Book excerpt: In 1979 VW launched the Golf Cabriolet which quickly gained an image as a 'fun car' that appealed to the young generation and soon became the fashionable car to be seen in. Built by Karmann, the Cabrio model was initially based on the Mk 1 Golf GLI. The story came to an end in 2002 when Volkswagen discontinued the Golf Cabrio, but today the model is highly regarded and cherished by enthusiasts around the world.