The pretty initial h2o-cooled Volkswagen bought in the United States, soon after a quarter-century of exclusively air-cooled automobiles shipped about from Wolfsburg, was the 1974 Dasher (the Rabbit aka Golfing didn’t demonstrate up here right up until the 1975 design year). Regarded as the Passat in other places in the entire world and sibling to the Audi Fox aka 80 (not to be bewildered with the later on Volkswagen Fox aka Gol), Dasher sales continued in North The united states as a result of the 1981 design yr. Here is one particular of all those last-yr Dashers, that includes 5 doors and an oil-burning engine, observed in a northeastern Colorado self-support yard final thirty day period.
Passat revenue ongoing below for 1982, of study course, but the B2 Passat acquired Quantum badging on our shores. I am not certain what the incorporate-on switches bolted higher than the sprint nameplate do, but this automobile options lots of Pink Inexperienced-design keep-it-likely-for-another-working day kludges.
For instance, the intelligent glue-and-tape-and-rope mend of the radiator hose.
The gasoline-driven Dasher had a 1.6-liter four-cylinder rated at 76 horsepower, which was about enough for a 2,181-pound vehicle of this period. This auto has the 52-horsepower diesel, however, and I can explain to you from bitter own encounter that the VW diesels of this time period have been pure distress on the road. Still, gas financial system for the Dasher Diesel was spectacularly superior for the time, pushing 50 miles per gallon on the sluggish-movement highways of the Late Malaise Era.
The gold previous four-on-the-flooring guide transmission held items very simple. If you wanted a really straightforward floor-shifted handbook in 1981, GM experienced you covered Camaros and Malibus could however be bought new that 12 months with a 3-on-the-floor handbook tranmission.
This car built it to 156,184 remaining miles, which was a extended lifestyle for a car or truck of its time. Check out out that significant MotoMeter dash clock, a awesome common characteristic for this kind of an cost-effective wagon.
The Dasher was out there below as a two- or four-doorway hatchback and as a station wagon. Record price tag on the 1981 Dasher Diesel Wagon begun at $8,740 (about $27,555 right now). In the meantime, a new ’81 Honda Civic wagon value $5,749, although an ’81 Datsun 510 wagon experienced a $6,689 selling price tag. If you needed a durable Volvo 245 wagon that year, the most affordable 1 expense $10,210. The all-new 1981 Dodge Aries wagon started out at a mere $6,471, but it lacked German engineering and styling.
That AM/FM radio almost certainly cost huge bucks back again in 1981.
What are you acquiring with all the dollars you save on gasoline? Food!
Do not miss out on the silver anniversary sale at your VW seller.
This is the official heritage.
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