Runs Good For A 1.5L: 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit
Perhaps I was a bit quick to judge the scenic middle California coastal town of Atascadero in my previous rant about the Jeep Cherokee with the chopped up bits. Perhaps I should not judge a book by its cover, an inmate by his straightjacket. The last car we featured in that small town was…well…strange, but I don’t need electroshock therapy to tell me that this next car is wicked sweet. Find this 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit offered for $7000 in Atascadero, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1979 vw rabbit
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: diesel
odometer: 163000
paint color: green
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: hatchback
1 owner car European delivery car w/ plate.
163k engine was replaced sometime in its life. Runs good for a 1.5 ltr.
CA car; Inari silver on it’s 2nd paint job which is not bad but the 1st re-paint was white, which can be seen on the jambs.
Sunroof works
A/C car, but compressor & condenser have been removed; however, lines and dash parts are still in the car.
Interior is in good shape overall.
Recently replaced radiator (Behr) and rebuilt driveshafts w/ Lobro boots. Belts.
Fresh oil and filter.
New battery
Has Neuspeed sport springs and Boge turbo gas shocks.
Scirocco MK1 wheels are in nice shape with new Toyo tires.
Body has a few blisters (3 to be exact on rt fender/ left rear window on top of qtr panel & left a pillar ) but underneath is nice. See pics. This is a nice car and in the desirable Inari silver. Perfect car for a “transplant.” Asking $7K ONO. currently on a CA non op.
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Engine replaced, repainted, missing a/c parts, still subject to CA smog inspections…. What’s so frickin’ special about this sh!tbox?!
To put it mildly. Must be something in the water up there.
It is definitely a perfect car for a transplant, an ALH with a few mods for 140HP will make this a dependable, economical and quick car for a few thousand more and will keep its value a long time.
1979 R22 a/c is useless today so this would be a good time to upgrade.
Only downside is the salt air mist corrosion visible on the brake booster and valve cover, and who knows where else hiding under that new paint aside from the spots mentioned. Aside from that it looks like a winner. Which sounds suspiciously like the old joke “Aside from that, Mrs Lincoln, I hope you enjoyed the play.”