Thoughts on potential german rabbit barn find?

[oblique]

[ORCoaster]

As nice as it appears from a distance, I would pass on it.  The mileage is low and the interior is nice but....

Those pinch welds are failing and there is a lot of rust on the bottom of the doors, seams, and possibly the fenders.  It just looks weak to me and I would think you would spend a lot of time getting the floor and such fixed only to have it be a continual rust bucket. 

Take your saved dollars elsewhere.  I say it is a blacker hole than most old Rabbits out there.

[RustyCaddy]

Agree with Coaster about the car generally but the dash looks good and a rare find south of Canada.

[oblique]

Issue is 2dr german rabbits do not come up very often...at all. And i do not want a westy rabbit. This one is one of the better examples that i have seen in years, metal work taken into account

[ORCoaster]

I read an article about how the 2 dr models sort of went away after the mid 90s and are novel now.  People that collect them pay about 64% more for them.  Now granted, this was an article on Buicks and Cadillacs so it might be much different than a VW. 

I owned a two-door Rabbit, it was great for me as I needed the larger door to get in and out and I stripped out the back seat and made it all one level for transporting stuff rather than people. 

You didn't give us a price on it but I would put somewhere around 2.5-3 K on that one based on miles and interior condition.  I might be cheap/low on that but that is where I see it.  If you really need another Rabbit and really want to put the time into it, then who are we to stop you.   Rabbit Fever, I think it is called. 

[oblique]

Odometer is only 5 digit on these so has likely rolled over..maybe once or twice or maybe more.

Paint is original, car is quite complete and no signs of trauma. Seller firm on 2kCAD

[fatmobile]

The electrical system on those old ones is trouble.
 If you don't mind doing bodywork, or even enjoy it, this would be a good car/project.
 I wouldn't pay over $600 for it,
 if I had the time to mess with it.

[ORCoaster]

We all find the time to "mess with it" 

Go ahead and deny it but we all KNOW YOU BETTER THAN THAT. 

Good thread here, eh?

[fatmobile]

 I really have too many VW projects right now.
I hope to build a pickup with a 2-door front and little window behind it.

[ORCoaster]

I think VW missed the mark when it came to adding some room behind the seat.  Most other small pickups started cramped like the VW but soon added that little bit to the cab.  VW could have used the Rabbit 2 door frame and had a really nice addition to the cab doing that.  I would like to try cutting a Rabbit off and welding on the the Pick up tail to it but I have way too many other things I need to be doing. 

[Dennis Froelich]

There are a few extended VW Pickups out there... a friend of mine has done quite a few tasteful ones in the past.

Oblique, Go for it. Round eye Rabbits are hard to come by!! I started with a junkyard dog and my wife and I built it from the ground up...

This is how it looks now for the the last 17 years... It was even missing things...

https://vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php/topic,246.msg262291.html#msg262291

[oblique]

Well i bought the car for 2kCAD.

Its a 1 owner bunny that's been maintained...mostly. the CK was said to have been rebuilt and it looks it...cam looks fresh.


So far ive installed rebuilt injectors and pump, and managed to slip on a new TB before getting rained out. Found a 40mm WP and sandblasted the pulleys...all looks good.

Removed massive mouse house from intake plenum and added genuine BOSCH air filter..oh yes.

I don't know whats in the tank...what's a reliable way of driving the car with a bottle for a few hundred miles?

Anyone have rabbit floor pans?

Car is a Diesel 'L' edition...that mean I will just be hunting for more rare stuff?

What does a 4spd do on the highway...not that I have a tach..

[ORCoaster]

I know how to put a tach in that MK1.  Send me a PM and we can work something out.

[RustyCaddy]

Here is a floor piece on ebay, not mine or anyone i know:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334162646396

The GC 4speeds are pretty limiting at HWY speeds but a GP works pretty well and has a final ratio similar to a FF 5 speed without feeling like your constantly shifting.

[Dennis Froelich]

Glad you picked it up!! Should be a fun project!!
Every body part that you need is available to repair the rust.

Check out Heritage Parts Centre in the UK.