Photo: Craigslist
Let's be frank here – hill climb racing is one of the most underrated motorsports of the modern era. We're all into NASCAR, F1, IndyCar, WhateverCar, but the hill climbing scene got most petrolheads' attention after Pikes Peak became a world phenomenon. If you're planning to venture into amateur hill climb racing, look no further than this 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit with a widebody kit.
"Rabbit what now? Isn't this an older Golf?" Yes, and yes, you're absolutely right. For reasons we can't quite fully understand, Volkswagen introduced the Golf in the United States and Canada in 1975 as the Rabbit. Then it switched back to the Golf nameplate in 1985. Then it went back to the Rabbit name again in early 2006. In 2009, Vee-Dub opted to drop the Rabbit moniker in favor of Golf. Could you make up your mind, VW?
This Volkswagen Rabbit here isn't your typical US-spec Golf from the '80s. Listed on Craigslist for $9,000, the owner and photographs below assure us that we're dealing with quite a machine, visually enhanced with a Berg Cup widebody kit. It all comes in at 2,005 lbs (909 kg) with half a tank of fuel, which is what hill climbing is all about – little weight and a lot of oomph.
Power comes from a 16-valve turbocharged engine with forged internals, pushing 305 WHP at 12 psi of boost. The motor is further enhanced by a liquid-to-air intercooler, custom intake and exhaust, a Garrett GT3076 charger, a Tial F46 wastegate, and a 50 mm blowoff valve. The latter is the component that makes the exhaust have that pissed off squirrel sound to it when you lift off the throttle. Yummy!
In terms of engine management, a MoTeC M4 early-generation engine management system takes care of the sequentially injected four-cylinder engine. Braided fuel lines, a 12AN custom crankcase breather, bigger oil cooler, and ginormous radiator are also on the menu. Drivetrain-wise, this Rabbit is running 100 mm axles, a Quaiffe limited-slip diff, a short shifter, hydraulic-to-cable clutch conversion, a race clutch, and a lightweight flywheel. That's as serious as amateur racing cars get in this department.
Vector in things like the KW coilovers, Porsche 944 aluminum control arms, Wilwood calipers, a 12 gallon tank, and 15x9 TMS wheels and you're in the presence of a vehicle that received about $25,000 in parts alone. So there you have it. If you live in Vancouver, Canada, this baby is waiting for you to check her out.
Mind you, the track build at hand isn't street legal, which is a bit of shame if you ask us.
This Volkswagen Rabbit here isn't your typical US-spec Golf from the '80s. Listed on Craigslist for $9,000, the owner and photographs below assure us that we're dealing with quite a machine, visually enhanced with a Berg Cup widebody kit. It all comes in at 2,005 lbs (909 kg) with half a tank of fuel, which is what hill climbing is all about – little weight and a lot of oomph.
Power comes from a 16-valve turbocharged engine with forged internals, pushing 305 WHP at 12 psi of boost. The motor is further enhanced by a liquid-to-air intercooler, custom intake and exhaust, a Garrett GT3076 charger, a Tial F46 wastegate, and a 50 mm blowoff valve. The latter is the component that makes the exhaust have that pissed off squirrel sound to it when you lift off the throttle. Yummy!
In terms of engine management, a MoTeC M4 early-generation engine management system takes care of the sequentially injected four-cylinder engine. Braided fuel lines, a 12AN custom crankcase breather, bigger oil cooler, and ginormous radiator are also on the menu. Drivetrain-wise, this Rabbit is running 100 mm axles, a Quaiffe limited-slip diff, a short shifter, hydraulic-to-cable clutch conversion, a race clutch, and a lightweight flywheel. That's as serious as amateur racing cars get in this department.
Vector in things like the KW coilovers, Porsche 944 aluminum control arms, Wilwood calipers, a 12 gallon tank, and 15x9 TMS wheels and you're in the presence of a vehicle that received about $25,000 in parts alone. So there you have it. If you live in Vancouver, Canada, this baby is waiting for you to check her out.
Mind you, the track build at hand isn't street legal, which is a bit of shame if you ask us.
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