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Competition for Escort and Kadett - VW Derby in (historic) test

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Created on March 9, 1977

Text:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

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13

Archiv

13

VW Derby L (1977) - from diagonally in front

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VW Derby L (1977) - from diagonally behind

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VW Derby L (1977) - front view

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VW Derby L (1977) - rear view

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VW Derby L (1977) - at the IAA in Frankfurt. In the background: a VW 1303 Cabriolet from Autohaus Nordstadt as 1st prize in the AMS readers' competition

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VW Derby L (1977) - medium equipment with chrome bumpers and side trim strip

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VW Polo GLS (1977) - together with its notchback brother Derby GLS

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VW Derby GLS (1977) - highest equipment line with small chrome hubcaps

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VW Derby (1977) - sectional drawing of a model with GLS equipment

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VW Derby (1977) - Sectional drawing of the EA 801 four-cylinder engine

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VW Golf (1978) - together with the Polo, Derby, Scirocco and Passat on the development site in Ehra-Lessien

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VW Derby CL (1980) - with metallic paint and "double decorative stripes"

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VW Derby (1979) - the redesigned dashboard after the facelift

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Summary

Few would dare to describe the first VW Derby as beautiful. But its notchback was undeniably harmoniously integrated into the Polo line. The fact that it was also faster, more economical and more comfortable than its rivals also ensured its inner beauty. This historical test reports on the advantages of the VW Derby.

This article contains the following chapters

Small but mighty
Nimble and economical
Pleasant all round

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Volkswagen plant leapt over the Beetle's shadow with the Golf concept and created a new bestseller with a transverse engine, front-wheel drive and short tailgate. The Polo, which was actually destined to become the Beetle's successor, also followed with a rear door. However, the Polo was unable to keep up with the Golf's triumphant run, and the VW managers wondered what was preventing the Beetle converts from defecting to the Polo with flying colors. The market researchers soon found out: the former Beetle fans tended to be conservative and therefore rejected the Italian-French rear-door car. The competition at Ford and Opel was of course happy with this: the Kadett and Excort (sic), both designed as "full-grown" cars, benefited from the unused gap in the VW range. This is now set to change with the Derby.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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