[{"id": 17904850, "authorName": "lst_meeseeks", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/lst_meeseeks/", "bidAmount": 123, "content": "USD $123 bid placed by lst_meeseeks", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749502930, "type": "bid", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:02:10+00"}, {"id": 17904884, "authorName": "Caffeinated", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/caffeinated/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Learned to drive a manual in one of these (although that one was quite a bit older) - what a great car.", "likes": 3, "timestamp": 1749503037, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:03:57+00"}, {"id": 17905144, "authorName": "bobrk", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/bobrk/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "A friend of mine had a blue one of these and it cemented my love for these VWs.", "likes": 3, "timestamp": 1749503813, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:16:53+00"}, {"id": 17905266, "authorName": "bob.os", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/bob.os/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "I'm not sure I've seen a cleaner, unrestored Rabbit. At 137K, it is still just a baby. That diesel engine will run forever. Forget the trailer drive it (slowly) home.", "likes": 9, "timestamp": 1749504191, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:23:11+00"}, {"id": 17905304, "authorName": "volvofan", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/volvofan/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "I bought a diesel VW rabbit new in \u201884. Great mpg but burned oil like there was no tomorrow. You had to plan your highway on ramps and merging into traffic. Much preferred my \u201884 rabbit GTI.", "likes": 7, "timestamp": 1749504331, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:25:31+00"}, {"id": 17905356, "authorName": "Dake", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/dake/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Lovely! When was the coolant last changed? What\u2019s the injector connector for on the passenger side wheel well under the hood?", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749504601, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:30:01+00"}, {"id": 17905623, "authorName": "ProjectAdam", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/projectadam/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "A pretty pristine example for a car that I suspect came out of PA? 1VW & #9=V.... Pretty cool. Glwta", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749505306, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 21:41:46+00"}, {"id": 17906460, "authorName": "joeveto", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/joeveto/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "ALL rabbit diesels were tan, right?\r\n\r\nI don't think I've ever seen one in another shade.\r\n\r\nEver.\r\n\r\nGLWTA.", "likes": 9, "timestamp": 1749508938, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-09 22:42:18+00"}, {"id": 17907162, "authorName": "SCOUTEM", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/scoutem/", "bidAmount": 523, "content": "USD $523 bid placed by SCOUTEM", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749514726, "type": "bid", "endDate": "2025-06-10 00:18:46+00"}, {"id": 17907177, "authorName": "Dollycat3", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/dollycat3/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Such a delightful Rabbit \ud83d\udc4c", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749514862, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 00:21:02+00"}, {"id": 17907289, "authorName": "Charleetuner", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/charleetuner/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Traffic must have been a lot slower back in the day. My buddy had one of these in high school and I remember it being so much fun to drive. I never knew it only had 52hp. I guess the clich\u00e9 rings true. Better to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow. GLWTA!", "likes": 3, "timestamp": 1749515885, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 00:38:05+00"}, {"id": 17907314, "authorName": "Gary_T1", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gary_t1/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "51 MPG highway, 44 mpg in the city. VW Rabbit diesel; the pocket trawler of the car world.", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749516078, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 00:41:18+00"}, {"id": 17907413, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Auction Day 1, Mon 6/9 \u2013 Intro\r\n\r\nWelcome to the \u2018No Reserve\u2019 auction of this original VW Rabbit, thanks for looking. I\u2019ll be actively participating, checking-in at least daily for any questions from the comments section. Or, feel free to contact me directly. The car will also be available for showing, please use the Contact Seller button to schedule a time.\r\n\r\nMark your calendar, maybe set your alarm, the auction ends next Mon 6/16 at 12:47pm Pacific, 3:47pm in the afternoon for those of you back East. Good luck to everyone and happy bidding. The car is going to a new home when the auction ends.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749517039, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 00:57:19+00"}, {"id": 17907966, "authorName": "jrmedsel", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/jrmedsel/", "bidAmount": 2500, "content": "USD $2,500 bid placed by jrmedsel", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749523640, "type": "bid", "endDate": "2025-06-10 02:47:20+00"}, {"id": 17908100, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Q1 - When was the coolant last changed?\r\nA1 - July 2022, less than 400 miles ago, with OE spec\u2019d Pentosin Blue.\r\n@Dake", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749525846, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 03:24:06+00"}, {"id": 17908103, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Q2 - What\u2019s the injector connector pass side wheel well under hood?\r\nA2 - Good question, it always been there under our ownership, we\u2019ve never removed or unplugged anything, assumed it was some sort of common or universal wire bundle thing to support different configuration models.\r\n@Dake", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749525887, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 03:24:47+00"}, {"id": 17908106, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Thanks for getting the bidding started\r\n@lst_meeseeks, @SCOUTEM, @jrmedsel", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749525927, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 03:25:27+00"}, {"id": 17908647, "authorName": "Manywheels59", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/manywheels59/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Life in the slow lane can be good ...very clean and nicely presented...glwa", "likes": 3, "timestamp": 1749553104, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 10:58:24+00"}, {"id": 17909929, "authorName": "CarFoolLane", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/carfoollane/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "@joeveto\r\n\"ALL rabbit diesels were tan, right? I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen one in another shade.\"\r\n\r\nFunny, the color I most associate with Rabbit diesels was that powder blue that I think was originally a Beetle color in the early '70s. Second most common seemed to be that medium metallic green. \r\n\r\nThe light blue ones, if not washed too frequently, seemed to always have a layer of fine black soot on the back which stood out against the blue.", "likes": 3, "timestamp": 1749567124, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 14:52:04+00"}, {"id": 17910435, "authorName": "Blackbelt", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/blackbelt/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "I bought a 1980 diesel brand new. It was Black with red interior. It was the \"C\" (base) model with no tach. Best way to drive was Keep the accelerator to the floor until it stopped gaining speed, then shift to next gear. Rinse and repeat. I remember driving me and my wife on the Schuylkill Expressway to visit my sister in our Rabbit. I kept the pedal matted in 4th the entire time trying to not get run over. It still rewarded me with 55MPG. I ran studded winter tires and with so little power it was like having a 4x4 in the snow. It never got stuck and would climb any hill, snow covered or not. We used to go drive it in snowstorms just for grins. Good (slow) times", "likes": 4, "timestamp": 1749570839, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 15:53:59+00"}, {"id": 17910531, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Hopefully the photos provide a good sense of the overall cosmetic condition of the car. I\u2019m not a professional photographer and these were taken with my phone, so please go easy on me. If you\u2019d like any additional angles or of specific components let me know and I\u2019ll try my best.\r\n\r\n\u2028Coming soon is some historical info regarding the model and this VIN in particular. Also, there are more photos in the BaT queue and some videos too, stay tuned. Additionally, I'll be uploading some close up shots of the cosmetic flaws for you to see better.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749571468, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 16:04:28+00"}, {"id": 17911107, "authorName": "Jay_Gibbs", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/jay_gibbs/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Love it...Squeaky clean!...", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749574967, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 17:02:47+00"}, {"id": 17913989, "authorName": "Area_Man", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/area_man/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "This has the bolt through side vent windows. Much preferred over the glued vent windows known to fail on Westmoreland made Rabbits.", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749582745, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 19:12:25+00"}, {"id": 17914104, "authorName": "bobrk", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/bobrk/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Those glued latches failed on German built VWs, too. I had an '82 Jetta where that latch failed.", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749583135, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 19:18:55+00"}, {"id": 17915583, "authorName": "BOWSERBOY1950", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/bowserboy1950/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Back in 1984 the company I worked for was cutting back on the cost of their vehicles.And I was given this exact Rabbit as my company car.At first I complained but man oh man it ended up being the most fun company cars that I ever got in 38 years of working there!This one listed looks in prime condition! GLWTA @seller", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749587422, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 20:30:22+00"}, {"id": 17918379, "authorName": "Tdipwr", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/tdipwr/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Always thought that the side view mirrors switched over to the \"newer\" style that could be adjusted from inside when production started in USA or shortly after. These are the older style flag mirrors if I'm not mistaken. So any motor work done or timing belt changed out, hoses etc? Great looking oil burner you have there. Good luck to you with your sale!", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749593661, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 22:14:21+00"}, {"id": 17918661, "authorName": "Davidboco", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/davidboco/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "I had an 82 diesel just like this one and it was built at Westmoreland Pennsylvania. It was a great car.\r\nIf I\u2019m not mistaken, the Chinese bought that plant when it closed and moved it all over to China where they start manufacturing some other car -pretty amazing reverse engineering there.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749595032, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 22:37:12+00"}, {"id": 17918728, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Will be uploading a summary sheet of all the worked performed - big picture, it\u2019s been baselined from a systems perspective including fuel, cooling, electrical, engine, mechanical, brakes, etc. It\u2019s all dialed-in and ready for the next 40 years.\r\n\r\nThe car is a very simple but elegant design. It has zero computers and not a single line of software code to run it. And there are no \u2018modules\u2019 to worry about getting outdated.\r\n@Tdipwr", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749595559, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 22:45:59+00"}, {"id": 17918896, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Here\u2019s some background on the car - it was originally purchased locally here at Carter Volkswagen, Sept 1984. In 2001 my dad purchased the car from the original owner (it was just sitting by the road with a \u2018For Sale\u2019 sign on it). What you see cosmetically is essentially the condition it was in when he got it. It didn\u2019t want to start, especially when it was cold out so we tow strapped it home. Did the usual glow plug troubleshooting and such but no joy. Ran a compression test and found to be on the low end. Dad didn\u2019t \u2018need\u2019 the car to get around so it sat parked under a cover in his garage for over 10 years. Looking to free up space in his garage he asks if I want it? Of course, so we tow strap it to my place, where it again sits for over 10 years under cover in my garage. On or about 2020 I finally get some time and motivation to start digging in to it. Collecting parts, sending the big components out for rebuild, etc. Then, summer of 2022 it\u2019s back on the road.", "likes": 4, "timestamp": 1749596970, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 23:09:30+00"}, {"id": 17919068, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749598594, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 23:36:34+00"}, {"id": 17919146, "authorName": "bobrk", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/bobrk/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "All of the rectangular headlight Rabbits are from Westmoreland. They also made the pickup trucks.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749599243, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-10 23:47:23+00"}, {"id": 17919402, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Day 2 \u2013 Story Time\r\n\r\nEarly 80\u2019s - arrived home and sitting in the driveway was a brand new VW Rabbit. Dad had just purchased it earlier that day, I was beyond surprised and amazed. Although with just a learner\u2019s permit in my pocket I was still eager to check it out. So I jumped in the driver\u2019s seat and got a whiff of that new car smell. Even today I can immediately identify that characteristic VW interior smell. Dad proceeded to describe the car\u2019s features and how to it operates. My eyes glazed-over a bit as I was clearly in sensation overload. I stared at the instruments and saw these centrally located symbols with little light \u2018bulbs\u2019 wondering what the heck? A round speedometer and a gauge within a gauge? I spot a symbol of a gas pump, ok must be the fuel gauge. He then mentioned it\u2019s a diesel. I instantly envisioned an 18 wheeler. A diesel?, I replied. Cont.", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749601280, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 00:21:20+00"}, {"id": 17919973, "authorName": "GC19", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gc19/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "@gm1777 great stories! I\u2019ll be back for your day 3 story tomorrow.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749606904, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 01:55:04+00"}, {"id": 17920381, "authorName": "Celga1", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/celga1/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Super clean Rabbit! Great work on bringing it back to life. Good luck!", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749612280, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 03:24:40+00"}, {"id": 17922379, "authorName": "HellcatNation", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/hellcatnation/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "@CarfoolLane My friends father had a 2 door diesel Rabbit and it was silver with a blue velour interior. Had some fun times in that car. Never left us stranded. This one is an awesome example of a very clean, period correct diesel Rabbit. GLWS!!!", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749655510, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 15:25:10+00"}, {"id": 17922748, "authorName": "dponce", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/dponce/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Do you have the original steering wheel?", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749658082, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 16:08:02+00"}, {"id": 17928868, "authorName": "Davidboco", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/davidboco/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "In 1982 I financed a new diesel rabbit at 18%- definitely a high water mark in interest rates for my lifetime!", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749676918, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 21:21:58+00"}, {"id": 17929702, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "", "likes": 2, "timestamp": 1749679210, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 22:00:10+00"}, {"id": 17930006, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Summary sheet of the work performed added to the photo gallery. Mostly just mechanical in nature to baseline the car and have it dialed-in from an operational perspective. A fair amount of it probably didn't absolutely need to be done, but once I got in there I wasn't messing around.\r\n\r\nDidn't do much cosmetic-wise, however the headliner, sun visors, and C pillars were all professionally redone and the material is actually very close to the original type and color. I remember Dad pulling the old material off the backing board, the adhesive had failed and it was hanging down in spots (a very common issue).\r\n\r\nI thought about repainting the valve cover, the oil pan, and the brake booster but then thought the new owner might want to see the original condition. I also didn't do a full detail, just a routine cleaning. Would likely benefit from a full detail including power scrubbing the carpets, cleaning all the door jams, maybe a minor paint correction, buff the bumpers, re-black the trim, etc. Then it would really 'pop'.\r\n\r\nI did do a minor scuff and spray on the wheels while the tires were de-mounted. They actually weren't too bad but a few chips and the paint was a little weathered.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749680036, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 22:13:56+00"}, {"id": 17930449, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Photo 159 - how did that dent get there you ask... well, on or about 2014 we had our garage interior finished off including insulation, wall board, and paint. About a year later, remember the car was in storage with a cover on it and on wheel dollies, I pulled the cover off and the dent was immediately obvious. My initial thought was maybe a piece of scaffolding or ladder hit it? Nobody had fessed up and too much time had passed, so I decided to just touch it up and keep it from rusting. I thought about having it fixed and repainted but again wanted the next owner to see the condition and decide for themselves whether or not to fix it.\r\nIn addition to the fender dent the roof had an indentation like somebody stood their foot on it. So, while the headliner was out of it I had a PDR guy spend some time on it from the inside. It's not perfect but respectable, I would say about an 80% solution. If you've ever washed one of these you'll know the roof is easily 'oil canned' with very little pressure.\r\nIt's funny, every time I've showed the car nobody has mentioned anything about the dent or the roof, they're just amazed at the condition being 40 years old.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749681296, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 22:34:56+00"}, {"id": 17930657, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749682402, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 22:53:22+00"}, {"id": 17930668, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "52 hp\r\n52 mpg\r\n\r\n\r\nthought of the day", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749682511, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 22:55:11+00"}, {"id": 17930692, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "@dponce\r\nI'll have to look. I do remember Dad taking it off about 25 years ago, don't think he would've thrown it away. I know he didn't like the skinny rim and the triangular looking center piece. For what it's worth, the currently installed wheel does have a functional horn button in the middle, and the turn signals cancel from both directions.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749682810, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 23:00:10+00"}, {"id": 17930913, "authorName": "jpr", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/jpr/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Giugiaro for the win.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749684749, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 23:32:29+00"}, {"id": 17931079, "authorName": "jrmedsel", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/jrmedsel/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "@gm1777 - using your horsepower-to-mpg algorithm, my 1959 Edsel 6-cylinder is getting 145 mpg. And that's without the optional overdrive....\r\n\r\nNow that's a thought of the day!", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749686160, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-11 23:56:00+00"}, {"id": 17931396, "authorName": "gm1777 (The Seller)", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/gm1777/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Day 3 - Cont.\r\n\r\n\u2018Yup, it\u2019s a diesel, let\u2019s go for a drive\u2019 he says. First things first though, how to start it and how to shift the transmission. Yes, it was a 3 pedal 4-sp just like this one. Having a fair amount of motorcycle experience I knew the basics of the clutch/transmission shifting and sequencing thing. However, at this point in my limited driving career, I had only driven one vehicle with a manual transmission, a family friend\u2019s jeep with a tall shifter and long throws. I looked down on the floor and saw this small lever with relatively short throws. \u2018You gotta push down then over and up to grab reverse\u2019 he says. Ok, let\u2019s start it. First, pull this knob out then turn the key one notch. Now, wait for the yellow light to go out then turn the key another notch to start it. But before doing that he made sure I had it in neutral. No safety switches back then. Cont.", "likes": 1, "timestamp": 1749689176, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-12 00:46:16+00"}, {"id": 17933636, "authorName": "brianrdesrosiers6979", "authorUrl": "https://bringatrailer.com/member/brianrdesrosiers6979/", "bidAmount": 0, "content": "Love the MK 1 rabbits. I had 3 of them.\nI loved this car even though it was 0-60 in never. This car got me hooked on VW. Plus it was easy to work on.", "likes": 0, "timestamp": 1749737778, "type": "comment", "endDate": "2025-06-12 14:16:18+00"}]