vse jackrabbit other makes g80 1980 VW Rabbit Herb Adams MK1

1980 Other Makes Roadster Description

The VSE Jackrabbit was invited to the annual Northern California Kit Car Meeting, at the Blackhawk Car Museum, on September 17, 2017. Please check out the show at NCKCC.com .This car is hard to describe, as only 25 were produced, thirty years ago. These are quite hard to come by. Major hurdles dealt with. Great project for a MK1 enthusiast, father and son team, or any one seeking a fun, affordable, street legal project. Get some gauges of your choice, and run with it. Delivery considered.
Also shown on Barn Finds, May 2017. 1990-herb-adams-v-s-e-jackrabbit-speedster/
Please contact me via message before bidding. I have been contacted by tall folk. If you have size 13 feet, or a 36" inseam, don't even think about it. This car is small next to a Miata. Think MG Midget size. Less than 48 inches at top of roll bar. This car can almost hide behind a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood.
Car is complete and never crashed. Runs, shifts, stops and is road worthy. Gauges not working, all other systems functional, but tired. This is not a daily driver, but could be for the right enthusiast with VW Mk 1 knowledge. Includes a trunk cover, which I've never seen in all my research.
Built in Carmel, Ca in the late 1980's by VSE. Using a Rabbit based drive train on a custom tubular steel frame with a fiberglass body.
Not a "Cut off the Rabbit and drop on a fiberglass body" type of kit car.
This is an original frame assembly, designed by Herb Adams. Wheel base is only 83". Stout sway bars front and rear. Stands 48 inches at top of roll bar. 1500 lb. weight. All Rabbit Mk 1 parts fit this car, any engine/trans/brakes of your choice. Google " VSE Jackrabbit " for the history.This appears to be one of the first ones made. "Working mock-up/Prototype", I would guess. Donor vehicle was a basic 1.6 Rabbit. Stock speedo shows 96k. Stock Rabbit dash installed, as it is a kit car. Very minimal running gear- no heater, basic old school lap belts, no spare, no jack, doors are fixed in place and no seat padding. Only 25 total produced. Smogs as 1980 VW Rabbit. 1.6 liter CIS Lambda fuel injection with 4 speed manual trans. Great candidate for an electric conversion or Burning man custom creation.
Quote from previous owner
"JackRabbit kit car built by Herb Adam's Carmel California shop. Herb Adams a well known General Motors engineer of Pontiac Trans Am and GTO creation fame; Pontiac Trans Am Racing, V.S.E Cobra, and Contessa fame built this car, one of less than 25 actual kits ever made before the Cobra kit car craze took off and VSE produced it's own famous Cobra kit. One of less than half dozen ever built by Herb Adams shop itself. Based on a rabbit/golf drive train, shortened wheel base with a tube chassis, this street legal 1500 lbs "go cart" is a turn key Gymkhana screamer. 1 plus G skid pad with street tires. Herb Adams himself said the car is able to beat a Cobra in a down hill race. Own a classic collectable built by a master automotist with vision and ability to produce it. Watch the YouTube video of the V.S.E. JackRabbit sales promotion done in the early 90's. The car is complete."
Stored for 20 years, I have brought this car back to life. Dozens of hours have been spent on the diagnosis and repairs required to get to this point. Street legal, registered and insured. Rough around the edges, runs strong, easily finished project.
Work competed to date;
-Full front brake job
-New timing belt
-Flush fuel tank and bleed fuel system, replace hoses, fuel filter- 3 times, and air filter.
-Rebuild fuel injection system; new fuel pump, new check valve, new fuel accumulator, rebuilt control pressure regulator (WUR), new fuel pump relay, oxygen sensor control box, new oxygen sensor, idle screw o-ring and 4 new Bosch fuel injectors with new o-rings
-Oil and filter changed (2 times)
-New Miata battery, hold down assembly and cables
-New ignition control module
-New NGK plugs and Bosch cap and wires
-New vacuum hoses
-Flush transaxle oil
-Bleed brakes
-2 new rear wheel cylinders
-4 good tires
-New temp switch in radiator
-New clutch cable
-Current clean California title and registered through 7-2018.
Car is running and drivable, rev's fine, no smoke or overheating problems. Can text a video if needed.
Still needs quite a bit of work to be finished. Originally Bright yellow, I believe this is the car shown in advertising and Kit Car article, due to matching plates. Repaint to suit.
Needs;
-gauge set installed
-speedo cable
-small body repair (see images)
-Lights sorted out (parts with sale)
-Wiper motor assembly installed (included)
-proper seat belts installed
-wiring... stock harness with butt connectors everywhere. Custom harness in the works.
Car is being sold "AS IS" and should be towed for any distance. Delivery considered.
Featured in kit car magazines late 80's early 90's. These copies of kit car are included as well as repair manuals and performance upgrade books by Schroeder and another by Raven.
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