Auction Watch: 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI

Find this 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI here on eBay bidding for $4,150 with auction ending Tuesday.

 From eBay listing:

Item specifics

You are bidding on a 1983 Volkswagen GTI. The original hot
hatch.

I purchased a 1984 GTI brand new. It was my first new car
and what a thrill it was to drive. Despite her 90 horsepower engine – she was
considered quick. Still feels quick today. Why? She weighs only 1,800lbs.

You can toss this GTI into corners with aplomb – floor it in
every gear (without discernable torque steer) and average 30 mpg doing so.  

If you are reading this listing, you already know iconic
nature of this car. GTI’s have their own cult following. One that I espoused.
Sadly, I must let mine go. I am restoring three other cars currently. She deserves
to be with another enthusiast that will restore her (or drive her as is). She
is certainly a dependable daily driver.

Driving the MKI GTI reminds you why these hot hatches were so darn successful.
There is no ABS, traction control or other electronic aids, just light weight
and ample power to put a huge grin on your face. And everyone seems to know
what this car is – judging by the number of thumbs up and smiles I get when I
take her to town.

Features:

88,900 original miles (due to age title may say mileage exempt), thus cannot guarantee mileage

Silver over red interior

Manual crank sunroof

Five original GTI rims

Front and rear seats in very nice condition

Starts on the first turn of the key

Shifts excellently

Runs great, does not smoke 

Brakes work very well

Emergency brake works well

Glass is in fine shape

Aftermarket Alpine Radio

Many extra parts included (see pictures)-  red
dash (no cracks), two additional used rims, rear wiper container (not
cracked), one additional used setback, additional red console
with gauges, additional electronic parts 

Tires in great shape

No A/C

Rust free!!!

Membership into the GTI cult is free, btw. Parts for the
Rabbit are plentiful on Ebay.

Here is a great blurb about the collectability
of the car written by Curbside Classics:

When the GTI did debut in the US
for 1983, it had several significant enhancements from the base Rabbit.
Foremost was the 1.8-liter 90-hp fuel injected engine that featured redesigned
cylinder heads and a higher compression ratio.  In addition to the engine
(bored out and 22% more powerful than the standard Rabbit’s), GTIs received a
close-ratio 5-speed transmission, a free-flow exhaust, and a suspension
featuring recalibrated struts, stiffer springs, and front and rear stabilizer
bars.  Clearly, this was a serious effort at a performance car. 

The GTI could reach 60 mph in
about 10 seconds – not noteworthy today, but impressive by 1983 standards, and
the fastest Volkswagen made until that time. However, the car’s most compelling
performance attribute was its handling.  The un-boosted steering provided
exceptional feel, and the suspension components produced a rare combination of
high capabilities and reasonable comfort.  GTIs were literally cars that
could be raced on the weekend, and then driven to work in perfect comfort the
next day.

Everything meshed together in
this car’s performance attributes, and its driving experience could be summed
up in one word: Fun.  After a decade of steadily vanishing fun, fun was
back in cars, thanks to the GTI.

Visually, the car was still 90%
Rabbit, but details suggested it was something more. A front air dam, fender
flares, and 60-series tires on snowflake-pattern alloy wheels (from the
Quantum) gave the car a more aggressive stance.  Black-painted bumpers and
trim, and subtle red GTI badges (the grille-mounted badge is missing on our
featured car) completed the package. 1983 GTIs were available only in white,
red, silver or black.

Inside,
some GTIs received eye-poppingly vivid red (called cordovan in VW literature)
upholstery, while others had a more subdued midnight blue interior. Less
noticeable features included a newly designed steering wheel, full
instrumentation, and a unique dimpled shift knob. 

This is, remember, a no reserve auction. The last bidder
wins.

Now for the legalese: This is a no reserve auction. The car is not new, it is
used and sold as-is, where is. We encourage email questions and inspections. My
rating is important to me, as is your satisfaction. But, although she can be
driven as is, I envision a restoration for the new owner.