Corgi: 1/43 Volkswagen Golf Mk2 GTI 16V, Oak Green, RHD (UK)

The Mk1 Golf of 1974 turned VW's fortunes around; at last they had found a strong viable replacement for the Beetle. In nine years of production they had sold 6.72 million Mk1 Golfs, over 450,000 of which were GTIs so VW launched the Mk2 in 1983 with high expectations. However, it was a larger heavier car and as a result the Mk2 GTI, which used the same engine as the MK1, initially suffered in the market against newer competition. The answer was the development of a new 16-valve cylinder head for the existing engine which was announced in late 1985 and offered an extra 27bhp, making the Golf GTI the hot-hatch to have once more.

• Scale 1:43
• Length: 93mm

Corgi's famous model vehicles captured the imagination of millions of baby boomers and, what were once simply toys for boys, are highly sought-after in the expanding collectables market.