1983 Volkswagen Rabbit Caddy Pick Up Gas Engine Excellent Project Runs & Drives on 2040-cars

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VIN: 1V1KB0172DV047119 Year: 1983
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Rabbit
Cab Type (For Trucks Only): Regular Cab
Trim: Pick Up
Options: CD Player
Drive Type: FWD
Mileage: 200,299
Exterior Color: Black
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Tan
Number of Doors: 2
Number of Cylinders: 4
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty

Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

I bought this car as a cleanup and repair project to share with my 19 year old son. The upside potential for an economical practical cheap driver was the goal, and this car was chosen because it looks ratty but has all the major requirements in place. It currently runs and drives, but is handicapped by a broken or worn out shift linkage. I have successfully found four forward gears and reverse, but couldn't repeat the process if I tried. It's like pushing a spoon around in a bowl of oatmeal, occasionally finding a gear; no sense that there is anything connected between your hand and the gearbox. The engine starts, runs, and moves the car through a good clutch, but I'm not taking it out on the road if I don't know where my next gear is coming from. No smoke, no knocks, engine idles down as it  should, and can get the car rolling even in higher gears (that's how I know the clutch is good). Brakes work fine. The shift linkage is the single major problem with the car - fix this and you already have a driver/beater. I have lots of pictures which show how solid the car is; shock towers and rockers are nice, as a result of living dry in Colorado. The only rust on this car (shown in pictures) is non-structural, purely cosmetic, and easily repaired. I know full well what happens to these back east, so you may know of one that has all it's plastic bits, but is about to fall in half from rust. If you do want a solid car to restore, this one would be worth the cosmetic work because it is NOT a rust bucket, nor does it show any sign of major damage. Plus, it already runs, so you're not keeping your fingers crossed over the unknowns you expect in a dead car.  

That said, the car could be considered nice only if you are looking for a solid unrusted, unhit base for a restoration. That, or stop at "Beater", because it's overall condition is "needs everything". It has a crappy, peeling black paint job over the original dark red. The windshield is cracked. The interior is dirty. The bed has been used as a truck bed. There are scrapes and dings. There is no cover over the cam belt. The drivers door handle doesn't work from the outside. The CD player was installed by a less than competent person (but the dash isn't cut up). Seats are non-original, and poorly mounted (but not hacked, either). The back window is something a high school kid would deny. No rear bumper. Grille badge and left plastic headlight bezel missing. Door lock knobs, heater fan switch knob are missing, and the hood release cable is operated by a pair of vise grips. Emergency brake does nothing. The tailgate corners are beat up, but can be straightened, as they are not rusted. Look at the pictures closely, using the Ebay zoom feature - though not pretty, you will find that there is nothing requiring a skill level beyond 'basic home mechanic' to turn this into a decent practical car. 

I am listing this car at $500 no reserve in the belief that it will actually be worth more in the right hands. I am happy to answer questions, take closeup pictures of typical VW trouble spots, and generally do what is required to represent the car accurately. The winning bidder can store the car free of charge for 30 days in my fenced asphalt lot, and I believe that a competent VW person could find a way to drive it home. Now, the question of the day - "Why aren't you making this your own project, Dan?" Well, the young automotive apprentice (my son) who was going to help me on HIS car has found a more direct path to the type of car that he wants, without having to get all dirty. I only wish I had figured that out by now...Thanks for Looking!  Dan Larson