The Legendary Golf That Never Was - Experiencing the VW A59

Рет қаралды 164,221

Күн бұрын

► The Mk3 Golf A59 was the closest we got to a Golf R two decades before the first debuted. It came from an era where homologation specials were raw, advanced, and expensive, but for a reason. The A59 was going to provide Volkswagen a legitimate chance at a Group A rally championship, going against the likes of McRae and Sainz in their Subarus and Toyotas. Financial instability and significant debt meant the project would never come to fruition, leaving engineers and VW enthusiasts with nothing but a single functioning prototype destined to display in a lobby somewhere in Germany.
Now, with the enthusiast market as strong as ever, and on the cusp of the prototype's 30th birthday, Volkswagen has teamed up with Jaime Orr to bring the A59 around the United States and give us Americans a chance to see the legend in the flesh. But first, Orr has brought the lone A59 up to the FCP Euro Proving Grounds at Lime Rock Park for a day of driving and reminiscing about what could've been.
00:00 - Golf A59 ASMR
00:45 - Arriving at Lime Rock Park
01:03 - VW Golf A59 history
04:39 - Driving the Golf A59
05:24 - First driving impressions
06:22 - Golf A59 interior
06:46 - Golf A59 transmission and AWD system
07:45 - Golf A59 engine history
09:21 - Golf A59 chassis and suspension
11:07 - Golf A59 speed comparison
11:53 - Does the Golf A59 live up to the hype?
12:50 - The VW Golf A59 meets the Mk8 TCR
Special thanks to: Jamie Orr, Volkswagen Classic, and Chris Eyre
SUBSCRIBE: kzfaq.info?sub_c...
Get free parts from FCP Euro:
www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime...
Follow FCP Euro on:
/ fcpeuro
/ fcpeuro
/ fcpeuro
www.fcpeuro.com/

Пікірлер: 276

@JamieOrr Жыл бұрын

Most amazing day at Lime Rock, thanks for making this happen FCP Euro ❤

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Couldnt have made it happen with out you Jamie - much thanks to you and Volkswagen Classic for bringing along the opportunity.

@digitalparadigms Жыл бұрын

Thanks to all involved

@johnmoser2689 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for helping make this happen BTW crazy cool hair change

@jonathanthomas7228 Жыл бұрын

you're just living all of our dreams, buddy! I'll never stop thanking you for all the things you do for us, even if we're all just living vicariously through your adventures.

@mattspring4696 Жыл бұрын

It was an honor to help edit this video. Something that will be cherished by the VW community for years to come.

@TuckEmDash Жыл бұрын

Cracking job 👍

@No_Grip_Racing Жыл бұрын

As a previous 2x Mk3 owner, this car is legendary, especially for us that rally or rallycross the mk3's. A WRC fighter created in the wake of the Mk2 Rallye... it had so much potential to be great. Thanks for taking it out of the museum and showing to us Americans this year!

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

We’re so glad you enjoyed it! It was an honor and a privilege to be able to do so.

@MrPlayboy28 Жыл бұрын

As a previous Golf Mk3 and Polo Mk4 owner, the sagging roof liner really makes it fell like home 😄

@eliasgye-jacquot164 Жыл бұрын

Bro please let's not talk about that. Mine is doing that again :(

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Just VWs doing VW things 🥲

@anthonyshook3516 Жыл бұрын

Man this gave me the chills. Was super bummed I could not make it to the Loe show and see it in the flesh, this video however helped to ease the pain!

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

That's what we are here for Anthony - to simply ease the pain... Thanks for watching!

@MrEmreWawa Жыл бұрын

I love that the headliner is sagging in the back. Classic.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

VWs are gonna do VW things 😅

@ryan_duffy Жыл бұрын

Awesome work from Ethan, Mark and team. Thanks for letting me be a small part of this great video 🤌

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your help as well Ryan, amazing day for all involved to remember!

@masongriffith144 Жыл бұрын

From a mk3 enthusiast, I want to say THANK YOU for making this. I too nerded out to magazines and internet photos on the ‘Tex about this car. So incredible to see it stateside, and to see it in action. Wow. I smiled the whole video. I’ve still got a framed poster of it on my wall.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Aboslutely love it Mason Griffith - you can relate to the way we felt producing this video then.

@nathanbrown9748 Жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it! Really appreciate it

@MrSimon1909 Жыл бұрын

if I would offer you the a59 for $200k, would you buy it?

@masongriffith144 Жыл бұрын

@@MrSimon1909 of course

@MrSimon1909 Жыл бұрын

@@masongriffith144 ok, you want to send via wester union?

@onehorsepower Жыл бұрын

MK3 was my first car, a GTD. Now lucky owner of a GR Yaris which I appreciate even more after watching this.

@danny_playswithcars Жыл бұрын

How to make an FCP Euro staple piece: -A Legendary, Homologation-Spec rarity on track. -Lime Rock Park in the middle of New England Autumn. -Two guys with personal history/attachment who are capable of giving this car the love and attention it deserves. -Cinematics and shots to rival the best of them. Certified banger.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Simple recipe Danny!

@stacyedenton2838 Жыл бұрын

As awesome as this car is, I really need to acknowledge the level of skill it took to both shoot and edit this. You guys are putting out quality that's on par with shows like Top Gear. It's super impressive. Great work!

@evanesatto6562 Жыл бұрын

This is an incredible film. Excellent work guys Beezy you were great as always!!!

@proprietary1 Жыл бұрын

Wow! What an engineering work of art! Bravo for driving this A59 turbo for us!! Cheers!

@LimeRockPark Жыл бұрын

😵Still can't believe you guys brought this out. Brilliantly done. Wow.

@swype.media-9309 Жыл бұрын

Amazing cinematography wow

@chadkennedy8675 Жыл бұрын

Now someone needs to make this exact bodykit

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

There is a gentleman in Germany that has molds from off of his Rallyrcross car - they'd likely set you back a pretty penny, but there's no denying how cool it would be to have one on a street-driven Mk3

@chadkennedy8675 Жыл бұрын

@@fcpeuro i wouldn't mind to give that guy my left kidney my left lung and my left nut for a bodykit

@8vfury Жыл бұрын

The best Golf ever - awesome work on this one everyone!

@nigel-Rollercam-channel Жыл бұрын

What an amazing experience, I have had a few of Syncros, Passat B3 G-60 and a Mk3 VR syncro cabby. The differences must be pretty amazing. I still have a 1993 Audi V8 4.2L and love seeing the old DTM versions in action

@MO-on8ml Жыл бұрын

amazing video and coverage of this car. thank you

@Pika_Gabe Жыл бұрын

Such a cool car! Still learning about where my gti came from and loving the history of these things!

@b2bfabrication Жыл бұрын

Great video of a true legend. Well done fellas!

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thanks B2BFAB - Legend indeed

@aronbennett4760 Жыл бұрын

I've always loved the legendary A59. Glad to see it's still making waves.

@vdubfredvr6969 Жыл бұрын

I have waited so long to see this video, this car here in the states, thank you Jamie and FCP Euro!!!!!

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

We were excited to bring this video to life for the community vdubfred6969- sights and sounds for all to enjoy, and major bonus with it being here in the states!

@silvwer 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for this awesome video. This is on of the coolest VW ever made.

@RR3EURO Жыл бұрын

Great cinematography guys 💪🏾

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ray - the team was excited for this one, and it shows!

@RyanSymancek Жыл бұрын

Brilliant car! So glad you guys got it over here and told its story. Truly wish this project made it to a stage rally. Pictures of the A59 entered in Group A WRC next to Lancia, Ford, Toyota, Subaru, etc would be incredible. Thanks for sharing! I love the fact that even this unicorn has a saggy headliner 😂

@Leonidae Жыл бұрын

One could say that this car paved the way for the MkIV R32. Love it.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

For sure!

@RickGTI2019 Жыл бұрын

Looks as though the A59 raised the bar for VW. And the present day Golf’s are the end result. Great video. Thanks, RickGTI….. 🌴

@pavlosxanthopoulos3273 Жыл бұрын

Great video ,every time I see the A59 ,I still love mk3s , the technology that produced to this car we see it with different clothes in Wrc ,Skoda, Seat,because everything is marketing

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thanks Pavlos - it has lived on in many forms like you mentioned!

@Psychedelic-Playground Жыл бұрын

Golf 3 was my first car. Since then its one of my dream cars. And this here, is the most beautiful VW ever made!! (for me) It looks perfect. Not overdone.. just decent but still aggressive. Perfect. Wouldnt it be possible to build replica bodykits with modern technology?

@NewHandle_ Жыл бұрын

Very hard to find a video on this, thanks 👍

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

We're glad you enjoyed it! It was an honor to have the opportunity to produce it.

@shiloh5199 Жыл бұрын

That Golf is so badass!!

@88tmilko Жыл бұрын

Looks like a RS2 look inspired Golf. Love it👏

@gnrrpreacher Жыл бұрын

Fantastic. I have a well modified Mk6 R and love that this thing was likely the same in 1992. I was driving a single wiper '82 Scirocco with a 16v swap at the time.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

The power band is remarkably similar, at least at whatever boost level we had for the video shoot - Mk6 R is one of our in-house favorites here 🙂

@Hath.0 Жыл бұрын

That's a bucket list item for a VW car guy. I'd love to just see one in person. Awesome.

@AFExploration Жыл бұрын

nice to see chris eyre got a mention, great car

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Chris wrote an article for us which is over on our website, and he was a great help to us during the filming of this as well. There is likely no one person who knows as much about the A59 as Chris, without a doubt.

@AFExploration Жыл бұрын

@@fcpeuro i've known chris since the early days of the ClubGTI forum 😁

@kevdavies3445 Жыл бұрын

stupendous car and film

@ThePilotGear Жыл бұрын

Back when I had my 98 mk3 Golf, I absolutely lusted over the A59 which was so mysterious. I knew almost nothing about it technically speaking, but the widebody flares and vented hood was so exciting to see on paper. I was always a bit sad Volkswagen chose to can this project and the mk3 Golf has rarely ever seen a racetrack. I've since moved on from Volkswagen but what wouldn't I give to drive an actual A59.

@OngoGablogian185 Жыл бұрын

Man, it's beautiful.

@benkromphardt1916 Жыл бұрын

I saw this at SEMA in Vegas a few weeks ago. No signs, no banners, no overhyped unveiling. It wasn't even with the VWs in the VW area. I thought "Hey, that's a nice Mk III Golf, I wonder who owns it". And walked on. It was too bad the hood wasn't up, or for more of the engineering to be on display. We can't see everything, so I'm glad FCP Euro has the means to make this video.

@samwheaton4088 Жыл бұрын

I loved my mk3 , I now have an Mk6r which I love but the mk3 was just so fun

@kelemenkaban2505 Жыл бұрын

Please come with me to an alternative reality: Mk3 Golf A59 was launched in 1993 and it was racing in Group A with Lancia Delta Integrale EVO 2 Toyota Celica GT-Four Ford Escort RS Cosworth Subaru Impreza WRX Mitsubishi Lancer EVO Oh man, that would have been epic. I totally agree with the video, Volkswagen would be a very different brand today, if that happened. Going for sportiness instead of just going big...

@zedfender9423 Жыл бұрын

I can't say I've heard of this golf and i like a hot hatchback Nice to find something I've not seen before.

@shepardman993 Жыл бұрын

Incredible 🙌🙌🙌

@jeryjohn Жыл бұрын

Man im VWs natural frienemy strictly a honda guy and this car tugs even my heart strings😍

@ludikonj8927 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful! Next we'll like to see is the original m8 driving

@lukekolodziej9631 Жыл бұрын

I was at the SEMA show this year and I had no idea what I was looking at when I saw this car. I searched on google and could not find it and now I know why haha. It was incredible being able to see this car in person.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Perfect Luke! That's why we wanted to release it in conjunction with SEMA!

@MKI4EVA Жыл бұрын

What a tease lol waiting for the MK8😂

@caseroberts9863 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic upload. Another one off golf, was featured on Top Gear a while ago. The GTI W12 its a super-beast. Volkswagen took parts. From a Lamborghini, Bentley, and R8 to make that little beauty chooch.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

The W12 concept would be a dream to drive! Or just see in the flesh

@flyingmonkey3315 Жыл бұрын

Glorious!

@dakota3998 Жыл бұрын

I have a golf 3 gti long block and I praise 👏 the models hardest bodies after the beetle

@michoourbone Жыл бұрын

amazing golf! ❤mk3!

@gabb5011 Жыл бұрын

this is rad!

@bendayho3k3 Жыл бұрын

🤯 never thought I'd see this car in anything other than in the background of videos or old magazine articles.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Until the chance for this video shoot came up, neither did we!

@pdee886 Жыл бұрын

Love LRP. It's a fun course, especially in my e36 track car. Definitely sounds like some straight cut gears. Too bad it's not a sequential trans. That would be even better. Thanks for sharing 👍

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

The gearbox was definitely a bit on the noisy side! Helps provide good motorsport/race car vibes from the driver's seat.

@oldseadogcb3130 Жыл бұрын

I could never afford an A59, so, will have to stay with my red 1997 VW Mk3 2.0l GTI 16v ABF engine with 69,632 original miles on the clock, and have FUN 😂Was brill watching your vid though FCP Euro and learning a little VW history ✌

@Kiss__Kiss Жыл бұрын

What a Gem. "That story is for another time." Bring it!!! I'm here for it..

@jade-royhuntington9376 Жыл бұрын

That story is coming very soon!

@gioelegatti4558 Жыл бұрын

Awesome and informative video, what’s the other prototipe at the end? Are you going to make a video about that and maybe of the W12 golf gti that never made into production?

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

We'd love to do more videos like this...VW are you listening :)? The camo prototype is the Mk8 Golf GTI TCR, also on site thanks to Jamie Orr and Volkswagen Classic. We released a full video and technical review of the TCR just recently! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bsyjf819uteRaHU.html

@johnmoser2689 Жыл бұрын

I always wanted more race bred VWs but they never went through with anything apparently it was always close but no cigar Love this special mk3

@vasilykostin8783 Жыл бұрын

Nice video. However, guys seem a bit wrong regarding the active all-whell drive. Unlike the Haldex system which is a 2-differential setup with a Haldex coupling engaging the rear wheels, this one is a 3-differential setup with active central differential designed by Steyr Daimler Puch - not unlike the Subaru DCCD or Toyota Celica GT-Four system (the latter must be the closest equivalent). Xtrac would have provided a racing transmission (dogbox+active central differential). At least that's what I understood from Chris Eyre articles.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the insight Vasily- we were actually lucky enough to have Chris write us an article that helps clarify some of those points we may have missed in the moment incar. blog.fcpeuro.com/standing-alone-the-vw-golf-a59-prototype

@briangriffith3985 Жыл бұрын

if this came out, wrc would have been even more lit back then. celica st185, impreza wrx, lancer evo, escort cossie, and this.... wow

@johnrowell942 Жыл бұрын

Heaven in VW as a kid.

@crowe9385 Жыл бұрын

Unreal. Just an amazing mk3. I love that it’s been driven hard.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

We can rest easy at night knowing it was put through the proper paces over the years of development Crowe 938

@manuelmena8170 Жыл бұрын

Bro, I didn't even knew this car existed 👍👍👍👍🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

@jimno13 Жыл бұрын

I have that Magazine ! Whoop 🤭 and a cheeky vr6 on the drive 🚗;) it's my super golf hahah 😆 awesome nostalgia

@quicknickdriver8510 Жыл бұрын

Pure development car. I think VW knew what that were working with all along.

@neilbirkitt1412 Жыл бұрын

Good to see the original Volkswagen Audi Car ( by David Pipes ) and Volkswagen Driver magazine ( by Chris Eyre ) features listed here... :-)

@plamendimitrov5762 Жыл бұрын

A little critique, when talking about the "amazing sound" I would prefer a bit more than 10s clip of it with music. Even tho that exhaust makes it quiet and its probably squeaking and rattling like any other race car would, an unedited footage with pure car noises would be interesting as well. Other than that, thanks for the cool video!

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

You are correct that the car is very very quiet. It was a challenge to capture the engine sounds, but perhaps we can throw together an A59 ASMR driving video sometime in the future

@hansmaulwurf3831 Жыл бұрын

Wow what a rare piece. Built by SMS, also kind of creator of the Audi S2

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

SMS has had a hand in quite a few significant motorsport projects over the years - it was an honor to be able to review this car.

@MrAudi220 Жыл бұрын

You can see where they got their design ideas fro the mk4 R32, lots of resemblance is found in this mk3

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

It certainly inspired design and engineering decisions years later Greasmonkey2k4

@1Up_jp Жыл бұрын

I had a 97 GTI VR6 and it was a 5 speed. Man that car was hella quick

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

One of the greats!

@stevesloan6775 Жыл бұрын

I love everything about this design especially the gearbox and drivetrain.. Did the VW group BAM 5 valve per cylinder Turbo engine win-out over this engine design? I am lucky enough to own a Mk1 TT and the 1800cc BAM engine is pretty incredible, with a few stage 2 upgrades.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

At the end of the day the 1.8t is a great engine, but designed for different purposes than the A59 engine. The 1.8t was meant to feel like a larger displacement V6, with big torque and quick response, whereas the A59 engine was designed for pure performance. Thankfully for us the 1.8t responds really well to tuning as you noted, and can last for miles and miles with the right servicing

@Psychedelic-Playground Жыл бұрын

7:00 Can someone at VW PLEASE give this Golf an underbody treatment??? There should be no rust at all!! They should convert all the rusty parts and put some expensive layers of protection on it. Even the stock exhaust of this thing is super rare and should be protected! (same with driveshafts, swaybars etc.)

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

The staff at Volkswagen Heritage do a great job keeping up on this car, but it is hard to say, which is better - preserved as it was or restored into something perfect? Both ideas have merit. We were shocked to see the use the car had been put through, but it also makes sense.

@stanfordkoch1271 Жыл бұрын

Looks like a crossing between the golf3 and golf4

@clemsonguy99 Жыл бұрын

Awesome.

@KyleKnoblauch Жыл бұрын

Would've loved to see how this would've done in WRC. It reminds a little bit of the Pulsar GTi from the JDM market, another 2 door, turbo AWD hot hatch.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Us too! If you look at WRC in the 90s, it wasn't until the Subaru 22B that any of the big players released a rules-exploiting car like the A59 would have been.

@vr6muppet Жыл бұрын

I thought there was another of these that burned. I remember talking about this car on vortex years ago.

@chapel976 Жыл бұрын

man, remember when Rich Pugh had those seats in his car? That was peak Waterfest viewing for me.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

This is a very specific call out and we're here for it. Rich is a friend of Nathan's, his silver VR6 Turbo Cabriolet was super cool, but so was the silver Mk2 :)

@berykent4598 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. I melted with happiness while looking at this beautiful and magnificent car. Thanks. Greetings from Montenegro.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thank you, we're glad you enjoyed the video 🏁

@aircommandslipperz Жыл бұрын

imo best looking golf..

@ski808 Жыл бұрын

Dream car. Hands down.

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

It still didnt feel real being here, seeing it, touching it, in person. Truly special car

@Kornatzz Жыл бұрын

Id say that the VW Golf GTI W12-650 was even crazier. I have a mk5 so I may be a bit biased:)

@deepvoicebanton1 Жыл бұрын

I'm watching this feeling to cry cause I'm missing my GTi my Daughter was 3yrs Old(2008)and she'd ask me "Daddy we have to go in the Grocery today?" The ONLY Car close to it is the Mantis 323f Lantis V6 type R which I got

@rich90388 Жыл бұрын

Nice

@sphiwemashaba2661 Жыл бұрын

Awsome car! Please do a video on the Mk2 G60 Limited Edition

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

That's a great idea, we would love to! We were thinking about producing a series on rare VWs, what do you think?

@sphiwemashaba2661 Жыл бұрын

@@fcpeuro I'm subscribed and ready to watch 🔥

@manuelarquin Жыл бұрын

très belle golf

@elmejorvw Жыл бұрын

The OG .:R

@stephenmorrissey1254 Жыл бұрын

Nice! When did FCP Euro become Hagerty?

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Haha we will consider that a compliment Stephen 😂We hope to bring some more content of this type to the channel over the next year.

@keithoncars Жыл бұрын

This video is important 🔥🔥🔥🔥🇿🇦

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching it Keith - we hope it lives on with that importance!

@thorsteinelstadolsen2005 Жыл бұрын

Hey! how many was build??

@Albert87nl Жыл бұрын

now we only need to find the Lost Cup VR6 by Abt. and its all set for the legacy Mk3's!

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

That'd be an ideal foillow up story Albert!

@agondokusumo-111 Жыл бұрын

Is the other prototype the 2017 VW Polo R WRC that was cancelled as well?

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

The other prototype is the Mk8 Golf GTI TCR - but yes it was cancelled just last year. We produced a video on it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bsyjf819uteRaHU.html

@harisdevedzic3167 Жыл бұрын

So it's Golf R before the R, nice

@minimanadam Жыл бұрын

Cool vw

@melvinjo1596 Жыл бұрын

Why 2 generations before the firsf Golf R? What about the Golf 4 R32?

@mikerobertson5060 Жыл бұрын

I wonder how this would compare to the later F2 kit cars that came along which I believe had reasonable success, even the diesel Kit car surprised plenty of people

@fcpeuro Жыл бұрын

The kit cars were all very different beasts from the A59 for sure, but no less cool or significant in our eyes. There's nothing quite like the sound or performance of a high-rev NA engine, while the TDIs were absolutely ahead of their time. Being pure race cars, and this being a street car, we imagine the kit cars would be even more mental to drive.

@mladenzivkovic5970 Жыл бұрын

god damn those grill lines on the right side are a bit bent down it poke my eyes ;)

@firstprototype Жыл бұрын

Like Audi A1 quattro limited edition ✨️ I'm sure this one can enter production right now in a limited numbers at a creazy price if will be enough collectors for it 😀, I'm not yet millionaire but i will ❤ one for day to day driving 😊

@fugelkusch3722 Жыл бұрын

And after the first one was built, the then VW-Boss Piech showed up and was like: NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN NEIN! And that's that...

@superliegebeest544 Жыл бұрын

I had a gti 2.0 8v and a vr6. The gti was the best vw I ever had. And I had a lot from mk1s up to mk4. It was not really fast but it was smooth and decent. 220 with no problem every sunday night blasting from the city back home to town over the highway. Always within 2 numbers of a cd from acdc I was turning into my parents street. From where I left in the city. Usually my friends home. Just blasting full stoned as a canary. Hehe.