Project 1021 – a unique project by Volkswagen South Africa instituted in 1976 to develop a stop-gap solution based on the iconic Beetle platform, given the uncertainty at the time around local Golf production – spawned four concept vehicles, two station wagons and two pick-ups. Thought to be long lost, we recently traced the whereabouts of the last pick-up, precursor to the highly popular Golf-based Caddy bakkie.
We last reported on the uniquely South African Project 1021 in August 2021 when we arranged a reunification of the project’s concept station wagon, nowadays displayed at Auto Pavilion in Kariega, and its spiritual successor, the then recently facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan SUV.
Back then, we mentioned that only four examples were built between 1977 and 1978. Finished as prototypes only, it was thought that only three survived: the two station wagons (the example in Auto Pavilion and another one, still in its original beige body colour, now residing with a collector in Gqeberha) and one pick-up – last seen in Hermanus after spending many years somewhere on the Cape Southern Coast.
And the other bakkie prototype? Well, it would seem that reports over the years that this example was destroyed shortly after the project’s demise are misguided – as it recently reemerged in Pretoria, where it, by all accounts, resided for over forty years. And it is now for sale.
Upon hearing that the last of the four project prototypes have been rediscovered, we traced current owner Nico Veldman, and an interesting tale emerged. According to him, the pick-up (like the other three cars) somehow avoided the crusher after the project was discontinued and landed in the hands of a Volkswagen employee.
Like the others, it resided in the Eastern Cape for years but, at the end of the 1990s, was relocated to Tshwane, where it came into the possession of Nico, an engineer who has been in the motor trade for decades and over the years worked for various motor companies, including Delta, before opening his own independent workshop.
It was here where the “missing, presumed destroyed” pick-up resided – used as a runabout for daily chores but eventually ending up being parked under cover in the backyard. It only reappeared because Veldman now wants to vacate the premises and does not have space for it anymore.
A QUICK OVERVIEW
As explained, Project 1021 were set in motion as a stop-gap measure as it was still uncertain whether the Golf would be produced here (due to production costs). Technical director of VWSA, Tucker Lockhead, and engineer August Jukel in Uitenhage, called in the expertise of ex-Lotus man Chris Rawlinson of the UK-based fibreglass company Ex-Press Plastics.
Lockhead’s vision was to use the floorplan and running gear of the Type 1 Beetle as the platform for a vehicle that was more comfortable than its donor car and could transport a young family and their respective goods. The brief was for a station wagon and a bakkie-type vehicle.
It was designed by Peter Stevens and engineered and developed by a company called SmallFry, named after its founders Anthony Smallhorn and Tim Fry. Fry was previously head of design at the Rootes Group, where he designed the Hillman Imp.
With its Beetle-sourced upright twin-port 44 kW 1,600 cc engine situated over the rear axle, the packaging of Project 1021 is fascinating, yet strange, with the fuel tank positioned up front below a relatively shallow front storage area and a rear engine bay.
The square-shaped stepped roof wagon only has three doors (as the space for the other rear door is occupied by an air inlet for the rear-mounted engine), and intriguingly, the pick-up has the same distinct inlet vents, but the flat-four Beetle engine takes up half of its load bay – essentially making it a quarter-tonner.
THE FINAL SURVIVOR
Given its status as backyard adornment, the final Project 1021 survivor is in surprisingly good nick (on the outside, at least), primarily thanks to its durable fibreglass body, but it is a non-runner currently. According to Nico, the original 1.6-litre engine was eventually replaced by a bigger Type 4 2.0-litre engine, but when it broke down, it was not replaced.
Other changes to the original concept (no one can ascertain its original colour) include the front grille replaced by a custom-made one with square headlights (with two round spotlights added later), a different front bumper without indicator lights, and seemingly different rear lights.
Inside, everything is original except for the steering wheel and the gear lever (apparently, a golf ball gear knob, like in the Mk 1 Golf, was initially used), but in terms of overall design, the bakkie – impractical, as it may be – is actually ahead of its time, and a fitting precursor to the Golf 1-based Caddy.
THE CADDY TALE
Much like Project 1021, the Caddy Tale has modest beginnings, progressing from unpretentious pick-up to one of the shining knights in the VW Commercial vehicle line-up. It has many unexpected twists and turns, moving from pick-up and panel van to MPV, camper, and crossover, and believe it or not, it was initially designed for the US market and produced there also.
As a load-carrying version of the Golf (hence the name), the Caddy was initially launched in 1978 and produced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It proved successful, and VW offered it in Europe, albeit slightly modified, as this version used the four-door Golf as its base.
With Rabbit (the American name for Golf) Pick-up production ending in 1984, it was decided to produce it alongside the CitiGolf, as Golf Mk1 continuation in South Africa, and much of the Westmoreland production line was moved to the then Uitenhage. This model received a new engine and a modified front end and was only available as a right-hand drive model.
It proved successful locally and was built until 2007, two years before production of the CitiGolf was stopped, and since then, no half-ton Volkswagen bakkie has been available locally. Worldwide more than 207,000 of the first-generation Caddy were produced.
Parked together, it is clear to see how the angular lines of the Project 1021 bakkie were most likely influenced by the original Golf and carried over to the Caddy, but they are entirely different in terms of mechanical layout; the Caddy following the conventional front-engine rear-wheel-drive route (leaving a large 1.83 m load bed).
LAST WORD
The good news is that we can now ascertain all four of the unique Project 1021 concept models still survive, but it seems the fate of the latest find is now more uncertain than forty years ago, as Volkswagen Africa is not interested in preserving this Caddy precursor at Auto Pavilion, and no buyer has yet been found. One can only hope this tale also has a good ending.Our thanks to Johan Scholtz and Nico Veldman for their assistance with the photo shoot and this article. Anyone interested in the Project 1021 vehicle can call Nico on +27 83 438 4336.
Report & Images by FERDI DE VOS
