Once you saw one you never forgot them. 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. 

VW always intended to do a very small run of the 1995 Harlequin 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. 

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.

This new Golf with Harlequin paint is the only one planned

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.