Photo: eBay
Then marketed as the Rabbit GTI in the United States, the 1983 Vee Dub we’ll talk about today was featured on Wheeler Dealers. After starring on television alongside Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, the hot hatch has been listed on eBay for $18,500 with 114,500 miles (184,200 km) on the clock.
Chassis number 1VWDC0172DV007767 presents itself in “fantastic condition and runs and drives as it should,” according to the seller. Currently located in Miami, the car exhibits no leaks, smells, funny noises, or issues. “These GTIs are rare to find in this condition, and this one obviously has the added benefit of prominence and a TV-documented refurbishment.”
In episode 7 of season 16 of Wheeler Dealers, the pocket rocket was purchased for $2,500 by Mike, while the repair work amounted to $4,269 for a grand total of $6,769. Before it was sold for $9,500, the hatchback received a larger throttle body from a second-generation Golf.
Ant has also widened the inlet port to match the throttle body, rebuilt the fuel distributor, replaced the transmission’s oil seal, CV boots, and repaired the sunroof mechanism. Mistakenly referred to as a 1984 model by Mike, the car further boasts a Euro grille, front valance, air dam, headlights, while the federal bumpers have been switched in favor of their Euro counterparts.
A full respray in the original black and an R134A retrofit for the air conditioning system round off the list of repairs and improvements, which is pretty impressive given the tight budget. When it was brand-spanking new, the Rabbit GTI with the 1.8-liter engine was rated at 90 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 2,100 pounds (953 kilograms), making the small German hatchback faster to 60 mph (96 kph) than a 5.0-liter V8 Trans Am four-speed manual.
Capable of 104 miles per hour (167 kph) yet overshadowed by the 108-horsepower Golf GTI, the Rabbit GTI is hugely desirable these days because not that many have been produced for 1983. The question is, would you pony up $18,500 for a vehicle that sold for $9,500 two years ago?
In episode 7 of season 16 of Wheeler Dealers, the pocket rocket was purchased for $2,500 by Mike, while the repair work amounted to $4,269 for a grand total of $6,769. Before it was sold for $9,500, the hatchback received a larger throttle body from a second-generation Golf.
Ant has also widened the inlet port to match the throttle body, rebuilt the fuel distributor, replaced the transmission’s oil seal, CV boots, and repaired the sunroof mechanism. Mistakenly referred to as a 1984 model by Mike, the car further boasts a Euro grille, front valance, air dam, headlights, while the federal bumpers have been switched in favor of their Euro counterparts.
A full respray in the original black and an R134A retrofit for the air conditioning system round off the list of repairs and improvements, which is pretty impressive given the tight budget. When it was brand-spanking new, the Rabbit GTI with the 1.8-liter engine was rated at 90 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 2,100 pounds (953 kilograms), making the small German hatchback faster to 60 mph (96 kph) than a 5.0-liter V8 Trans Am four-speed manual.
Capable of 104 miles per hour (167 kph) yet overshadowed by the 108-horsepower Golf GTI, the Rabbit GTI is hugely desirable these days because not that many have been produced for 1983. The question is, would you pony up $18,500 for a vehicle that sold for $9,500 two years ago?
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