Volkswagen Derby LS

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Introduced in 1977, the Volkswagen Derby was a ‘three-box’, two-door, booted or ‘notchback’ version of the popular 1975 VW Polo hatchback which had been styled by Bertone and was effectively a re-badged version of the compact Audi 50.

With over 72,000 Derbys sold in 1977 alone the car was initially popular, outselling the Polo, but sales quickly tailed off in subsequent years. During 1981, Volkswagen introduced the second generation Polo and the second generation Derby, following which the Derby name was dropped in 1984 and the saloon version of the Polo became the VW Polo Classic. It is perhaps for this reason that the Derby name is less well remembered today.

The Polo was a relatively conventional compact car of the period, smaller and more affordable than the similar VW Golf which was introduced the same year and which would subsequently carry VW's ‘hot hatch’ reputation. Built alongside the Polo in VW’s Wolfsburg factory, the Derby shared the hatchback’s traditional transversely mounted EA111 overhead camshaft engine and front-wheel drive configuration.

All Derbys had four-cylinder petrol engines, in either 895cc (40bhp), 1,098cc (50bhp) or 1,272cc (60bhp) capacity. An ‘economy-optimised’ option was also available, offered in 1981 only, called the Derby Formel E with a high compression version of the 1,098cc engine and automatic engine turn-off when idling. All versions of the Derby had a four-speed gearbox. Suspension was fully independent with MacPherson struts at the front, and a torsion bar at the rear, braking being by front discs and rear drums.

Although these cars were well-built with excellent ride and handling, the preference for hatchback styling in the late ‘70s made the Derby less popular. Furthermore, stiff competition from the likes of the Renault 5, Fiat 127, Ford Escort and the ever-popular Mini meant that the Derby never achieved the same status as its competitors.

First registered in November 1979, this 1,098cc Derby LS had four former keepers before being acquired for the Stondon Collection in 2010. The 47,400 miles on the clock cannot be warranted as genuine but the overall condition of the car and its very clean interior would certainly not rule it out. Last taxed and on the road in 1999, it will need the usual checks before use but will then prove a chic little runabout for someone with the added bonus of an appropriate VW number plate.

AMENDMENT: Extra documents for this car have now been located including a V5 and V5C, many service invoices and documents showing that it was a regular concours entrant (and occasional winner) from 1992 to 1996.