The original Volkswagen Golf GTI has plenty of reasons to be remembered. It helped popularize the hot hatchback, delivering sporty performance in a practical package long before high-powered compact cars became commonplace.
But among its many recognizable features, one of the smallest is also one of the most unusual: a gear shifter designed to look like a golf ball. It's an odd detail at first glance, but there's actually a good reason it became part of the GTI's identity.
