1982 Volkswagen Diesel Rabbit Pickup

1982 Volkswagen Rabbit Moonshadow Description

This 1982 Volkswagen Diesel Pickup is my daily driver. I drive it approximately 35 miles a day, 5 days a week in rural west central Georgia. The transmission has recently started to give me problems. I cannot shift it into reverse or 1st with the engine running. It doesn't present any real problems for me out here in the sticks so I continue to use it daily. It could be something as simple as the clutch not completely disengaging but I don't think so. The clutch, throw-out bearing, pushrod, axle half shafts, timing belt, and water pump were all installed when I put this used transmission in 6000 miles ago. I believe the transmission is bad. It would certainly be re-buildable and worth it as it has the very desireable .71 tall gear ratio. The truck gets 40 to 42 miles per gallon on these country road at 60 mph and under. With this gear ratio it gets 45 mpg at 65 when I occasionally drive it on an interstate. There are several good used transmissions on the internet with a warranty. One of them with the tall ratio. We are a diesel VW family. We use a VW diesel Jetta Sportwagen to deliver small orders of Blueberries and Blue Berry wines. Because of the class action suit, VW is forcing us to turn our Sportwagen in on November 1st. I have decided rather than repair the 82 pickup. I will replace the sportwagen with a vehicle I can drive daily AND make the small deliveries on wine and berries with. This will reduce out fleet by one vehicle. So that is why I'm selling this pickup.
The truck has spent it entire life in rural GA. The body is very solid. It has never seen road salt, a frost heave and very few pot holes, they just don't exist down here. There is surface rust on any spot where the 95 percent original paint has worn through. I say 95% because I believe the tailgate is from another vehicle and used to be blue. As you can see from the photos it has the normal amount of dings and scratches to be expect on any 34 year old pickup. I believe the chassis has 159,425 miles on it. The seats have been reupholstered by a professional 4000 miles ago. A new carpet was installed at that time. The headliner was installed 4 years ago. There is one small pull mark where one of the buttons that hold the liner up is above the passenger seat. other than that perfect. The dash is the best I ever seen. There is on small crack 1/2 long and a scuff. I saw one sell two months ago for $1500. it had a 2 inch crack in the same place. All the gauges and idiot light work. The glow plug relay fails about every 10,000 miles. I have a momentary switch installed now that works fine press it for 10 seconds and turn the key. The relays are around $6.00 I just haven't got another one, would have done so before winter. The engine starts, runs and drives great. There is a small oil seep above the oil filter at the headgasket. This is a common occurrence. It does not leak oil into the antifreeze and there is no antifreeze in the oil. It was there when I bought the truck 10 years ago and has not gotten worse. It leaks less than a quart between oil changes. I have changed the oil and filter every 5000 miles with Mobil 1 diesel oil since I bought it. I change the fuel filter every 5000 miles too. I have several oil filters that go with the truck. Also a complete Bentley shop manual goes with the truck. The timing belt and water pump were installed 6000 miles ago.
There is a rattle in the front end that I have looked for for 10 years. I have replaced the wheel bearings, struts, strut bearings, tie rods, tie rod ends, half shafts, steering box, etc etc. some of them twice. The rattle still exists. It only occurs on very rough road surfaces. Like the washboard on the short section of dirt road I travel every day. We live in deer country. Its not a question of if you'll hit a deer but when. I have never hit one with this vehicle, But just in case, I have 2 complete doors, a hood, an almost complete front bumper, front directionals, a radiator, and many other parts taken from a green donor truck. I also have many other interior parts dash bessels vents seatbelts etc. There are many other used parts as well as a new in the box ignition switch and directional/dimmer switch. I intended to keep this truck for the rest of my life. All these part go with the truck. I hope this description and the photos accurately describe my truck. If you need more info or photos just ask. This truck is sold as seen and as shown with no warranty expressed or implied.