The Original Bunny
This is a 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel, still running after 24 years. It belongs to someone who lives in my town.
Marketed with the Rabbit nameplate in North America, the Mark 1 VW Golf was the bestselling import car model in the United States for the 1975 model year, selling 98,215 units. Paradoxically, Volkswagen lost its status as America's topselling import car brand that year - to Toyota! - never to regain it.
By 1983, with a new Golf being readied for introduction at Frankfurt, the Rabbit was still being produced in Pennsylvania. After a disastrous attempt to make the Pennsylvania-built Rabbit ride like a Chevrolet - I call the Rabbit of that era the "Malibunny!" - the suspension and shocks were retuned for 1983 to make the car drive the way it was supposed to - like a VW. Rabbit production continued in the U.S. into 1984.
This '83 oil-burning bunny is a fine example, and a nice shade of maroon. I park next to this car in my Mark 4 Golf whenever I can . . . out of respect. :-)
The Original Bunny
This is a 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel, still running after 24 years. It belongs to someone who lives in my town.
Marketed with the Rabbit nameplate in North America, the Mark 1 VW Golf was the bestselling import car model in the United States for the 1975 model year, selling 98,215 units. Paradoxically, Volkswagen lost its status as America's topselling import car brand that year - to Toyota! - never to regain it.
By 1983, with a new Golf being readied for introduction at Frankfurt, the Rabbit was still being produced in Pennsylvania. After a disastrous attempt to make the Pennsylvania-built Rabbit ride like a Chevrolet - I call the Rabbit of that era the "Malibunny!" - the suspension and shocks were retuned for 1983 to make the car drive the way it was supposed to - like a VW. Rabbit production continued in the U.S. into 1984.
This '83 oil-burning bunny is a fine example, and a nice shade of maroon. I park next to this car in my Mark 4 Golf whenever I can . . . out of respect. :-)