Volkswagen 1983 Rabbit GTI Original low miles Rare MK1 Exceptional condition!

1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI Description

This is my Volkswagen 1983 Rabbit MK1 GTI which I am very sadly parting with due to changes in my life. It is all original with no modifications or restorations. It is one of the very few MK1 GTI's still around in excellent condition. ONLY 63,361 actual miles It was manufactured in November of 1982, which makes it one of the first of the first generation of US made GTI's.
The original owner was a 73 year old gentleman bachelor who treated it like his only child. I bought it 7 years ago when I was 48, so both owners/drivers were middle aged non-smokers who never raced or hot-rodded it. It has been covered and garaged all its life when not in use. It's been a very pampered car. The body is approximately 99% rust free. I have the original sales receipt, many of the service records, 2 sets of keys, owners manual, Haynes repair book, part of a can of original paint for touch-up. (see pic below)
It has:
* 5 speed manual transmission
* 1.8L engine 4 cyl.
* optional upgraded factory original VW AM/FM cassette radio
* Oil has been changed religiously every 3K miles
* Had new brakes a year ago, new brake hoses this year
* New CV boots, joints, axle last year
* Been totally checked out by VW mechanic
* All hoses/vacuum hoses checked for leaks by VW mechanic "Pristine" (Air Cooled Engines Plus, Tiffin OH)
* New exhaust
* New Bosch injectors
* New Bosch/Audi fuel filter
* New Bosch plug wires/ distributor cap
* No A/C or sunroof
* Tires have 12K miles on them
* No cracks on dashboard (see pic below)
* No rips, tears, fading, or worn spots in the upholstery
* Original Rabbit floor mats
* All heater/defrost/blinkers/lights/vents work
* The steering is still tight and very responsive. It's a real joy to drive
* Never been in an accident of any kind
* The headliner, which comes detached with age, was very tastefully tacked up with matching blue button pins by the original owner (see pic below)
* Has the shift-up light, which still works. (only available in the first half of '83)
* Was rust proofed at time of purchase
* A year ago, I put a coating of Rust Bullet on area below bottom trim pieces on both sides, under plastic wheel well covers, and in bottom of back parallel to tailpipe to take care of a couple surface rust spots and to protect it from further rust in those vulnerable areas. (It has been driven in winter by both owners sparingly and only when necessary)
* Undercarriage is in very good condition, but does has some rust. Nothing serious.
Imperfections
- There are a few grease stains on carpet on passenger side. There when I bought it (see pic below)
- Plastic trim piece from dash to ceiling on passenger side cracked and repaired (see pic below)
- Vent handle on passenger side present but broken on inside.
- Black rope trim around passenger door unglued at lower left corner (see pic below)
- Small hole in cloth side liner in hatch area on driver side (see pic below)
- Crack in plastic trim piece beside VIN number beside windshield
- Passenger side view mirror no longer adjustable from inside. Cable inside door is broken. Tucked up with black Plasticine; manually adjusted. I do have another mirror assembly from a junk yard if the new owner wants it.
- Two small surface rust spots under logos on back hatch (see pics below)
- Mechanically:
* Cold starts are very reliable.
- Hot starts in warm weather tend to idle low and need a little extra gas for a few seconds to smooth out. Mechanic says it's a typical CIS issue. Owner's manual says this could be a symptom of ethanol in the fuel.
- Depending on what kind of gasoline is being used, it has a tendency to jump/surge for about the first 5-10 miles before smoothing out. After smoothing out, it runs flawlessly. E0 (non-ethanol) makes it jump less. I use Shell super premium (93) when I can't get E0. (next to impossible in Ohio) The mechanic thinks this intermittent surging is most likely from something sticking in the fuel Accumulator and should probably be replaced sometime in the future
Overall, this is an awesome car and I think the new owner will be quite happy with it. I have really enjoyed having it and will miss it. Good luck to everyone! Click here for walk-around and start up
Detailed Pictures

On Apr-22-16 at 05:40:16 PDT, seller added the following information: