HOMAGE TO THE DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST – THE POSTGOLF
The legendary Volkswagen Postgolf
This vehicle may not fit in the dream garage – or maybe it does. A piece of contemporary history – for Volkswagen and the Deutsche Bundespost. Volkswagen has always produced special vehicles for the Deutsche Bundespost, but never to the extent and as remarkable as the Volkswagen Golf MK2 – the so-called Postgolf.
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Volkswagen delivered 200,000 units over a period of almost seven years, from 1984 to 1991, in two versions, for somewhat different purposes. On the one hand for delivering mail in more rural areas, where the mail was not delivered by bicycle due to the rather large distances, and for the Deutsche Bundespost Fernmeldedienst (telecommunications service), the unit that installed and switched on the telephones before privatization (the current Deutsche Telekom). The model shown comes from the Fernmeldedienst.
What distinguished the models from series production: the yellow color of Deutsche Bundespost, RAL 1032 “Ginster Yellow”, previously a little more yellow in RAL 1021. Matching or not – but certainly quite attractive in the 80s – the brown interior. So much for the visual design.
The cars for the Deutsche Bundespost were very poorly equipped. So they had neither a radio – nor a clock. Counting overtime shouldn’t be so easy. But it was definitely part of this simplicity, which made the car so trouble-free. No unnecessary electricity consumers – and the car still started after years without being moved in between – like this in the pictures here. Another special feature of Postgolf in the passenger compartment: the US Golf (or Rabbit MK2) belt, a 2-point belt that was only clicked into the door, making it possible to get on and off quickly without having to buckle up and unbuckle each time. In Germany, by the way, this is only permitted in conjunction with a special knee groin, which should protect against slipping in the event of an impact – at least the knees.
The rear area was very different from the normal Golf models. The Postgolf had a loading area. A construction was built from wood, which made a smooth floor possible. In addition, a net construction ensured that objects flying around did not hit the driver. In addition, the Postgolf had special stainless steel loading sills to protect the rear area when loading and unloading frequently. The special Deutsche Bundespost – bag was not part of the equipment by the way, it was purchased as an accessory – it belonged to the old postal bicycles.
Incidentally, the Postgolf was motorized with a very robust, 1.6 liter diesel engine with 54 hp, extremely low maintenance and long-lasting, at the same time very economical with less than 5 liters of diesel per 100km, or 47 miles per gallon. Another thing: Usually, the yearly tax for Diesel vehicles became very expensive, especially for the old ones. But this one is an exemption. It has a truck registration, therefore the yearly tax is just 90 Euros (instead of 601 Euros for a comparable Golf MK2 Diesel without a historic registration, which would be 192 Euros per year).
A special eye-catcher that makes the hearts of Volkswagen fans beat faster. Hardly to be seen on Germany’s streets. Unfortunately.
And by the way, not all of the special Bundespost labels on the vehicle are original. Part of it came from the owner’s imagination and how he would have liked it to be labeled.
