what years did the external hood latch come on?

[Rabbit on Roids]

ok, so i have a stock looking hood latch on my 81 rabbit, but you work it from the outside. and it looks as stock as any other VW hood latch. there is no hood latch cable, handle, or mount in my car. ive only seen one other car like this, and it was a 77 online. were they rare or what? cause ive never seen one on any other rabbit. they all have the internal pop hood latches.

not like its broken, or like it really matters, i was just wondering is all. would like to know the story behind them.

[lovinthedeez]

early westies had them.  79 and 80 if I remember correctly.  they go for up to 50 bucks on the market.  I got a couple of em. 

you can see it just above the emblem in the grill.  Does it fit right in a late westy grill?

[Rabbit on Roids]

same setup. but my car is an 81. and everything appears to be stock. like all the internal latch assy being gone and not even drilled for one in the cab. i figured maybe someone swapped one in, but if they did, they went to ALOT of work to weld up the hole for the latch cable, and for the handle bracket.

it fits in my grille just fine, i got rect lights just like that one, just with the 81 grille and turn lights. i guess i have whats called a late westy front end right? god i hate rectangle lights in VWs. why didnt they all just come with the crosshairs?

[dennis]

My 80 Caddy has the same latch as pictured. Previous 82 2 door Rabbit had internal cable and release lever. Had a 81 Jetta that had a cable. 82 Cabriolet had a cable. 83 GTI cabled 84 NA diesel cabled. I would guess 80, and earlier.

[Rabbit on Roids]

but my car is an 81. and its the only one i have with external pop. all my other rabbits are internal. even the 80 and older rabbits we have, none have the external pop. this is the only one ive laid hands on.

[lovinthedeez]

pics or it didn't happen.....

you know the rules

[Wayland]

I have an 82 Rabbit here with the external hood release. It's definitely original too.

[8v-of-fury]

have all the cars you seen them on been ones built in the Westmoreland Pennsylvania plant? Weird.

[Wayland]

have all the cars you seen them on been ones built in the Westmoreland Pennsylvania plant? Weird.

My 82 with external hood release is, but so are my 81 and 84, both of which have the internal hood release.

[8v-of-fury]

is this only on rabbits?.. or would 80-81 jetty's might have em..?

[Wayland]

FWIW, my 81 Jetta doesn't have one, neither does my 84 Jetta.

[8v-of-fury]

none of my three wolfsburg jetta's have them. 81 and two 84's

[rabbitman]

My '80 parts bunny looks just like the one pictured above and it has the external lever.

[dennis]

My '80 parts bunny looks just like the one pictured above and it has the external lever.

What kind of shape is you parts bunny's grill in, I have some cracks in mine.

[burn_your_money]

They were found on base model rabbits. I forget the year range but I had a 76 with one