Rabbit GTi with 1.8T 20V Swap?

[evopanop]

Hey everyone. I just going through my car mags, when I found the October 2003 issue of Sport Compact Car; and, as I was reading through it, I noticed the '80 Rabbit with the 1.8T Swap. To be honest, I've never even seen a VW that old before. I don't know why, but as soon as I laid eyes on that car... I fell in love. It's just simply beautiful. Apparently Cam Waugh of CWS Tuning owns the car. Here's a gallery of the car: http://www.cwstuning.com/gallery/Rabbit-18t?page=1 So, I read in the article about the car that he picked up the Rabbit for $300. Now, my question is - how hard would it be to find an '83-'84 Rabbit GTi to do this swap to? Also, how much would the car most likely cost? I'm in So Cal, if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance for any help.

[termitesgraffix]

Just look in ads... you can find it. Over here on the east coast, it is harder to find rabbits. Even harder to find Rabbit Pickups. I was looking for a rabbit pickup and found them all to be out west. I found an 84 Wolfsberg Convertible. Check my gallery. It looks better now and has better rims. I will post pics of that later. It is in beautiful shape. You can find them all over your state kid.

Make you a deal... find me a rabbit pickup in veeeeerrryyy good shape, or close to what i have here, and I will trade you. has to run and be in great shape though. Just think, Rabbit convertible with the sun of soCal... uh huh. Girl car??? bah... girls like guys in cute cars.. it will attract them all.

[evopanop]

lol Thanks, I don't really want a convertible though, lol. I've had my share of cute cars. Thanks for the ideas, though. I guess I'll check the ads in the paper. Maybe I'll get lucky and find one, lol. I can't seem to find any MK1 GTi's on eBay.

Oh, also, I found some '84 GTi's on AutoTrader but they had the square headlights. Do the '83s have those too? I really like the circular headlights that are on the '80. Well, at least, they were on the '80 that I saw in the magazine. Maybe he swapped them over from a different generation?

[rabbitinjected]

The 1980 rabbit switched to smaller square headlights halfway threw the year. 80-84 rabbits do have square headlights but you can buy single rounds like from any aftermarket shot (i.e Techtonics Tuning) or u can just find some old junker at the wreckers and steal the grille and headlight assembly.. that would work too, but then you hafta change a few things to make the rounds fit.. not that hard tho

[3atman]

if you get euro-style headlights they are way cooler. They are large round on the outside and slightly smaller round inside. They are even on Golfs around '92 and stuff.

[CdnMaxDog]

love that car bro

[termitesgraffix]

Originally Posted by evopanop

Oh, also, I found some '84 GTi's on AutoTrader but they had the square headlights. Do the '83s have those too?

Yes, the 83 and 84 GTI as well as the Diesels had square... however the 84 Convertible had rounds. My 84 Conv has rounds and I picked it up for $400 in beautiful shape. I just recently acquired an 84 GTI as well for $350 in MINT. You can simply take the grill and lights out of an 84 or another one of that style and swap em in. Even the 4 rounds from cabbies... all the way up to 93 or so will fit right in, with a few small mods. It aint hard. They are the same car all the way up.

Oh and you can buy new aftermarket grills and kits that allow you to have rounds as well. with a slightly different look on the grill itself. (ie: badgeless, different slats and more)

[nickodafsh]

check out www.thesamba.com they have alot of A1's cheap.

[termitesgraffix]

Hey, you still lookin? My friend might be selling his shaved, slammed, 83 16valve. Audi A4 blue. $800? East coast though if you wanna make a trip.

[stevo86]

Hey, im looking at a 82 Rabbit convt. 5spd gas. New fuel pump Mint body, ok interrior. 220,000 kms. 2200$ canadian, is it work the cash?