The Volkswagen Derby is a booted saloon (three-box) version of the Volkswagen Polo supermini, produced by the German automobile maker Volkswagen, between 1977 and 1981.
With 72,412 sold in 1977 alone the car was initially popular, outselling the Polo sister model in that year, but sales quickly tailed off in subsequent years.
During 1981, Volkswagen introduced the second generation Polo and the second generation Derby; in 1984 the Derby name was dropped and the saloon version of the Polo became the Volkswagen Polo Classic.
Most parts of the Derby are interchangeable with the Mk1 Polo, and many drivetrain components are compatible with the Mk2 models. Body parts at the rear and also the rear window are different and are directly attributable to the original design version of this vehicle, which was intended to be marketed as the Audi 60. Lights of the early version are the same as the Mk1 Polo and the car which began this design: the Audi 50, which dates to just before the full merger of Audi and Volkswagen.
This was 1979 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland.
Read more about Volkswagen Derby: Versions Available, Marketing, South American Polo Classic, Volkswagen Derby in Mexico (1995–2009) and Volkswagen Van (2004–2009)