Share This Article

#TBT: The All-Wheel-Drive Convertible VW Golf

Published on Fri, Apr 17, 2020

By: The LACar Editorial Staff

Volkswagen has written this fascinating article on the extremely rare all-wheel-drive convertible Biagini Passo.

Editor’s Note: #ThrowbackThursday is a weekly release by Volkswagen, which covers historic and intriguing aspects of VW over the years. All content and photos are courtesy of Volkswagen. -CM

_________________________________________________________

The Biagini Passo
The Biagini Passo

In its more than 40 years of production, the Golf hatchback family tree has branched in numerous ways – from the original Volkswagen Pickup and wagon variants to the Golf GTI and R. In Europe, the second-generation Golf spawned the Golf Country, an all-wheel-drive version with a rugged look that presaged the current crossover era.

But a small Italian company took that evolution a step further – some may say a step too far – by creating a rare model drawn from the Golf family.

The Biagini Passo
The Biagini Passo

Inspired by the Meyers Manx, Volkswagen Thing and other fun-in-the-sun models, the Biagini Passo was essentially the chassis of the Mk 2 Golf Country blended with a reworked body shell of a Mk 1 Golf Cabriolet. With headlights and taillights borrowed from other manufacturers, a raised ride height and an external bull bar, the Passo looked like nothing else. It could hold five people with its top down, although the speed at which they traveled were limited by the 1.8-liter four-cylinder’s 98 hp.

The Biagini Passo
The Biagini Passo

Initially destined for central and eastern Europe, it’s not clear how many Passos were built after its launch in 1990; some sources say 300, others, well less than 100. It’s abundantly clear that today, few Passos remain in drivable condition, as a lack of rustproofing doomed many to the junk heap.

The Biagini Passo
The Biagini Passo

Yet the basic concept of the Passo – top down, go-anywhere fun – may be more popular than ever. In Europe, there’s a spiritual successor of sorts with the Volkswagen T-Roc Convertible, and as the ID. BUGGY concept demonstrates, the electric future has plenty of potential for open-air driving enjoyment.

You Might Also Like These Articles:

image of the 2025 Audi Q7

2025 Audi Q7 Prestige Quattro

lemons

What You Need to Know About Lemon Law Protections for Its Engine Issues

image of a classic yellow cab.

Why We Call Cars Lemon and How to Spot One

Bolt EV tuned to AM radio and Eaton Fire

AM CAR RADIO FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

exterior front of the 2025 Mazda cx-90

2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus