#TBT: The Harlequin lives on

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• About 3,100 Polo “Harlekins’ and 264 Golf Harlequins were built in the ‘90s
• A one-off from the Netherlands gives a modern take on the classic look

Herndon, VA — The #harlequin story started more than a quarter-century ago with the Polo, but the cars remain a unique part of #volkswagen history. For Blue Monday, #volkswagen Netherlands created a one-off tribute.

The idea for the #harlequin drew inspiration from a 1964 #volkswagen Beetle ad that depicted a multi-colored Beetle, touting its easily interchangeable parts over many model years. To demonstrate the new colors and options available for the European launch of the #volkswagen Polo city car in 1994, #volkswagen created a model with multiple paint colors for display, dubbed “Harlekin.” It soon found that customers not only wanted the new model, but the mixed-up color version as well.

Originally slotted for a small production run, the colorful hatch created enough demand on its own that around 3,100 units were ultimately built. Due to the buzz it generated in Europe, #volkswagen decided to manufacture a limited batch of Harlequin-inspired Golf vehicles for the North American market in 1996, with 264 eventually assembled.

The name #harlequin was a reference to the cheerful, colorfully dressed characters from the Italian commedia dell’arte theatre. To build one, #volkswagen produced four regular Polos in Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red and Chagall Blue, and swapped out parts like the hood, tailgate, doors, bumpers, and mirrors according to a set pattern.

A Harlequin’s base color is the shade applied to the roof, the C-pillars and inside the engine compartment. The front bumper, front doors and mirrors of every #harlequin are the same color, as are the rear doors and bumper. Customers of the original Polo #harlequin, could not order a specific pattern for the base color; they had to wait until delivery to see which of the four available combinations they would get.

For the modern take, #volkswagen Netherlands applied the #harlequin treatment to a single sixth-generation Polo. #automotive technology has come a long way since 1995 but the #harlequin touch brings back the same endearing sense of fun. 

About Volkswagen
Founded in 1955, #volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of #volkswagen Group of America and a subsidiary of #volkswagen AG, with headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The #volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. #volkswagen sells the Arteon, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Passat, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit #volkswagen online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.