For something as slow, frumpy, and basic in its utilitarian intent, the old VW Rabbit diesel pickup sure does have a lot of fans. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe 1981 edition is the rare one that hasn't been shown affection in the form of questionable mods, but will you all be fans of its price?
As I noted, the seller of yesterday's custom 2004 Caddy Escalade Convertible has had less luck trying to move it than has that Chinese guy who's offering to pay for somebody - a dude - to marry his attractive but extremely lesbian daughter. And while unwilling-lesbodad has had to up his ante, the Escalade has seen its price slashed, time and time again. I guess they'll just need to keep hacking because according to 89% of you, at $24,9900 they haven't cut enough.
It's pretty obvious that the Chinese dad-dude is unwilling to accept the fact that his daughter doesn't want the D, and another obvious example of such oblivious behavior has been Volkswagen's recent take on the U.S. market, a nut that the German company seems unable to crack. Even today, the company's labor chief calls the U.S. operations a disaster, echoing claims made by head of U.S. operations, Michael Horn, who says their parent "pays little heed to the dynamics of the U.S. market."
That wasn't always the case however, and at one time VW gave America just what it wanted, and what America wanted was a small, fuel-efficient and capable pickup, and one with wrap-around turn signals to boot!
The VW Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.) was the company's replacement for the so-long-in-the-tooth-it-might-as-well-be-on-exibit-at-the-Page-Museum Type 1, or Beetle to its friends. Originally styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign, the Golf was simple, classic, and would one day become just as iconic a model for the German company as did the Bug.
But all good things must be meddled with and when VW decided to build the cars here in the states, at their spankin' new Westmoreland PA plant, they also decided to make the car more American, or what then VW Executive Werner Schmidt referred to as 'malibuing.'
The American Rabbit soon sprouted rectangular headlamps bookended by amber corner lamps, and set into a grille with a heavy chrome frame. Out back, the tail lights grew wide as a stereotypical American ass, while the side markers gained pointless bright detailing.
Inside was even worse as the Germans thought color coordinating the dash, doors and seats would be in the Americans' best interests. Along the way however, Volkswagen also introduced a nifty little pickup.
This 1981 VW Rabbit Pickup - or Caddy to those elsewhere - exhibits all the noted Americanizations. It's also a diesel, and that sturdy 52-horse 1.6-litre is the beneficiary here of a number of new parts. Sure, zero to sixty in these is something best timed by glacial ablation, but it'll still get you to the next light, just like everybody else.
Described in the ad as an older restoration on top of 233,000 miles, the car looks pretty good from the outside, even sporting a nice set of period-correct GTi wheels. The green paint also appears presentable, and it seems to have all its trim and rubber bits.
The inside isn't so nice, the seats looking like they've been re-covered at some point by Buffalo Bill from the Silence of the Lambs. Still, there's a 5-speed stick, and here too resides a GTi wheel.
The little trucklet is said to be free of rust save for a couple of spots, and it does have its current tags. The seller is asking $5,000 for his little Rabbit, and here's your chance to hop to it and say if that's a deal. What do you think, is five grand a good price for this Vee-Dub? Or, is that price too high for a Caddy Snack?
You decide!
Lancaster (pronounced: lank-iss-tar) PA Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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For $5,000 Make Your House a Caddy Shack