Vicious Attack Bunny: 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit Mk1

Got some unknown image hosting issue with DT’s site right now — please accept our apologies if images are wonky.  The original Volkswagen Rabbit is a fun little front drive econobox that checks all the right boxes if you don’t mind driving something that isn’t fast in a straight line.  They are fun little machines in stock setup, but stiffen the suspension and revv the motor out a bit for a properly good time.  Find this 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit Mk1 offered for $3750 in Hercules, CA via craigslist.

From the seller:

1978 volkswagen rabbit 

condition: good 

cylinders: 4 cylinders 

drive: fwd 

fuel: gas 

paint color: blue 

size: compact 

title status: clean 

transmission: manual 

type: hatchback 

I’m selling a German built, small-taillight MK 1 1978 Rabbit 2-door. It’s a California car with a Techtonics-built 1.6 liter. First-over, 8.5:1 compression, TT 272º camshaft, HD springs. Pulls cleanly to 7000 rpm. Allegedly has ~5000 miles on the engine. 

– 4-speed manual with shim kit

– Empi shifter and short-shift kit

– Sparco seat; full weld-in cage

– Tokico Illumina shocks up front, Bilsteins in back, Cut springs

– Neuspeed sway

– Hawk Blue pads on vented 9.4″ rotors up front

– All-original VW glass except the new aftermarket windshield

– H4 headlights

– Kamei rear hatch spoiler

– Cabriolet black leather passenger seat with no seatbelt

The headlights, taillights, turn signals and main gauges function, but there’s a set of center gauges that don’t currently work. 

The car is loud. Just a straight pipe from the resonator. There’s an exhaust leak on the header that I’ve got the gaskets for but haven’t gotten around to installing yet. 

The car is NA Miata blue and the paint is in OK shape. I had to repaint one of the fenders since it was peeling a little bit from an old racing scar, so it’s slightly mismatched (which you can see in the photos). I’ve got a bunch of info and photos from the history of the car, when it was originally stripped down and turned into a race car. 

You could add the emissions gear back on and plate it, or you could just go racing. The choice is yours; just know it won’t smog in its current form. The odometer isn’t working at the moment either, so keep that in mind. 

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