Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck (Caddy) [Restoration Potential]

VW Caddy Rabbit pickup
Based on the Volkswagen Golf Mk1, the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck (called the VW Caddy elsewhere) was a model of simplistic engineering. Equipped with a 1715cc gas engine that put out 78 horsepower (74 hp in California) and 88 lb-ft of torque this gas engine was connected to a four or five-speed manual transmission. Like the regular VW Rabbit/Golf Mk1, the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck was front-drive only. A 1588cc 52 hp diesel was available and it made 71 lb-ft of torque. Other markets had other, optional power-plants including a turbo-diesel.

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I’ve driven a few; some new-ish and some very used. Given the fact that this tiny truck is basically a beefed-up car, it was very utilitarian and a breeze to drive. If you are over six-feet tall, you may be a tad squished, especially if you’re long legged.

VW Caddy Rabbit pickup specs
The Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck was barely a blip on the North American pickup truck radar. Still, it did sell fairly well during its three-year production run in North America. The Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck was manufactured at the Volkswagen Westmoreland Assembly Plant (VWAP) in Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1982. In other markets, this first version of the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck/Caddy sold until 1996.

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Once pickup trucks from Toyota, Nissan/Datsun, Mitsubishi and Isuzu (among others) usurped the overall capabilities and utility of the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck, sales diminished in the United States. That’s a shame, the Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck was a very inexpensive, rugged runabout that still serves many hard-working folks.

Here’s what I’m on about: over the past decade or so, I’ve met Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup Truck owners. Some have modified them into GTI pickup trucks for fun, others use them day-to-day in rough jobs like landscaping. Currently, they are cheap as chips with good running examples going for less than $4,000. Rust, heavy abuse and over-customization seem to be common issues with these models.

Cool, lightweight truck? Yes, it was.

Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. His words, good humor and video are enjoyed  worldwide.
Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. His words, good humor and video are enjoyed
worldwide.
Nathan Adlen
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism - Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. Brought up in the California car culture and educated in theater, childhood education, film, journalism and history, Nathan now lives with his family in Denver, CO. His words, good humor and video are enjoyed worldwide.