This 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel is an unrestored 5-speed manual example that shows 7k miles from new. Purchased new at Weis Volkswagen in Queens, this unmodified car stayed with its original owner until the seller purchased it last year. A major service performed since then included a new timing belt, accessory belts, water pump, rear shocks, and all new hoses and fluids. The original wheels and factory-installed tires are included along with a matching set of wheels fitted with new tires. The car is sold with its original manuals and carries a Rhode Island registration.

The exterior is unmodified and retains its original square-headlight Westmoreland grille. The substantial US-market bumpers have some marks on the front and rear as shown in the gallery. Correct-type wheels are fitted and wear new tires. The original wheels are also included and still wear the tires the car was delivered with. The seller drove the car home on the original wheels and tires, and acquired the new wheels and tires for safety’s sake shortly after.

There are two chips in the paintwork on the hood where the original owner accidentally closed his garage door on the car. Two rust bubbles are visible under the windshield seal, and some other minor corrosion is pictured in the gallery.

Red vinyl upholstery, carpets, and plastics are original, and factory black rubber Wolfsburg-crested floor mats are fitted. The dash is free of cracks and the car retains its original radio. The dash lighting is not working and the A/C system is untested, though all other features are said to work correctly. Two odometer photos are included, one showing the 6,981 miles the car had when the seller acquired it and the other showing the current reading of 7,283.

The cargo area looks clean with intact paintwork on the shock towers, its rubber mat, and original carpeted hatch cover.

The original factory-fitted raised letter radials are still with the car, including the spare. Per the seller the original wheels look new, and the original tires show minimal tread wear. The spare, pictured above, is virtually unused and was fitted to the car for about a week prior to sale because another tire was somewhat low.

When new, the 1.5 liter diesel inline-four produced 48 horsepower and achieved 42 mpg overall under EPA testing. The car is mechanically stock, and correct colored vacuum hoses are still fitted. In late 2016, the seller had a VW tech replace the timing belt, water pump, drive and accessory belts, all coolant hoses and fluids, the motor mounts, rear shocks, air filter, fuel filter and oil filter. The brakes were checked over, and the battery was replaced by the previous owner. Per the seller the car has never been fully restored, only maintained. All of the original parts which were removed have been retained and are still with the car.

Red sealing wax is still visible underhood on the strut towers.

The original maintenance booklet is included and shows the slow pace at which miles have been accrued. As of the one year/15k mile service in October of 1980, the car had 507 miles. Per the seller’s conversation with the original owner he only used it in his neighborhood in Queens, which kept the mileage very low. The 2016 NY State inspection tag is pictured in the gallery, and shows the mileage as last documented in New York.

Red sealing wax is still visible on the underside of the floors.

The window sticker shows this Rabbit to be well optioned, with a 5-speed manual gearbox, leatherette upholstery, air conditioning, and the Heavy Duty package.

The car is sold with its original books and materials, including the stamped maintenance booklet. The car is currently registered to the seller in Rhode Island, and the New York State title signed by the previous owner has been retained as Rhode Island does not issue titles to cars of this age.