Factory Mistake: Unique VW Golf R Painted Incorrectly

author: FutureCar Staff    

Most new cars these days come with a limited range of colors from the factory. Typically, you'll find a selection of blacks, whites, and greys, with the occasional red or blue. However, every now and then, a car manages to slip through and sport a color that was not officially offered. This was the case with a 2017 Volkswagen Golf R, which was painted in Carbon Steel Grey Metallic, a color that was never available on this model from the factory.

The Golf R in question gained quite a reputation since it first arrived at the dealership in November 2016. When it was listed for sale by Lindsey Volkswagen in Dulles, Virginia, it caused quite a stir. The car's current owner decided to investigate further and reached out to Volkswagen to find out how their Golf R ended up with this unique paint color.

Volkswagen was unable to provide a definitive answer. 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. The car should have been painted in Limestone Grey, according to Volkswagen. However, since Carbon Steel Grey Metallic was available at the Wolfsburg factory, the car was painted in that color and passed through the production line without any issues during quality inspection.

The unexpected color of the Golf R sparked a frenzy, with over 100 interested buyers calling to secure the car when it went on sale. The excitement even caught the attention of Megan Closset, the product manager of the Golf GTI and Golf R in America at the time. Closset used the strong community reaction to her advantage and successfully advocated for the introduction of the Spektrum program in the U.S. market.

Thanks to this one-off factory misprint, the Golf R now comes in a wide selection of colors, including rich teals, ocean blues, searing oranges, and intoxicating greens. Volkswagen of America credits this accidental production for the expansion of their color options.

Volkswagen confirmed that the Carbon Steel Grey Metallic Golf R is the only one of its kind. They issued a special letter of authenticity to the owner, highlighting its unique status and its role in bringing the Spektrum offering to the U.S. market. The owner has enjoyed the car but is now ready to sell it. The Golf R is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, with the bidding price at just over $15,000.

If you're looking for a Golf R in a unique color, Volkswagen no longer offers Carbon Steel Grey Metallic. However, you can still find it at Porsche as a Paint to Sample option, but it comes at an additional cost of $2,500.

FutureCar Staff