A rare car to be sure, but surely owned by someone who has no idea what they really have
No, he's described prescisely what it is - it's a Golf3 Syncro.
I think he's got some idea of the value/rarity of it - £2300 and reserve not met is asking a bit much for any old 12 year old hatchback with the wheel on the wrong side.
It will be an interesting auction to watch, to see how it goes - how much do how many people want a car that odd (and prone to rust - it is a lardy G3 rotbox)?