Baby Blue Rabbit
Here's a 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit, in good condition, from the "Malibunny" years.
As noted on this photostream, VW started producing the bunny version of the original Golf in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The plant's manager (and eventual Volkswagen of America chief), former Chevrolet executive Jim McLernon, made changes to the car that made it feel and drive like a miniature Malibu, with softer suspension and cheaper interiors. When former Volkswagen of America president Carl Hahn became the CEO of the whole company, he went to Pennsylvania and took an '82 Rabbit for a test drive. "I drove the American Rabbit," Hahn said, "and it felt like a Chevrolet. If you want a Chevrolet, you should go to General Motors."
At the start of the 1983 model year, Volkswagen announced that the '83 Rabbit had retuned suspension, stiffer spring rates, and revised shock valving.
So what did McLernon think of this? Oh, it didn't matter. See, Hahn fired him. He also brought in South African VW executive Noel Phillips to run the American division. That decision might have been partly instrumental in VW's sales decline in America in the 1980s - the anti-apartheid demonstrations and all that - but it was very instrumental in saving the car.
I only test-drove a used '82 Rabbit for sale, and it felt like a Chevrolet. Only trouble was, I was looking for a different car to replace my old Chevrolet!
Baby Blue Rabbit
Here's a 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit, in good condition, from the "Malibunny" years.
As noted on this photostream, VW started producing the bunny version of the original Golf in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The plant's manager (and eventual Volkswagen of America chief), former Chevrolet executive Jim McLernon, made changes to the car that made it feel and drive like a miniature Malibu, with softer suspension and cheaper interiors. When former Volkswagen of America president Carl Hahn became the CEO of the whole company, he went to Pennsylvania and took an '82 Rabbit for a test drive. "I drove the American Rabbit," Hahn said, "and it felt like a Chevrolet. If you want a Chevrolet, you should go to General Motors."
At the start of the 1983 model year, Volkswagen announced that the '83 Rabbit had retuned suspension, stiffer spring rates, and revised shock valving.
So what did McLernon think of this? Oh, it didn't matter. See, Hahn fired him. He also brought in South African VW executive Noel Phillips to run the American division. That decision might have been partly instrumental in VW's sales decline in America in the 1980s - the anti-apartheid demonstrations and all that - but it was very instrumental in saving the car.
I only test-drove a used '82 Rabbit for sale, and it felt like a Chevrolet. Only trouble was, I was looking for a different car to replace my old Chevrolet!