The Golf has been very popular with British buyers since its introduction in 1974. By March 2009, nearly 1,500,000 had been sold in Britain, making it the eighth most popular car ever sold there .
Upon the release of the Mk1 Golf in the mid 1970's in Australia, interest from prospective buyers was much higher than anticipated and most had to be placed on a waiting list.
Some Golfs were shipped whole, whilst others were shipped in separate parts, which were then assembled in Australia at the VW Clayton plant in Melbourne. Buyers who requested certain colours such as red, had to wait longer until their colour was shipped.
Some of these buyers chose to take a different colour temporarily until their requested colour became available, some waiting for their colour for up to 12 months.