Author Topic: Oldest VW diesel found (Read 6182 times)

burn_your_money · « **on:** August 16, 2007, 10:28:55 am »

1977 Volkswagen Rabbit Recognized As Oldest Volkswagen Diesel

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced that, as part of its diesel heritage search, it has located the oldest operating Volkswagen diesel vehicle in America, a 1977 Rabbit owned by Clint Wilson of Tehachapi, Calif. The Rabbit's was recently verified by Volkswagen of America and Family Volkswagen, a Bakersfield, Calif. based auto dealer.

“Diesel engines are noted for their long-term reliability and durability, so we didn’t think it would be a problem to find a 1977 Rabbit that was still in great condition, like this one,” said Steve Keyes, Volkswagen Public Relations Director. “The entries for the oldest (and the soon to be announced highest mileage search) not only represent cars that were well-built and well-maintained they are also interesting stories from people who are passionate about Volkswagens and diesel.”

In recognition of owning the oldest Volkswagen diesel in the U.S., Volkswagen has provided Wilson with a new Touareg V10 TDI to drive for six-months. In addition to his 1977 Rabbit, Wilson also owns a Beetle that he is hoping to restore in the near future.

Volkswagen is a leader in the U.S. diesel passenger vehicle market with over 815,000 diesel vehicles sold since the 1977 Rabbit, the first U.S. Volkswagen diesel. In addition to the currently available diesel Touareg V10 TDI, Volkswagen has previously announced that the 2009 Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen, which will be available late first quarter of 2008, will feature a clean diesel TDI engine.

not sure of the source, I copied it off of vortex

Here is the vortex link BTW
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3395124

stewardc · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2007, 11:52:48 am »

Not true. VW put a diesel in the beetle in 1951

Slave2School · « **Reply #2 on:** August 16, 2007, 12:01:37 pm »

http://www.ltv-vwc.org.uk/wheelspin/ws_aug-sept-2003/diesel-beetle.html

Northern RD · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2007, 03:34:56 pm »

Quote from: "stewardc"

Not true. VW put a diesel in the beetle in 1951

Further back than that there was a brief experiment during the war years with a 23.5HP flat twin diesel. I have a brief blurb on it from an old VW/Porsche mag but I`ve never seen anything else on it: anyone else heard of it?? :?

ricosuave · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2007, 06:44:20 pm »

USE of a toureg for 6 momths.

would be nice, but cmon, GIVE the guy the toureg.