Volkswagen Derby
The Mk I Polo, a rebadged version of the Audi 50, was introduced in 1975. It was distinguished from its Audi sibling by its lower price and simplified features. The two cars were sold alongside each other until the Audi was discontinued in 1978. The Polos were manufactured at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant. A year later, the Derby sedan was released, essentially a Polo with an added boot.
When it first hit the market, the LS model featured the 50 PS (37 kW) 1043 cc engine from the Audi 50. Further details included parking lights, rear wash wipe, sun visors, stainless steel bumpers, and 4.5J X 13" wheels. The N model was the basic entry-level version, lacking some of the LS's features. In 1979 this was upgraded to a GLS, featuring a sunroof, chrome headlight and grille surrounds, a cigarette lighter, and chrome wheel trims.
Three different engine sizes were used– 895 cc, 1093 cc, and 1272 cc. The smallest engine was exclusive to the Polo hatchback, while the 1272 engine was reserved only for the Derby, the Audi 50, and the rare Polo GT. The engines came with different compression ratios ranging from 35 to 60 PS (26 to 44 kW), often depending on the country of sale.
Mk IF (1979-1981)
The Mk I Polo and Derby were facelifted in 1979 (Mk IF), featuring plastic bumpers, a different front grille, and revised dashboard design. The Derby's round headlights were replaced with square units, bringing it in line with the similar Jetta sedan. Other models such as the CLS, S and LX were also released. The Mk I's production run ended in October 1981 with over half a million units sold worldwide.
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