1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Survivor!

This is a 1980 VW Rabbit Pickup. It was built in May of 1980, the first year of the rabbit pickup, which was built at VW’s plant in Westmoreland, Pa.

This is a nice example of an original survivor Rabbit Pickup with an upgraded engine and the desirable, hard to find GemTop camper shell, with 145k original miles.

Exterior:

The body is very straight and solid, with few dings or dents, and never in an accident. It is all original paint Mojave Beige that has been buffed and shines nicely.There are specs of minor surface rust scattered about the truck, creating a very nice and unique patina.

Being that the truck was originally from San Francisco and was always parked outside, the salty mist in the air was allowed to settle and hide behind the body trim along the sides, therefore behind these trim strips, the rust is a little heavier but nothing that is rotted through, and it hardly detracts from the beauty and originality of the truck.

One other spot to note is on the driver side A pillar where it meets the hood cowl, there is a Quarter sized rust hole. This is a very common area for rust on the trucks. It can easily be filled and treated to prevent progression. Please see pics.

Other common areas for rust such as the strut towers are super solid and clean. See pics.

Interior:

The interior is all original Tan Leatherette, often referred to as Peanut Butter by VW enthusiasts. The seats are all incredibly very clean with no rips or tears. The door panels are also equally clean. The headliner is intact and looks great. And the dash has a nice dash mat to protect against cracking and fading.

Mechanical:

As mentioned, the truck has an upgraded engine swap. Originally it would have been equipped with a basic 1.5L non-turbo Diesel. Being that the truck is smog exempt, the previous owner invested in a highly desirable engine swap and installed what is called a 1.9 1Y Diesel. It is essentially the same as the desirable AAZ TDI swap, just without a turbo.

The engine runs great and produces a substantial increase in power compared to the original engine, making highway driving much more pleasant while still retaining an incredible fuel economy of 40+ MPG.

The transmission is the original 4 speed manual unit which shits super smooth and perfect, with zero issues, and no grinding or popping out of gear.

The brakes feel great and work perfect. Tires are dated 2013 and still look great and have excellent tread. Electrically, all lights and signals work as they should, along with the wipers, fan, and original optional AM radio also works perfect.

The deal:

As a long time VW enthusiast and professional Restorer, I must say that this is one of the nicest Mojave Beige trucks still in existence and has an awesome patina that gives it unique character. It looks and drives just incredibly.

The truck comes as-is, as you see it in the pics. There is no warranty on anything. The Title is clean in my name and registration is up to date. The original blue California license plates are also included.

This would make a great addition to your collection as well as a great commuter, or even a perfect gift for the holidays!

International buyers welcome! I can assist with shipping! Thanks for your interest!