Description
Volkswagen Polo 86C Steilheck USA Prototype | 1981
Highlights:
– 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, petrol, manual transmission
– Genuine Volkswagen AG Research & Development factory prototype, converted to US specification
– Extremely low chassis number 117, built on 3 August 1981, before series production began
– Just 1,610 miles from new, formerly part of the Hermann Walter museum collection
– Full USA-specification equipment, including 5 mph bumpers, running lights and sealed-beam headlights
The seller offers for sale this 1981 Volkswagen Polo 86C Steilheck USA Prototype, powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with a manual transmission. This particular car left the Wolfsburg factory on 3 August 1981, well before series production of the 86C began in September of that year, giving it the exceptionally low chassis number 117. It was subsequently sold to Volkswagen AG’s Research and Development department and converted to US specification, before passing to a Volkswagen employee who covered around 1,500 miles in it. Since then only around 10 further miles have been added, for a total of just 1,610 miles. The car was later sold to the well-known Hermann Walter museum, where it has always been kept indoors; over some 45 years it has picked up a number of small dents and scratches, along with the odd patch of superficial surface rust.
What sets this Polo apart is its full conversion to American specification, undertaken by Volkswagen’s own engineers: 5 mph impact bumpers, additional running lights, sealed-beam headlights, a US-pattern grille, twin reversing lights, and number-plate lighting relocated to the tailgate rather than the rear bumper. The instrument cluster reads in mph and includes an oxygen-sensor warning light and gear-shift indicator, while the engine bay houses a catalytic converter and other emissions-related equipment specific to this market conversion. The car has passed its periodic technical inspection, valid until February 2028, with the necessary mechanical work carried out.
The second-generation Polo, internally coded 86C, arrived in 1981 and brought a sharper, more angular design language to Volkswagen’s smallest model, offered in hatchback, estate-like “Fox” and this distinctive notchback “Steilheck” coupé form. While the vast majority of 86C Polos were built for European markets, Volkswagen never officially sold the model in the United States, making any genuine US-specification example a rarity in its own right. As a factory research and development prototype built ahead of production and later preserved in a respected museum collection, this Polo represents a genuinely one-of-a-kind piece of Volkswagen history for the dedicated collector.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
Technical condition
4 — Very Good. Mechanically solid, with potential for minor servicing.
Overall condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
