This 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI was reportedly manufactured in Pennsylvania and resided in the state until the seller acquired it in December 2014. The car was disassembled and rebuilt in the seller’s garage between 2015 and 2018, with highlights including a reworked exterior with a fabric sunroof, modifications to its 1.8-liter inline-four, dual Dell’Orto carburetors with velocity stacks, a five-speed manual transmission, suspension upgrades, three-piece Schmidt wheels, a customized interior with Status racing seats, and other performance and cosmetic alterations. This GTI is offered with a clean Carfax report, over 1,500 photos of the build, and a clean New Jersey title in the seller’s name.

The floors, rockers, quarter panels, front support, and rear panel were replaced with reproduction parts to correct rust in 2015, and the car was painted in Brandy Wine metallic with replacement seals throughout. Alterations include European-spec headlights, bumpers, and taillights along with rear fender flares, a Rabbit heckblende, a single windshield wiper conversion, a chin spoiler, chrome flag mirrors, and a locking Pirelli fuel cap. A sliding fabric sunroof was integrated into the roof, with the seller noting waviness where the sheet metal meets the frame. Other flaws include chips and a ding on the left fender according to the seller.

Three-piece 14″ Schmidt TH Line wheels are mounted with a stud conversion and feature 165/55 Federal F01 tires with JOM flush valve stems. Braking upgrades consist of a rear disc conversion with Mk 2 calipers and stainless steel lines, while the front calipers, discs, and pads have been replaced. The car is lowered on Raceland coilovers and has been fitted with new control arms, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, polyurethane bushings, steering rack seals and boots, and axles.

The cabin was stripped and coated with a color-matched spray-on bed liner. Black leather Status racing seats with red stitching feature OMP four-point belts mounted to a custom harness bar and a shock tower brace. Custom door panels with fabric pulls and matching side panels have also been fitted. A battery cut-off switch is located just to left of the driver’s seat, while a Deka ETX gel battery is mounted under the seat itself. The rear bench has been removed and a carpet laid over the cargo area.

The smoothed cabriolet dashboard houses electronic gauges including a GPS speedometer which is not calibrated correctly and displays double the actual speed. The digital odometer indicates 4,400 miles, and the seller states that the original odometer showed approximately 160k miles prior to the build. Controls include a CAE Shifting Technology shift tower and a suede-rimmed steering wheel on a quick-release hub. A hydraulic emergency brake and passenger footrest were sourced from Compbrake along with a pedal box featuring dual brake master cylinders, a hydraulic clutch master cylinder, and a cable throttle.

The 1.8-liter, eight-valve JH inline-four breathes through twin Dell’Orto carburetors with velocity stacks and dual throttle cables. The engine features a ported and polished cylinder head, a 274/270 Techtonics camshaft, a thicker oil pan, and a Techtonics race header feeding a resonated 2.25″ cat-back exhaust system. Electrical modifications include tucked wiring, a Painless Performance fuse box, and a single-wire alternator, while cooling is from an aluminum radiator with dual electric pull-through fans. Stainless steel heat shields and chrome accessories have been installed along with new ignition components, a Carter electric inline fuel pump, and 3/8” DOT nylon fuel lines.

Power is sent to the front wheels through a five-speed 020 manual transmission incorporating a fifth gear from a diesel model for lower engine speeds on the highway. New seals and gaskets were fitted during the build along with a replacement clutch featuring a Wilwood hydraulic pull-style conversion with braided stainless steel plumbing. The seller notes that a catalytic converter is not equipped.

The August 2019 Carfax report indicates Pennsylvania registration prior to the seller’s ownership and shows no accidents or other damage from new through January 2018. Over 1,500 pictures reportedly document the build and can be given to the next owner, while a full build list from the seller is provided in the gallery. Videos of the car being starting and driven can be viewed below.