1983 Volkswagen Rabbit LS Diesel

Wolfsburg Limited Edition

5 speed transmission and power steering

One owner with 139,000 original miles

When I found this little first generation Rabbit still in the possession of the original owners I added it to my collection immediately. Purchased new in May of 1983 at Riviera Motors here in Portland Oregon by Fred Sr. and his wife Lauretta and was immediately taken across the river to their home in Vancouver Washington where she has resided ever since. I have lots of original documentation. This car has always received excellent maintenance due to Fred being a machinist and very mindful of service and care. That pride of ownership still shows on the car today. Fred passed away many years ago and the Rabbit has only been used sparingly since then. Lauretta could never bring herself to sell the car and rarely drove it but kept it secure and in nice condition. In 2010 she had it repainted in the factory original maroon color the car has always been. Her son actually handled the sale to me and I have continued the care it's gotten from 1983 to now. In the 1980's I owned several of these VW diesels and drove a yellow 1979 model for a short time in high school. I realize they were designed for economy and reliability, not performance, and was always amazed by the fuel mileage but somewhat disappointed with the power. Now, that was almost 30 years ago and as a teenager my expectations regarding the acceleration of a 4cyl diesel were probably unreasonable. This Rabbit seems to be an exception to that decades-old complaint. It has surprising power in all ranges and maintains freeway speed very well. I'm averaging around 40 miles to the gallon and have gotten as much as 46 on the highway. I'm never holding up traffic and stop light to stop light speed in town is just fine. Also, she starts immediately warm or cold and NEVER smokes. Really! Even if left in my garage for extended periods of time the car fires right up like it was started an hour ago. No black smoke, no irritating exhaust smell, nothing. The exterior body and paint are in wonderful condition and NO rust has ever occurred. Normally kept in the garage or covered carport. The original interior is outstanding. The engine, transmission, electrical system and all related mechanical components are in fine working order. The upcoming pictures should do a perfect job of finishing the story but for those that prefer as many details as possible I will continue the description process under several of the photos. There is lots to share.      

I will also make a few brief comments under certain pictures throughout the photo display. All of my eBay experiences have been enjoyable over the years as I've sold members of my collection. I'm grateful for the kind words and compliments I've received. My opinions have guided me well and I stand behind them but please keep in mind that these are my personal opinions and observations and they may differ from your own. I welcome showing my Volkswagen in person to anyone with genuine interest. I live very near the Portland Oregon Airport and would gladly pick you up. Each photo shows the Rabbit clearly and accurately from as many angles as I could think of. It is my intention to make this as close to you seeing and touching the car for yourself as possible. Feel free to click on the "ask a question" link here in the auction and I will respond to all polite questions. Phone calls are great too. My telephone number is 503-575-0404 and calls between 8AM and 9PM Pacific time are just fine. My auction runs for 7 days and is scheduled to end on Tuesday evening, the 12th of August at 7:30PM Pacific.

I reserve the right to end my auction early in the event I accept a genuine offer and the car becomes no longer available.

*If you are outside of the U.S. or Canada, PLEASE contact me to confirm your bidding activity as genuine.*

Everyone, please be sure to read my terms of sale located near the bottom of this screen. I'm a reasonable person but I will not bend on these basic terms unless previously discussed during the auction. A little communication goes a long way.


NO RESERVE AUCTION

I did not set a reserve price on my Rabbit. All that I ask in return is for your bids to be real and your intent to purchase be sincere. I took every picture you're about to see in the neighborhood park near my home the day before this auction started. No photo has been altered or enhanced in any way. This is my Volkswagen and these pictures are true to her in-person appearance. Thanks for your time, DAVE

         

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            As I mentioned in the description above, the body and paint are in nice condition. I am aware of no previous accident damage and my explorations of the car have discovered no collision repairs. No rust issues of any kind EVER. The factory paint was showing it's age and had faded slightly so the elderly original owner had it repainted approximately 4 years ago in the correct maroon color (factory paint code 97A Mahogany). A good job was performed at that time and the paint holds a nice shine. Certainly not to Concourse level but the car presents very well. On close inspection minor blemishes and tiny specks of dust can be found within the finish. A wet-sanding and polishing would generally rectify this minor complaint but I am pleased with the car's appearance. Only compliments and kind remarks are received every time I take the car out. 

 

            Factory optional cloth interior is in outstanding condition. The fabric is still soft and the colors are bright. The drivers seat has very slight wear on the outer edge but is in extremely nice shape. The headliner, door panels and dashboard are in near mint original condition. The factory carpet is very nice with some staining under the drivers floor mat. One look inside as you open the door is all it takes to be impressed.        The 1.6 liter diesel engine has always been well maintained and performs as intended. Starts immediately when cold or even after sitting for extended periods of time. Power and overall performance surpass my expectations. Easily keeps pace with freeway traffic and maintains desired speed. She's not going to win an uphill race, or any race for that matter, but she holds her own. Never any smoke or excessive diesel fuel smell. Economy is spectacular. Over 40mpg is a realistic guesstimate and mid-40's can be achieved on the highway. There are no fluid drips on my garage floor. The 5 speed transmission shifts smoothly in all gears with no grinds or linkage issues. The brakes, steering and suspension appear to be tight and sound. This car has had a gentle life with caring owners. Never abused or neglected in any way. Even the electrical system is perfect. Absolutely everything on the car operates properly. All lights, gauges, wipers with delay function, heater, rear defrost, radio, horn, glovebox light, and even the original clock keeps correct time. How often can that be said about a 30+ year old VW? Mechanical components seem to be in fine working order. She is actually enjoyable to drive. No clunks, vibrations, rattles or abnormal noises.

         

            All gauges work perfectly. The speedometer and odometer have always been accurate. The cooling system functions flawlessly and the auxiliary fans come on once the temp gauge needle hits half way. Clock keeps exact time. 

            This original document is what most of us consider a factory assembly line build sheet although Volkswagen calls it the Inspection Transfer.

            Yes, I even have the original window sticker. Shipped to Midway Motors in McMinnville Oregon but actually sold through Riviera Motors in Portland. Both of these dealerships were Oregon VW dealers back in the day.

         

            Tail lights and rear bumper are excellent.

 

            The grille and front bumper are excellent as well.

            My only claim to fame when it comes to the cars appearance is the GTI front spoiler and wheel arch moldings. Years ago I had many early Rabbits and GTI's. This factory body kit had been in my garage for years. I've been told that these 83 and 84 GTI only accessories are rare to find. A few of the wheel lips had minor scuffs from Lauretta misjudging the width of her carport in her later years. I do have trim that covers the attachment points of the spoiler. A final detail I forgot. With the exception of the vintage correct GTI pieces and the THULE roof rack, the car looks 100% original.

         

 

         

         

            The THULE roof rack stays with the car and really adds to the appearance.

         

            All glass is in very good condition and original. The windshield shows minor wiper marks but nothing that requires replacement.

            All side windows roll up and down with 2 fingers. Optional opening wing vent windows.

         

         

 

         

         

         

         

         

                 

         

 

         

         

         

         

 

                 

         

         

         

         

         

         

            Without a doubt, one of the cleanest and most well kept examples of a MK1 Rabbit a person will find.

         

 

            No excuses need to be made. Interior is extremely nice.

            The entire dashboard area is mint.

                 

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            The AM/FM Cassette player has been here since day-one.

 

         

         

            NEVER SMOKED IN.

         

            Even the dash lights still illuminate brightly.        The hatch stays up on it's own and the original shelf/cargo cover is perfect.

         

            Trunk and cargo area are excellent.

         

         

            Factory spare and all jacking equipment are intact and like new.

         

 

                 

         

         

         

         

         

         

 

         

            There is a small dent near the muffler.

              The undersides are 100% original. No rust or corrosion of any kind.

 

            Even the exhaust system is factory original and in near new condition.

 

            Factory part numbers and date code on muffler.

            As mentioned previously, there is no evidence of fluid drips on my garage floor. Typical residue and seepage is all you'll find. Please Note: Much of the residue showing here is from a leaking oil pressure sending unit I discovered and that HAS BEEN replaced. 

         

         

         

         

            Clear and authentic matching certificate of title. Easily transferable to any State in the U.S. and exactly what customs agents and the border crossing folks hope to see for smooth ownership transfer and overseas shipping if necessary. I have all required documentation.  

I'm hoping that my appreciation for this unique little car is contagious and that your impression is fully formed by now. From an economy standpoint, these Rabbit Diesel's were the Prius Hybrid of their day only much simpler. Thanks again-
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Terms of Sale: 31yr old vehicle being sold AS-IS:

Please read and agree with the following:

I have described my VW honestly and to the best of my ability based on over 25 years of owning and driving classic cars. This is an excellent example of these iconic cars. I have faith in the drivability of my Rabbit and everything appears to be in proper working order per my written description provided above. I enjoy driving her without concern and would not hesitate taking a cross-country trip but she is over 30 years old so routine service and repairs should be expected based on her age. I welcome and encourage showing my Rabbit in person during the auction. If you are not comfortable with a sight-unseen purchase, please come see the car for yourself or have an independent inspection performed PRIOR to bidding, NOT after. I will not be responsible for the decisions of others. Free and clear Certificate Of Title will be provided. I would appreciate the winning bidder contacting me immediately upon end of auction just so the lines of communication are opened. My telephone number is 503-575-0404


PAYMENT TERMS

A $1000.00 deposit is due within 24 hours of auction ending preferably through PayPal just so we are both protected. Wire transfers and verifiable cashier checks are also acceptable. I'm an easy going person so if you need to make special financial arrangements please contact me BEFORE you bid and I will try to help. I have been with the same bank here in Portland Oregon for over 10 years and the Management staff knows me. You are welcome to contact them for your own security if you like. *The remaining balance in-full is due within 7 calendar days of auction end in the form of secure funds.* Please have your method of payment arranged prior to auction ending. The balance is normally handled via wire transfer.

TRANSPORT - SHIPPING

I am happy to be an active and hands-on part of this entire process from start to finish but the buyer is ultimately responsible for pickup or shipping of this vehicle and any pre-purchase inspections need to be done BEFORE auction ending. If you wish to have it shipped using a service, I will gladly assist in loading and be present for the transport condition form and other reasonable help. Locating a transporter is the buyers responsibility but I can make recommendations and share the relationships I've built. Vehicle transport has become very reasonable. I personally use a privately dispatched trucking company. They have handled my transport needs perfectly for the last several years with careful handling, excellent rates and fast service even all the way to the East Coast. I will provide contact info at your request. Dependable Auto Shippers (D.A.S.) is a transporter that eBay recommends and my experiences with them before I started using only private carriers were just fine. My location zip code is 97214. Coast-to-Coast transport is around $1200.00 and even less the closer you are to Oregon. Shipping to Australia, Europe and other Countries has also become affordable and easy to arrange.

*If you are outside of the United States or Canada, you MUST contact me to confirm your bidding activity as authentic.If you are an eBay member with negative history or have a (0) or even a low transaction score, I need to hear from you just to verify your sincerity and accept your bids as genuine. We all started from (0) and I'm happy to give a leg up. I reserve the right to cancel bids at any point for these reasons. Email or phone contact is fine. Communication is all I ask.


I reserve the right to end the auction at any time if the vehicle is no longer available or otherwise SOLD.