Estimated Price: £20,000 - £25,000

Few badges have become as familiar or as influential as Volkswagen’s GTI. Introduced in 1976, the Golf GTI helped establish the template for the modern hot hatch, combining useful everyday accommodation with performance and handling that made even an ordinary journey enjoyable. To celebrate its first quarter-century, Volkswagen created the 25th Anniversary Edition, giving the fourth-generation Golf a distinctive specification with thoughtful references to its predecessors.

For UK buyers, the Anniversary was offered with either a turbocharged petrol engine or Volkswagen’s increasingly accomplished 1.9-litre TDI. The latter reflected the changing tastes of the period, when advances in diesel technology brought strong performance and impressive economy together in a credible sporting package. In PD150 form, the four-cylinder Pumpe Düse turbodiesel produced 150PS and 320Nm of torque, driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Its substantial mid-range response gave the diesel Anniversary a character of its own, particularly well suited to relaxed but purposeful progress.

The Anniversary treatment extended well beyond its engine. Available exclusively in three-door form, the model featured deeper front and rear valances, extended side sills and a roof spoiler, complemented by darkened headlamp surrounds and red brake callipers. Particularly distinctive were the 18-inch BBS alloy wheels, whose ball-polished finish was part of the factory specification. The cabin continued the theme with GTI-branded Recaro sports seats, brushed aluminium detailing and red stitching, whilst the return of the familiar golf-ball gearknob provided a direct link to the earliest GTIs.

Finished in Black Magic Pearl, the example offered here stands out for its exceptionally modest use and accompanying documentation. With just one registered keeper and only 13,320 miles recorded at the time of cataloguing, it presents an unusual opportunity to acquire a diesel Anniversary whose appeal centres as much on its history and retained details as on its limited-edition specification.

The service book contains seven stamps, supported by numerous subsequent invoices extending to 2017, when the Golf entered a private collection. It has covered minimal mileage since. The substantial history file also contains old MOT certificates, retained tax discs and assorted invoices, providing a detailed record for prospective purchasers to examine.

Small details add considerably to its appeal. The dealer window stickers remain in place, whilst accompanying Diamondbrite literature and associated items recall its early life. The numbered Anniversary plaque, identifying the car as number #1298, also survives within the history file and has never been fitted. Together with the polished BBS wheels and characteristic golf-ball gearknob, these details contribute to the distinctive identity of this particular edition.

Described as presenting in near-new condition, this Golf offers a compelling reminder of a period when Volkswagen’s diesel engines were becoming an increasingly important part of its performance-car offering. Its restrained Black Magic Pearl finish, Anniversary specification and unusually comprehensive accompanying material make it a particularly interesting proposition for a Volkswagen enthusiast or collector seeking a lightly used Mk4.