EBAY: Restored '80 Rabbit Diesel L

[mtnbob]

Yea I'm thinking he canceled it, figuring he could get far more money out of it

[rabbitman]

It probably different than any other rabbit in the US since it came from germany.

[Rabbit79]

It probably different than any other rabbit in the US since it came from germany.

My Rabbit is from Germany...... With a manufacture date of 4/79 though I think it came along before they started building them in the U.S.

[rabbid79]

I hate to sound like a sore loser, but I only got $5K out of mine, and I think it was in better condition.  It only had 34K original miles, and HADN'T been completely rebuilt, meaning it was truely in original condition (no undercoat where there shouldn't be undercoat, no dents in the rear hatch, etc.), and hand't been beat up enough to require any kind of rebuild.  Mine also was a 2 door, had A/C, SS techtonics exhaust, original paint, etc.  I think it's a scam.  He probably had a friend bid it up to $8K, and was hoping to start some kind of bidding war.

There probably was a legitimate bidder on the other side, but he knew when to stop, so the guy's friend out-bid the legit bidder.  I actually had a friend offer to bid mine up like that on eBay, but I didn't, and it sold for a true $5K.  For $8K it better look a lot better than mine did, and personally, I don't think it does.  Here's mine when I sold it:

[Rabbit79]

That really looks nice. Is that center console with the guages from a later model car? Mine doesn't have quite the same set-up. I've been wanting to put some sort of 3 guage panel in mine and I kinda like the look of that.

[rabbid79]

Thanks for the compliments.  I wish I still had the car.  If I remember correctly, the console is from a cabriolet.  The ones from the GTIs aren't the same, so you don't want one of those.  Also, I think the size of the air box if different between A/C and non-A/C cars.  I think most cabrios had A/C, so it was a direct fit on mine.

[Rabbit79]

I've owned 3 Rabbits over the years but never one with A/C so I have no idea what the differences are between the air boxes. I see some talk on here about guage pods for the MK I A-pillar and have been considering that if it ever comes to fruition. I just want to have something that looks a little better than a bunch of guages bolted to the top of the dash. hehe.

[R.O.R-2.0]

i need a new pair of underwear 

i need some new boxers after seeing that thing too!

sad thing is, i know my beige 84 has that potential.. but i will never be able to make it look that good.

[R.O.R-2.0]

it has the wrong seat belt buckles too.. it should have brown ones, and i think they were a different style than that for the early rabbits?

[Rabbit79]

My Rabbit has shoulder belts only. They work pretty much backward from every other seat belt I've ever seen in that they wind up in between the seats and buckle up at the top rear corner of the door. This is the only car I've ever seen that on. Anyone else ever seen that set-up? I've often wondered about how effective they would be in a crash...... As in I might get decapitated with no lap belt to hold my fat ass in the seat.

[R.O.R-2.0]

My Rabbit has shoulder belts only. They work pretty much backward from every other seat belt I've ever seen in that they wind up in between the seats and buckle up at the top rear corner of the door. This is the only car I've ever seen that on. Anyone else ever seen that set-up? I've often wondered about how effective they would be in a crash...... As in I might get decapitated with no lap belt to hold my fat ass in the seat.

there is supposed to be a lap belt too..

they are what VW calls "passive restraints"

and theres supposed to be a lap belt on the left side of the drivers seat, and a shoulder belt on the right side of the seat.

[BigVWman]

My Rabbit has shoulder belts only. They work pretty much backward from every other seat belt I've ever seen in that they wind up in between the seats and buckle up at the top rear corner of the door. This is the only car I've ever seen that on. Anyone else ever seen that set-up? I've often wondered about how effective they would be in a crash...... As in I might get decapitated with no lap belt to hold my fat ass in the seat.

my 77 rabbit diesel had them.It was also originally designed so you couldn't start the car unless they were buckled! Amazing how forward thinking vw was on some of what is being advertised today as "new". Vw even tested the"new" start stop technology everyone is advertising, back in the early 80's!

Rabbid79 yours looks hands down better IMO, don't get me wrong ebay resto guy did a ton of hardwork but a never molested one is SO much nicer.

Strangely the ebay one is also missing hatch wiper(was that an option in 80?) and also has no washer solvent tank(something funny going on there)!

[rabbid79]

Rabbid79 yours looks hands down better IMO, don't get me wrong ebay resto guy did a ton of hardwork but a never molested one is SO much nicer.

Thanks BigVWman.  The money from it went into the Audi 100QTD that I built.  I wish I could have had them both.  The guy that bought it was so happy when he first saw it in the flesh.  He just stood there and stared at it with his mouth wide open.  He flew in from Georgia, so maybe he was actually staring at 12,000 ft. Mt. Timpanogos in the background.  He was pretty impressed by both.