retro_rocket: 1983 Rabbit GTI

[retro_rocket]

Member Name: retro_rocket
Year: 1983
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Rabbit GTI
Color: Diamond Silver Metallic

Summary of the car: I purchased this car from the original owner, who was a retired teacher. The car was driven to Florida every year when the previous owner and his wife traveled there to spend the winter. Keeping it away from Pennsylvania winters surely contributed to the less-than-average amount of rust that was on the vehicle when it was purchased by me.

When I found the car, it was sitting on the street during the winter, the owner having decided to take his newer Jetta to Florida that year. The car was not for sale, but once the owner returned from Florida in the spring, I contacted him, discussed the situation with him, and he eventually decided to sell the car to me, on the condition that I take good care of it and not hack it up.

Don’t let the pictures fool you – when I purchased the car, it was in complete, but very worn, condition. The paint was in poor condition, with the hood and roof being badly etched. A few odds and ends were missing (but nothing major), and the interior needed some help as the seats were fairly torn up and the headliner was held in place with staples. The car as a whole was very dirty from sitting unattended for several months, and it took some work to get the car to start and run reliably.

To this day, the car still has a shallow dent in the roof and another on the hood. When the owner was still teaching, he was in his classroom one day after school had let out. He heard a commotion outside on the street and looked out the window to see two kids chasing each other down the street. One of the kids proceeded to step up onto the car’s bumper, then hood, then onto the roof, and then jump off the other side of the car – so he quite literally “ran over” the car!

My objective was to refurbish the car to presentable stock condition. I hesitate to use the word “restoration” when I talk about this car, because I think that implies a much more involved process.

I tried to reuse the original parts whenever possible. When I had to replace a part, I made every effort to source a suitable NOS or OEM replacement.

Pictures:

























Engine Specs: Stock 1.8L 8v. Nearly 235,000 miles and it has never been rebuilt, but still pulls strong and has good compression. Stock 5-speed close ratio transmission, also original and never rebuilt.

Suspension & Wheels: Weitec Ultra GT suspension (40mm lowering); assorted Prothane and Autotech poly mounts and bushings; 15x7 et35 Abt A5 on 195/50/15 Toyo Proxes; also stock GTI "snowflake" wheels on 185/60-14 tires.

Exterior Specs: Stock except for deleted rear hatch vinyl surround and custom CNC'd aluminum license plate frame (yeah, I'm really stretching it here, lol).

Interior Specs: Stock; completely original except for front seats, headliner, floor mats, and speakers.

Notable Acomplishments: In its respective class at each event...
1st place - Buggy Madness 2004
1st place - Volksfest 2005
1st place - Volksfest 2007
1st place - Super Jam 2007
1st place - V.A.G. Fair 2007
2nd place - Super Jam 2005
2nd place - Super Jam 2006
2nd place - Summer Sizzle 2004
2nd place - Summer Sizzle 2005
2nd place - Summer Sizzle 2006
2nd place - Summer Sizzle 2007
3rd place - Super Jam 2004
VWforum calendar car, April 2005 and October 2007

Comments: Respect your roots

[liquidmike]

Now this is what I'm talkin about! I love the old iron, good job keepin her on the road and the milage is a testament to VW reliability. Its a shame becuase we're seein less and less of the early waterpumpers around but thankfully guys like you are keeping them around. Even though I drive an MK4 I still have a soft spot for the older VW's that I grew up with, beautiful car

[s18t]

i luv that red interior , rock it

[retro_rocket]

Couple of recent pics. New suspension + new steering rack + new motor mounts = drives like new and handles like a dream...

[trev0rbr]

really like this car, hopefully i'll get next you at some more shows

[retro_rocket]

Well, I suppose it's time for a little update.

Picked up these shiny little things a few months ago...hopefully they will be on in time for Volksfest. I've had to partially reassemble two of them because they leaked air...one of them is fixed and the other one is still being a bastard and leaking a little tiny bit...so right now it's awaiting a little more work and then I'll be crossing my fingers and hoping that it holds this time! Would've liked to have had them ready sooner, but I've been really busy lately.





And some added bling



Otherwise, basically no changes from last year. The fuel pump is getting replaced later this week because it started making a death-whine.

[duke]

Gonna look amazing!

[VWjetta97]

cars going to look amazing with those wheels on it man

[duke]

Originally Posted by VWjetta97

cars going to look amazing with those wheels on it man

Pelle, when you paraphrase the post before yours... at least change the adjective. You must've been a horrible cheater in high school.

[db]

Great choice

[VWjetta97]

Originally Posted by audomatik

Pelle, when you paraphrase the post before yours... at least change the adjective. You must've been a horrible cheater in high school.

thats true! i got caught cheating twice in high school

[vr6exxy]

this makes me still want a rabbit someday... i <3 clean rabbits.

[duke]

You should put one side on... so we... I mean you can see how awesome it's gonna look

[retro_rocket]

Originally Posted by audomatik

You should put one side on... so we... I mean you can see how awesome it's gonna look

I want to, but I haven't had the time to screw around with it lately...though I did roll them alongside the car and step back and take a look :P

[duke]

Originally Posted by retro_rocket

I want to, but I haven't had the time to screw around with it lately...though I did roll them alongside the car and step back and take a look :P

It's such a good feeling, stepping back and admiring the new look