Volkswagen is celebrating 40 years of its iconic Golf model which has sold more than 30 million vehicles from the first to the seventh generation model.

The original Golf Mk1 which rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg in 1974, was a front-wheel drive, front-engined model which replaced the air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive Volkswagen Beetle of which over 21.5 million units were built.

Now in its seventh generation, the Golf line-up is the biggest ever as it includes derivatives such as the GTI, GTD, GTE, R and e-Golf. The model is also the Volkswagen’s best-selling model and the world’s second best-selling model, with more than 29 million built by 2012.

Most production of the Golf was initially in the 3-door hatchback style. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, estate/wagon (Variant, from 1993), convertible (Cabriolet and Cabrio, 1979–2002, 2011–present), and a Golf-derived notchback saloon/sedan, variously called Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Vento (from 1992) or Volkswagen Bora (from 1999).

The Volkswagen Golf is additionally synonymous with a number of awards throughout its history. The Volkswagen Golf won the World Car of the Year in 2009 with the Volkswagen Golf Mk6 and in 2013 with the Volkswagen Golf Mk7.

Every generation of Golf has been a runner-up in the European Car of the Year awards and the South African Car of the Year Awards and two have been winners, the Golf Mk3 in 1992 and the Golf Mk7 in 2013.