This One-of-One Volkswagen Golf R Comes With a Postcard From The Manufacturer originally appeared on Autoblog.
Want to stand out? Pick up this Golf R, the only one like it in the United States
When Volkswagen sent off the seventh-generation Golf R, it did so with style. For the final production year (2019), the automaker offered what it dubbed (pun intended) Spektrum color options. For $2,500, customers could pick from a catalog of 40 special and unique colors spanning the entire palette, including subdued greys, radical reds, and gorgeous greens. With only 4,223 examples of the Golf R — and only 199 Spektrum cars — delivered in 2019, there are likely several actual “one-of-one” cars out there. Now’s your chance to own one.
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Special paint is just the beginning
While on the surface it may look like just a red Golf R, Spektrum cars were a lot more than that. The special paint meant these cars got pulled from the regular production line and painted by hand in Wolfsburg, Germany. While the program’s origin technically lies with the Canadian-market e-Golf, US-based VW fans have enthusiast and VW Spektrum Product Manager Megan Closset to thank for the US Golf R Spektrum. And, indeed, each customer who took delivery of a Spektrum Golf R in the US received a little postcard from Closset, which included a paint chip, R badge, and even a handwritten and personalized note on the inside.
Now, what about this specific Golf R? It comes courtesy of Bring a Trailer, listed by its original owner out of Texas and showing around 34,000 miles. It’s the only one for the US market wearing Bordeaux Red Pearl paint, and — naturally — includes the original postcard and paint chip from Ms. Closset. Closset’s note additionally confirms that this car is the only example painted in its specific shade of red. OEM black 19-inch alloy wheels and a black interior with white stitching complement the blacked-out trim pieces that come on all Mk7.5 Golf R models of the era. What’s under the hood is pretty neat, too. A turbocharged four-cylinder making 288 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque is plenty for a good time. And, while we wish this were a manual transmission car, the dual-clutch auto this car’s equipped with allows drivers to better take advantage of the car’s standard all-wheel drive system, offering seamless power delivery and rapid launches.
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Spektrum cars are commanding prices commensurate with their scarcity
With just around 200 Spektrum Golf Rs coming to the US, “rare” is a bit of an understatement. And prices seem to correlate directly. In April, a Spektrum car sold for over $45,000 after fees, more than the car’s original MSRP. Last year, another Spektrum car with over 53,000 miles sold for almost $37,000, representing approximately 21% depreciation over the six-year period. That’s incredible for any car, but it also kind of makes sense. These Spektrum cars are not only hard to find and rarely sold, but also a unique part of VW history, as the automaker gave enthusiasts something to truly be enthusiastic about.
Final thoughts
The Spektrum initiative is a very cool slice of VW heritage. So, there’s a big market for this car: enthusiasts wanting something a little bit different, Golf die-hards, VW collectors, and more. Although the lack of a manual gearbox could be a deterrent for some shoppers, we believe the car’s uniqueness will more than compensate for it. Even factoring in Canadian e-Golf and Golf R Spektrum production, there are still fewer than 600 of these Spektrum Golfs in existence. With this one being the only R in the US, we think the sky’s the limit on where this cool hot hatch could go. It’s simply a matter of the right buyer(s) finding the listing. You can do this by clicking here.
This One-of-One Volkswagen Golf R Comes With a Postcard From The Manufacturer first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 8, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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