i have a 1980 diesel it does start if i work it a bit and a bit of starting fluid but it will not start alone it runs good but only has 3 gears not sure what it should have any advice on this car

i dint know much about volkswagons but i know abit about diesels, diesels are hard to start when they are cold, try getting a block heater, they warm up the engine so its easier to start, basically the same thing as glowplugs