5k: 1983 VW Rabbit Cabriolet Type 155; Cougar Bait
The Volkswagen Golf was a compact front wheel drive sedan that in 1974 replaced the aging Beetle in US/European markets (Beetles continued to sell well in South America for years). The Mk 1 Golf was sold from 1974-1983 and was badged the Rabbit in the USA. This 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit Cabriolet is offered for sale in La Verne, CA currently bidding on ebay for $2,000 reserve-not-met with 2 days to go.
This Rabbit Cabrio has seen a bit of the butchers knife – it sports a pink/black paintjob that could only be appreciated by women or the pink panther. And we aren’t talking about attractive young women – this thing is aged enough that it’ll only be appreciated by women with a few miles on their odo – therefore it gets DT’s coveted Cougar Bait badge, a rare honor for cars other than the Mercury Cougar.
This Rabbit is powered by an engine swapped from a 1990 VW Passat – a 2.0 liter 16 valve engine that would have originally put out 136 horsepower. It has been to a California smog referee and is a smog legal swap – something that takes quite a lot of time and effort…so it’s a wonder why this particular wheezer was chosen as the donor engine…
The inside of this Cabrio looks in good shape – and wears some plaid similar to a GTI – but it is PINK! Yikes! At least it’s a stickshift.
We guess this would be a great first car for a VW enthusiast to buy for his 16 year old daughter, but more than likely she will hate it and just want something with an automatic transmission and an ipod hookup…so we are going to continue to suggest this car be used as Cougar bait. What is the worst thing that could happen? Getting mauled at the mall?
See another Pepto pink ride? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
~ previously owned by Richard Simmons?
Inspired by latest t-mobile ad campaign? And I believe that the visors are swathed in what may generously be described as a unique, faux-Burberry pattern.
Yes, fake burberry
Funny, I never thought of VW's 16V engine as a "wheezer". It's a lot more powerful than the original 8-valver for the GTI (90ish horses) and nearly double what this Cabrio would have had under the hood circa 1983. Plus, it's a torquey and free-revving engine. It's a good match for the car…which is more than I can say for the paint job.
It was made for me by my ex.
Let me buy it back