VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

General Information => General => Topic started by: Rabbit on Roids on February 20, 2010, 09:55:47 am

Title: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on February 20, 2010, 09:55:47 am
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.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: lovinthedeez on February 20, 2010, 10:33:23 am
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. 
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/6562/img2815df0.jpg)
you can see it just above the emblem in the grill.  Does it fit right in a late westy grill?
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on February 20, 2010, 10:50:21 am
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?
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: dennis on February 20, 2010, 05:23:52 pm
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.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on February 20, 2010, 05:36:40 pm
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.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: lovinthedeez on February 20, 2010, 07:24:53 pm
pics or it didn't happen..... ;D

you know the rules ;)
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Wayland on February 20, 2010, 07:33:19 pm
I have an 82 Rabbit here with the external hood release. It's definitely original too.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on February 20, 2010, 07:47:40 pm
have all the cars you seen them on been ones built in the Westmoreland Pennsylvania plant? Weird.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Wayland on February 20, 2010, 07:52:18 pm
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.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on February 20, 2010, 07:53:29 pm
is this only on rabbits?.. or would 80-81 jetty's might have em..?
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Wayland on February 20, 2010, 08:12:08 pm
FWIW, my 81 Jetta doesn't have one, neither does my 84 Jetta.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on February 20, 2010, 08:12:54 pm
none of my three wolfsburg jetta's have them. 81 and two 84's
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: rabbitman on February 20, 2010, 11:43:08 pm
My '80 parts bunny looks just like the one pictured above and it has the external lever.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: dennis on February 21, 2010, 06:11:09 am
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.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: burn_your_money on February 21, 2010, 07:08:04 am
They were found on base model rabbits. I forget the year range but I had a 76 with one
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Wayland on February 21, 2010, 09:01:48 am
They were found on base model rabbits. I forget the year range but I had a 76 with one

My 82 with the external latch is an LS. Wasn't the base model an L?
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: Rabbit on Roids on February 21, 2010, 09:53:48 am
They were found on base model rabbits. I forget the year range but I had a 76 with one

My 82 with the external latch is an LS. Wasn't the base model an L?

my rabbit is an LX, or was at one point.. and thats kinda far from a base model. the base model is C, and my 1980 rabbit C has internal latch.
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: rabbitman on February 21, 2010, 11:16:36 am
What kind of shape is you parts bunny's grill in, I have some cracks in mine.

It's nearly perfect, I think it's got a crack under one of the headlights, can't remember exactly though. It also has that grey stuff on it that drips off the cottonwoods so it would need a good scrub..........
Title: Re: what years did the external hood latch come on?
Post by: dennis on February 21, 2010, 02:10:11 pm
What kind of shape is you parts bunny's grill in, I have some cracks in mine.

It's nearly perfect, I think it's got a crack under one of the headlights, can't remember exactly though. It also has that grey stuff on it that drips off the cottonwoods so it would need a good scrub..........
I was stationed at Ft Wainwright from 92-95. I remember that stuff. My have been from the pine trees as well. Too far to ship for another one with cracks. Thanks anyway.