Estimated Price: £8,000 - £10,000

Volkswagen’s G40 models occupy a particularly interesting position in the evolution of small-capacity performance cars. At a time when many manufacturers were pursuing larger engines to unlock greater performance, Volkswagen instead turned to forced induction, developing the ingenious spiral-type G-Lader supercharger. Installed within the lightweight Mk2 Polo and forming the basis of the factory-backed Polo G40 Cup race series, the result was a compact yet highly capable competition car that quickly earned a reputation for eager acceleration, sharp handling and durability when properly maintained — attributes that made it ideally suited to one-make motorsport.

Built in 1991, this Polo G40 is understood to have been constructed for competition use and today presents as a well-sorted, highly focused example of Volkswagen’s one-make racing formula. Finished in bright blue with contrasting yellow bumpers, mirrors and wheel arch extensions, the car carries a distinctly period competition aesthetic that suits the angular Mk2 silhouette and ensures it stands out both in the paddock and on circuit. Believed to have competed in the original VW Cup Championship before progressing to the Super Coupé Championship and later Classic Historic racing, the car subsequently entered a private collection where it has remained unused since 2020.

The interior reflects its competition origins, having been stripped and repainted to match the exterior, revealing a multi-point welded roll cage extending through the cabin into the rear structure, enhancing rigidity and safety. Driver accommodation is suitably serious, with a fixed-back Corbeau bucket seat paired with Willans multi-point harnesses. Ahead of the driver sits a suede-trimmed Momo steering wheel offering excellent grip, while a tall competition-style gear lever rises prominently from the transmission tunnel for quick, positive shifts. An aluminium pedal assembly further underscores the car’s functional, driver-focused character.

Instrumentation has been thoughtfully specified. A boost gauge is integrated within the dashboard to monitor supercharger performance, while a Lumenition air/fuel ratio meter provides reassurance when running at higher loads. A plumbed-in fire extinguisher system is also present, reinforcing the vehicle’s track-ready credentials.

Under the bonnet lies the characterful G40 engine, complete with its distinctive ‘Ladeluft gekühlt’ intercooling arrangement. The engine bay presents as clean and purposeful, featuring a strut brace to improve front-end stiffness along with neatly organised components consistent with a car developed for competitive use as much as outright performance.

Externally, the Polo sits on lightweight multi-spoke alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tyres, suggesting a chassis configured to favour responsiveness and agility — qualities for which the Polo G40 Cup cars became well regarded in period. Their low weight, short wheelbase and direct steering combine to create an engaging and communicative driving experience that continues to appeal to competitors and historic racers alike.

Compact, supercharged and refreshingly analogue, this Polo G40 Cup racer offers a welcome contrast to the increasing size and complexity of modern competition machinery. Well presented and evidently developed with clarity of purpose, it provides its next custodian with the opportunity to acquire an entertaining and usable competition car — one that captures the spirit of an era when lightness, simplicity and clever engineering combined to deliver performance far greater than the sum of its parts.