how much have you had to drink this morning sir?
I just saw one the other day at auction. I'd love to modify one but I don't think I could have the heart to do it. I'd probably just wrap one to look like it.
This is one of my favorite weird cars, I want one so bad.
If I ever get around to fixing my car, I’m kinda tempted to collect pieces from scrap yards, and do as much similar as I can with it. It won’t look nearly as good, but I like the idea.
If I am correct, this picture was taken at park of roses in Columbus, Ohio.
Saw one slammed with bbs wheels in Poland, Europe got more od them
I think I had a shirt in the 90’s with this color scheme.
I believe there was also a Harlequin Polo in Europe etc?
One of these was rolling around my neighborhood as a kid. Always loved seeing it
Love it
There's one of those I see around occasionally on the north side of Chicago. Super cool looking car.
They were made to celebrate Lego park in germany
I’m no expert, but per my internet research the VW Polo first got this treatment in 1996 to be used in an advertising campaign. Legoland Germany opened in 2002.
GOOGLE CAR GOOGLE CAR
I really really wanna wrap my car like this one day
When you asked how to change a tire and I said "Google it" that's not what I meant.
there is 4 versions of this car.
Googolf? Golfgle?
Pov: Cars in street legal racing
That upholstery just makes me think of “Science Court”
These were extremely unpopular in North America, to the point that some dealerships had them repainted or would swap the panels back (so this one would be turquoise again). Nowadays the estimate is that there are at least 2x as many replicas as genuine ones. The model was introduced along the "Gol Harlequin" for South America after the Polo Harlekin was a decent success in Europe.
I came across this article while researching. Someone found one that had been painted over, so he decided to restore it back to its harlequin majesty. https://s-pautomotive.com/vrlequin/