This Original (demonstrably) Volkswagen Polo Harlekin from 1997. In 2019 I bought the car in Belgium (but the car originally comes from Germany) and decided to partially restore the car. The bodywork has been repainted in the original red color. I also imported the car into the Netherlands myself. There is a complete options list from the Volkswagen dealer that shows that it is an original Harlekin.

After driving the car for a little over a year, I quickly got tired of the 1.0 50HP engine and decided to do an engine swap to a 1.4-16V AFH engine, also from a Polo 6N.

This engine is actually a 1.4-8v engine with a Volkswagen Motorsport cylinder head mounted on it from the factory. They had 101HP but were often even faster than a GTI of that time, it is also a relatively rare engine of which not many were made. I had the engine completely overhauled at HE-Services in the Netherlands.

Incidentally, all other maintenance parts were of course also replaced during installation, such as: clutch, timing belt and water pump, spark plugs, filters, spark plug cables, throttle body, thermostat, oil pump, radiator, heater radiator, etc. In fact, the car is technically new.

In addition, I have made some cosmetic/performance adjustments, including:

- Polo 6N GTI intake manifold (the peak power is reached earlier than with the original manifold, which makes the car actually faster through the entire rev range)
- Epytec Lightweight flywheel
- BMC Intake
- Custom Catchcan system
- Friedrichs 16V Spaghetti manifold with a complete Friedrichs exhaust system (2 mufflers)
- Custom sprayed valve cover

All this together should bring the power to an estimated 115 HP. The car has never been on the test bench, but it drives like a train!

The gearbox has also been overhauled, this was done by Kees Looijestein. He also adjusted the transmission ratios so that I can make optimal use of it with the 16V engine, and the gearbox now also has a longer 5th gear with which the engine runs at about 2200 rpm at 100 km/h and 3000 rpm at 140 km/h.

Everything from the donor car has been transferred (this Harlekin originally only had power steering and ABS) including electric windows, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, fog lights and central locking.

The engine swap is also on the registration number, I had this done at the RDW because of the 50% power gain. This means you will never have any problems with the insurance.

The brakes on the front of the 16V have also been transferred. Of course with new overhauled brake calipers from ATE and with new grooved discs and pads from ATE. I have also made many other adjustments to the car, including:

- 4x OZ rims, they are different rims but all in the same size. They come from a Demo rack that has been in a showroom for years.
- AP Coilover kit
- 16V stabilizer bar (re-powder coated)
- Colour concept handbrake
- Polo 6N2 GTI rear spoiler
- Polo 6N2 GTI bumper lip front
- Pioneer active subwoofer in the trunk with 2 Pioneer speakers and 2 tweeters.
- The roof has been reupholstered in black fabric, as have the A, B and C pillars
- Black sun visors from a Golf 3 convertible
- Custom-made floor mats, each with the finishing edges in one of the colours of the car
- Door pins in all 4 colours of the car
- Isetchi magnetic telephone holder with wireless charging function
- Pioneer radio with DAB+, Bluetooth, USB and AUX connection

Because Harlekins all came with ABS as standard but the donor car did not have this, I left the ABS pump, sensors and wiring in place. The car does not have ABS but to maintain the originality, the system is still in place.

The Harlekin is complete with 2 keys, maintenance booklets and a folder full of maintenance invoices from over the years.

Recently, on 08-02-2025 at 288,304 km, a maintenance service was carried out (the car has always only had Castrol Magnatec).

Some general information:

APK until: 11-11-2025
Mileage: the car has driven +/- 10,000 km since the overhaul (mileage on the body is 288,000 km)

The car also has a catalytic converter (this can be exchanged for the MOT with the intermediate silencer using V-Band clamps).