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It’s been stated that small hatchbacks killed off conventional little sports activities automobiles. In atonement for that nefarious act, as we speak’s Nice Price or No Dice Volkswagen Rabbit convertible provides an identical expertise. Let’s see whether it is equally well-priced for its age and that have.
Moon-trip mileage didn’t appear to be a problem on yesterday’s 2000 Toyota Celica GT-S. That, and some dings and scratches gave the impression to be the automobile’s solely noteworthy flaws. Pair that affordable presentation with the automobile’s six-speed guide gearbox and the $3,900 asking worth’s 77 p.c Good Worth win appear fairly comprehensible.
With simply over 100,000 on the ol’ ticker, as we speak’s 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit convertible has lower than half the mileage of yesterday’s Toyota, though it’s offered in equally clear situation.
When Volkswagen launched its first fully-electric manufacturing automobile, the ID.3 a pair years again, the press supplies went at size to elucidate that the numeral within the identify carries two meanings. It firstly recognized the automobile in its dimension phase with greater numbers (i.e. the ID.4 and ID.5) being bigger. Secondly, in line with VW, it represented the third main chapter within the firm’s historical past. The primary two of these chapters have been marked by the introductions of, respectively, the Sort 1 Beetle and the Mk1 Golf/Rabbit.
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That second chapter started in 1974 with the Golf’s debut in three- and five-door hatchback forms. Volkswagen introduced the open-top edition six years later, as a replacement for the Beetle convertible.
This model was not just a beheaded hatch cobbled together into convertible form. Instead, each Golf/Rabbit convertible was crafted by specialty builder Karmann at its factory in Osnabrück.
The design is probably best known for its unique B-pillar crossbar. It earned the convertible an unfortunate sobriquet based on its resemblance to a “basket handle” and the model’s popularity amongst sorority sisters. We’ll just leave it at that.
This one, in Cedar Green over a charcoal and gray cloth interior, might make a better name for itself as it looks to be in fantastic shape for its age. That appearance didn’t come without some effort, and the seller notes in the ad a long list of maintenance and repair work that has gone into the car along the way. According to the ad, that work was all done to make the car “reliable and fresh and ready for anything.” It seems to have all been well worth it as the car is now claimed to run “great.”
Motivation is by way of a 74 horsepower 1.7-liter SOHC four and that’s mated to a five-speed stick driving the front wheels. That combo doesn’t make the convertible a quick car, but it’s reasonable for its era and should be pretty easy to work on too. Also, a GTI drivetrain will fit in here just fine.
Overall, the car presents pretty well. The paint pops and the factory alloys (including on the spare) appear free from scrapes or gouges. The seller does note a few dings in the bodywork and a couple of scratches in the paint. The manual top looks to be in good shape, though and features a big glass back window for all your viewing pleasure.
None of the aesthetic flaws seem to be anything that would keep a new buyer from enjoying this Rabbit, but as a whole, they take the car down a notch from show-car quality.
Perhaps the most glaring issue is the large decubitus in the off-side bolster of the driver’s seat. These sport buckets are snugglier than skinny jeans, but those tall bolsters do tend to wear aggressively over the course of years of entry and exits. The rest of the interior looks to be in excellent shape and is as clean as a bean in the pictures. And speaking of clean, that describes the title too.
Does the good outweigh the bad on this lop-top Rabbit? That sure seems to be the case. Could it benefit from some further tidying up? Yeah, probably. Especially that seat which will only get worse with time and use.
The most important question, however, is whether or not the car is worth $10,000 in its present state. What do you say? Is this tidy Rabbit worth that much as it sits? Or does that price make you hopping mad?
You decide!
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