Color Mix-Up: Factory Mistake Creates Unique VW Golf R

author: FutureCar Staff    

Most new cars these days come with a limited set of colors from the factory. Typically, you have a choice of blacks, whites, and greys, with the occasional red or blue. However, there are rare instances where a car is produced with a color that was not originally offered. This happened at Volkswagen in 2016 with a unique kind of grey.

The car in question is a 2017 Volkswagen Golf R, which gained legendary status when it arrived at the dealership in November 2016. This Golf R was painted in Carbon Steel Grey Metallic, a color that was never officially available for this model. When it was listed for sale by Lindsey Volkswagen in Dulles, Virginia, it caused quite a stir.

The current owner of the car decided to investigate its history and reached out to Volkswagen to find out how their Golf R ended up painted in Carbon Steel Grey Metallic. The color was originally only offered on the Mk 6 and Mk 7 Golf GTI, not the Golf R.

Volkswagen was unable to provide a definitive answer regarding what happened. Company representatives suggested that the four-digit paint code may have been entered incorrectly or the wrong paint may have been selected due to a system error. According to Volkswagen, the car was supposed to be painted in Limestone Grey.

Since the Carbon Steel Grey Metallic paint was available at the Wolfsburg factory, the car was painted with that color and passed through the production line. The quality inspection did not raise any issues, as the finish was flawless, and inspectors typically do not check for cars painted in colors outside their designated options.

The car's unique production caused a frenzy, with over 100 callers competing to purchase the Golf R when it went on sale. Facebook comments went wild over this one-of-a-kind factory misprint. Megan Closset, the product manager of the Golf GTI and Golf R in America at the time, noticed the excitement.

Closset used the massive community reaction to support her case for introducing the Spektrum program to the U.S. market. As a result, the Golf R now offers an additional 40 paint options, including vibrant teals, ocean blues, striking oranges, and captivating greens.

Volkswagen of America now provides a wide selection of colors for the Golf R, thanks to this car's accidental production. Volkswagen confirmed that this Golf R is the only one ever produced in Carbon Steel Grey Metallic. The company issued a special letter of authenticity to the owner, acknowledging its one-of-a-kind status and its role in bringing the Spektrum offering to the U.S.

The current owner of the car has enjoyed it tremendously but is now ready to move on. If you're interested in owning this unique piece of Volkswagen history, it is currently up for sale on Bring a Trailer. As of now, the bidding has reached just over $15,000, but it is expected to increase with five days remaining in the auction.

Documents have been provided to confirm the car's special status as a one-off factory error.

If you're longing for a Golf R in a fun color these days, you can simply pay $2,500 to choose from a wide and exciting selection. However, if you specifically want Carbon Steel Grey Metallic, you won't find it available at Volkswagen anymore. Porsche still offers it as a Paint to Sample color.

FutureCar Staff