Originally destined for a 1,000 unit production run, Volkswagen managed to make 3,100 units for Europe due to higher than anticipated demand. That gave VW enough of a reason to manufacture some Harlequin Golfs in North America. That said, while demand for Harlequin Volkswagen Golfs was intense, it was also small.
Full Answer
What is the history of the Golf Harlequin?
We begin, as usual, with some history. I believe the Golf Harlequin’s heritage can be traced back to this 1960s Beetle ad, which shows a multi-colored Beetle and touts one of its principal flaws (unchanging design) as a feature (interchangeable parts).
How many Harlequin Golfs did Volkswagen make?
Following the success of the European-market VW Polo in Harlequin guise, Volkswagen built four Golf models in the same multicolor motif for use on the 1995 auto-show circuit. American VW executives found the show cars utterly charming, and immediately ordered 60 examples for retail sale.
Why did Jim Ellis get so many Harlequin Golfs?
The reason Jim Ellis got so many Harlequin Golfs is still unclear, though I find it more than slightly coincidental that a second Jim Ellis Volkswagen point in nearby Marietta, Georgia, was established just a few months earlier. A manufacturer using an under-the-table quid-pro-quo to move unwanted inventory? In the car business? Never!
How many colors did the Golf Harlequin come in?
Each Golf Harlequin went down the production line finished in one of four colors: Chagall Blue, Ginster Yellow, Pistachio Green or Tornado Red. The color swap occurred only once each car was completely assembled. In other words, every bolt-on exterior panel was switched to a different car.
Why Volkswagen is a Harlequin?
The history of the Volkswagen Harlequin The idea behind the car came from a 1964 VW Beetle advertisement. The car had multiple colored panels, advertising easily interchangeable parts. In 1995, Volkswagen of Europe celebrated the launch of the Polo city car by giving it a mixed paint scheme using the four base colors.
What is Harlequin VW Golf?
Those Volkswagen Harlequin Polos from 1995. Do you remember them? 1995 Polos got separately-painted panels of Chagall Blue, Ginster Yellow, Pistachio Green, and Tornado Red. Some loved them, so hated them, but you have to admit it was a crazy idea from staid VW. Now it unveiled a Harlequin prototype for 2021.
How many VW Harlequins were made?
Following Up the Polo Instead, they decided to create a Harlequin for the Americans. And so, for the 1996 model year, a total of 264 Golf GL five-doors left Volkswagen's factory in Puebla, Mexico, a little crazier than the rest.
How much is a golf Harlequin worth?
1996 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $25,500 on August 6, 2021 (Lot #52,668) | Bring a Trailer.
What year was the Harlequin Golf?
VW took the conservative route with just four examples of the 1996 Golf Harlequin in North America. As demand increased, so did production to an additional 60 units. It was followed by another 200 being built.
What Colour is a VW Harlequin?
The Harlequin idea also went international. In 1996, VW built 264 examples of the multi-colored Golf and sold them in the US. They were is a mix of Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red and Chagall Blue....Gallery: VW Polo Harlequin (2021) Netherlands.CategoryDesignBody StyleHatchback2 more rows•Jan 21, 2021
What is the rarest VW?
With a limited run of only 200 road-going cars, the XL1 is one of the rarest VW's ever built.
How many Harlequins are left?
The plan was to build 1.000 of them, but they ended up building 3.400 of them. The original Harliquins have become nearly impossible to find nowadays, because only 20 of them have been build and not all of them were sold.
How many polo Harlequins are there?
20212017VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.4 HARLEQUIN2033
What is the golf Harlequin's history?
I believe the Golf Harlequin’s heritage can be traced back to this 1960s Beetle ad, which shows a multi-colored Beetle and touts one of its principal flaws (unchanging design) as a feature (interchangeable parts). Years later, Land Rover would employ the “flaw is a feature” strategy to explain virtually every problem on the Series I Discovery (“of course the rear wiper only works when the dome light is on… that’s how they want it on safari!”).
What year was the Golf Harlequin made?
What was it? At its core, the Golf Harlequin was, quite simply, a multi-colored Volkswagen Golf manufactured only for the 1996 model year. But, like most things in the car world – and everything in the Volkswagen world – there’s a lot more to it than that. We begin, as usual, with some history.
How many Harlequins did Volkswagen dealers get?
This was, of course, the hard part. Nearly all Volkswagen dealers got between zero and two Harlequins, with the dealers getting two immensely jealous of the dealers who got zero. In many cases, Harlequins were purchased – likely with an immense discount, or in 1998 – by local businesses looking to stand out. Many more went to suburb-dwelling piano teachers who wanted to try something kooky.
What happened to the Harlequins in 1996?
Either way, one thing about the Jim Ellis Harlequins is very clear: they saw some use during the 1996 Olympic Games, which were held in Atlanta and disrupted by a bomb that went off in the city’s Centennial Olympic Park.
Where was the 1996 Golf GL made?
And so, for the 1996 model year, a total of 264 Golf GL five-doors left Volkswagen’s factory in Puebla, Mexico, a little crazier than the rest. Here’s how it worked.
Do Harlequins pop up?
On the used market, Harlequins only pop up occasionally. When they do surface, they tend to pull a slight premium over their blander contemporaries, proving that maybe – just maybe – this wasn’t such a strange idea after all. Doug DeMuro operates PlaysWithCars.com.
Did the Harlequins go to the Jim Ellis body shop?
The Harlequins were so crazy, in fact, that even their participation in the Olympics couldn’t help Jim Ellis sell them all. According to a friend who works at the dealer, the last few Harlequins went to the Jim Ellis body shop, where the panels were swapped back to recreate single-color cars.
What color is Harlekin?
They usually wore quirky colorful clothing in different patterns using four primary colors — green, red, blue, and yellow. So the car had nothing to do with the comic book character or the DC Universe movies featuring Margot Robbie.
Did the US market understand the Harlequin?
The US market didn’t quite understand the silliness and the appeal of the Harlequin.
Did VW make a little Polo?
The US and North American region never got the little Polo. But its elder brother Golf was of course a fan favorite. So to test out the waters, VW decided to do the same with a Golf Harlequin. After final assembly at the Puebla, Mexico plant, the body panels were interchanged to give us the Golf Harlequin, again resulting in the same four variations. At the time, Chagall Blue, and Pistachio Green colors on the Golf were otherwise unavailable in North America.
Is Polo and Golf Harlequin funny?
There is a global stereotype that Germans aren’t very funny. But the Polo and Golf Harlequin confirm that they take their sense of humor very seriously. What started as seemingly a silly humorous ad, tuned out to be an icon that car coveted by enthusiasts. The Polo and Golf Harlequin achieved the brief to be cemented into the minds of people. While it wasn’t a massive success in sales which wasn’t even its initial intention, it was a genius advertising move. It put the Polo and the Golf on the map, if it hadn’t been well established already.
How many Harlequin Golfs were built?
That said, while demand for Harlequin Volkswagen Golfs was intense, it was also small. Only 246 Harlequin Golfs were built for the states. But even at over 25 years old, the car still fetches high sales prices due to its rarity.
How many Harlequins were made?
Despite their strange color scheme and fun personality, Volkswagen Harlequins sold rather poorly in the states. Yes, 264 cars were made, which gave every VW dealer zero to two Harlequins a piece. But the dealerships that got zero were lucky.
What colors were used in the Harlequin?
The four colors used on Harlequin cars were Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red, and Chagall Blue. Originally destined for a 1,000 unit production run, Volkswagen managed to make 3,100 units for Europe due to higher than anticipated demand. That gave VW enough of a reason to manufacture some Harlequin Golfs in North America.
Did the Harlequins sell poorly?
The Harlequin sold poorly in the states, only known by a select few, Ross included. Even with their use at the 1996 Olympic games, some of the once Harlequins were taken back to a shop, then rearranged to match the original color.
What colors were used in the 1996 Golf?
The four colors were Pistachio Green, Ginster Yellow, Tornado Red and Chagall Blue, none of which were offered on a regular 1996 Golf.
Why did Doug quit his job?
Eventually, he quit his job to become a writer, largely because it meant that he no longer had to wear pants.
Did Volkswagen make the Golf Harlequin?
Despite the lack of public enthusiasm for the Golf Harlequin, Volkswagen also made a Polo Harlequin for European buyers, who presumably showed the same lack of enthusiasm. Today, after nearly 20 years, the Golf Harlequin is almost completely forgotten to the annals of automotive history.
Is the Volkswagen Golf Harlequin a hatchback?
Perhaps the most obvious proof of this is the Volkswagen Golf Harlequin, which is a multicolored version of the Volkswagen Golf hatchback. This is not an aftermarket color scheme or something modified later by enthusiasts. Volkswagen actually created this car and sold it as a new vehicle in its dealerships.
How many Harlequin golfs were painted in 1996?
Then in 1996, 264 Golfs were painted in the Harlequin color scheme for North America. You might have seen one or two squirting around your town. There were never enough to make them very common which was another reason why if you ever saw one you never forgot it. They looked like a major factory foul-up or someone’s idea of a joke. But they became highly collectible because of their unusual nature.
When did the 2021 VW Golf Harlequin start?
2021 VW Golf Harlequin concept | VW. This actually started in 1964 when an ad appeared with a VW bug with painted panels in four different colors. In 1995 it painted a then-new Polo-like the 1964 ad. VW always intended to do a very small run of the Harlequin Polos.
What colors did the 1995 Harlequin Polos come in?
Those Volkswagen Harlequin Polos from 1995. Do you remember them? 1995 Polos got separately-painted panels of Chagall Blue, Ginster Yellow, Pistachio Green, and Tornado Red. Some loved them, so hated them, but you have to admit it was a crazy idea from staid VW. Now it unveiled a Harlequin prototype for 2021.
When did VW start making polos?
This actually started in 1964 when an ad appeared with a VW bug with painted panels in four different colors. In 1995 it painted a then-new Polo-like the 1964 ad. VW always intended to do a very small run of the Harlequin Polos. Instead, it ended up making over 3,000. There were four different variations using the same four colors as seen in the 1964 ad.
Will the new 2021 Golf be made with Harlequin paint?
Unfortunately, the new Golf shown with the Harlequin paint is the only one planned to be produced. It’s just a tribute to get some attention for the new 2021 Golf. It could be headed to the VW museum in the Netherlands, or maybe to the crusher? Just making one or two for every dealer VW has in North America would be a great way to spotlight the new Golf. Would VW do that? Probably not. But one can still wish.
What color is the Harlequin Golf?
In 1996, Volkswagen began making the rounds for the North American auto shows with a new color of its four-door Golf hatchback. Well, not “a” new color, really: the car that would come to be known and prized as the VW Harlequin Golf is a four-color car: each door panel, the two bumpers, the hood, and the roof were painted in either purple, yellow, teal, or red. No one panel could be touching another of the same color. It looks like somebody disassembled four Fisher-Price toys and reassembled them while wearing a blindfold. It is probably the sickest car I’ve ever seen.
When did colorblocking start?
Colorblocking, like a lot of fashion ideas, went in and out with the decades. In the 1990s, it evolved to primarily focus not on one garment with different blocks of color, but many garments, each one with its own color. Big designers in the mid-1990s went crazy for this: Isaac Mizrahi and Versace both released bold, vibrant colorblocked shows right around the time that the VW Harlequin Golf was created.
When did Harlequin first appear?
The Harlequin character first appeared in England early in the 17th century and took centre stage in the derived genre of the Harlequinade, developed in the early 18th century by John Rich. As the Harlequinade portion of English dramatic genre pantomime developed, Harlequin was routinely paired with the character Clown.
Where did the name Harlequin come from?
The name Harlequin is taken from that of a mischievous "devil" or "demon" character in popular French passion plays. It originates with an Old French term herlequin, hellequin, first attested in the 11th century, by the chronicler Orderic Vitalis, who recounts a story of a monk who was pursued by a troop of demons when wandering on the coast of Normandy (France ) at night. These demons were led by a masked, club-wielding giant and they were known as familia herlequin (var. familia herlethingi ). This medieval French version of the Germanic Wild Hunt, Mesnée d'Hellequin, has been connected to the English figure of Herla cyning ("host-king"; German Erlkönig ). Hellequin was depicted as a black-faced emissary of the devil, roaming the countryside with a group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to Hell. The physical appearance of Hellequin offers an explanation for the traditional colours of Harlequin's red-and-black mask. The name's origin could also be traced to a knight from the 9th century, Hellequin of Boulogne, who died fighting the Normans and originated a legend of devils. In Cantos XXI and XXII from Dante 's Inferno there is a devil by the name of Alichino. The similarities between the devil in Dante's Inferno and the Arlecchino are more than cosmetic. The prank-like antics of the devils in the aforementioned antics reflect some carnivalesque aspects.
What is the difference between Harlequin and the first Zanni?
By contrast with the "first zanni " Harlequin takes little or no part in the development of the plot. He has the more arduous task of maintaining the even rhythm of the comedy as a whole. He is therefore always on the go, very agile and more acrobatic than any of the other Masks. — Oreglia, Giacomo.
What is the Harlequin stock character?
The classical appearance of the Harlequin stock character in the commedia dell'arte of the 1670s, complete with batte or " slapstick ", a magic wand used by the character to change the scenery of the play ( Maurice Sand, 1860 ) The Harlequin "Today" Park Bank at the Fountain in Pulsnitz - Gemany. Harlequin ( / ˈhɑːrləkwɪn /; Italian: Arlecchino ...
Where is the Harlequin today?
The Harlequin "Today" Park Bank at the Fountain in Pulsnitz - Gemany. Harlequin ( / ˈhɑːrləkwɪn /; Italian: Arlecchino [arlekˈkiːno]) is the best-known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian commedia dell'arte. The role is traditionally believed to have been introduced by Zan Ganassa in the late 16th century, ...
What is the oldest version of Harlequin?
One of the oldest versions of Harlequin, dating to the 15th century. Costume almost identical to Harlequin's, but had a variation of the 17th century where the triangular patches were replaced with moons, stars, circles and triangles. In 18th century France, Trivelino was a distinct character from Harlequin.
What is the Harlequin's costume?
His role is that of a light-hearted, nimble, and astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest, Columbina, with wit and resourceful ness, often competing with the sterner and melancholic Pierrot.
Why is Harlequin so successful?
Harlequin's success in overseas markets results from its "emphasis on locality and language, independence and autonomy". The editors in Harlequin's branch offices have a great deal of control over which Harlequin novels will be published in their market. An editor generally chooses a book after either reading it personally, receiving a favorable review of the book from someone else, or reading a tip sheet about the novel. The editors accept a novel for one of four reasons:
Where was Harlequin founded?
In May 1949, Harlequin was founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada as a paperback reprinting company. The business was a partnership between Advocate Printers and Doug Weld of Bryant Press, Richard Bonnycastle, plus Jack Palmer, head of the Canadian distributor of the Saturday Evening Post and the Ladies' Home Journal.
How profitable is Harlequin?
The company is considered one of the most profitable in publishing. Over $585 million worth of books sold in 2003, for gross profits of $124 million and a profit margin of 21%. Its large profit margin can be tied in part to the amount of advance that its authors receive. These advances are often smaller than the industry average and can total to only a few thousand dollars for a series romance. Despite its profitability, and a 37.2% pay hike for Harlequin President and CEO, Donna Hayes in 2011, the firm's royalty program for authors is controversial. In 2011, the Romance Writers Association sent a letter to all members to "exercise due diligence in reviewing contracts" with Harlequin because "several members of RWA have expressed concern regarding" Harlequin's digital royalty rate changes and non-compete clauses. This is not the first time Harlequin had been called out by the Romance Writers Association regarding Harlequin's treatment of their authors. In 2009, Harlequin was called out by the Mystery Writer's Association, Romance Writers of America, and Science Fiction Writers Association for schemes of making their authors pay for publishing. In 2012, Harlequin faced a class action lawsuit from authors alleging the publisher had fraudulently licensed e-book publishing rights at low rates to one of its subsidiaries in order to pay royalties only on the licensing fees instead of on the full sales receipts; the publisher responded that its authors "have been recompensed fairly and properly".
How many Harlequin books were published in 2002?
In 2002, Harlequin published 1,113 romance novels, more than half of all romances released in North America. The next most prolific publisher was Kensington Books, which released only 219 romance titles. In 2006, Harlequin published books in 26 languages in 109 international markets. They sold a total of 131 million books, similar to the company's sales in 2005.
What is a class action lawsuit against Harlequin?
In 2012 a class action lawsuit was filed against Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd. The lawsuit alleges that Harlequin deprives plaintiffs and the other authors in the class, of e-book royalties due them under publishing agreements entered into between 1990 and 2004.
How many Harlequin novels were released each month?
At the time that Harlequin purchased Mills and Boon, the company published only one line of category romances. Six novels were released each month in this line, known as Harlequin Romance. At John Boon's urging, in 1973 Harlequin introduced a second line, Harlequin Presents.
What is a Harlequin reader service?
Harlequin then began a reader service, selling directly to readers who agreed to purchase a certain number of books each month.
