1981 Rabbit LE6U Slate Gray Metallic

Ian

I bought this car for $300 from my friends who own a junkyard. They said the guy's wife kicked it out of the garage. I think it's a pretty rare color, it is LE6U slate gray metallic. I've NEVER seen another MK1 in this color in person, and only a couple online. Mine is definitely still original paint. No strut tower rust, and only one small spot on the bottom of the windshield sill. I'm going to start putting it back together, starting with the front wheels.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012
**ACHTUNG DO NOT USE AA BRAND PRODUCTS OR BUY ANYTHING FROM PACIFIC PARTS INTERNATIONAL IN CALIFORNIA**

TDCTDI · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 4:54 pm Post subject:

Not quite that rare.

But yours looks to be in good condition.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

Ian · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 5:45 pm Post subject:

I think it's pretty rare. Considering you're one dude on the Samba on the other side of the country. I don't even see one MK1 on the road per day. Wink

Here's some of the stuff I dug out of it so far. Whoever's project this was, must have a really hot wife or something. I can't believe the stuff I'm finding.

_________________
All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012
**ACHTUNG DO NOT USE AA BRAND PRODUCTS OR BUY ANYTHING FROM PACIFIC PARTS INTERNATIONAL IN CALIFORNIA**

veedubman72 · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:01 pm Post subject:

Seeing what you've got there, it looks like you've got a lot of work ahead of you. Good luck. Hopefully you can finish what the other guys wife wouldn't let him. Laughing

I've found that color rarity for mk1s doesn't quite hold the same power as it does for aircooled. The important part is that at least the body and tailgate look nice and straight!

TDCTDI · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:17 pm Post subject:

Are you planning to return to orig or do a motor swap? The previous owner shoulda kept it, if my wife ever said "it's me or that" I'd pick that because if the relationship is that rocky, it's only a matter of time.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

TDCTDI · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:20 pm Post subject:

Let me know if you want to get rid of the extra set of taillights & front corner markers.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

Ian · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:01 pm Post subject:

Once I get it all together, whatever is left over will be up for sale for reasonable prices. Already got one front wheel on and took the sketchy wooden 4x4 cart out.

Hopefully you guys can tell me what the heck some of the parts that I don't know about are.

I agree, I woulda ditched the wife!
_________________
All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012
**ACHTUNG DO NOT USE AA BRAND PRODUCTS OR BUY ANYTHING FROM PACIFIC PARTS INTERNATIONAL IN CALIFORNIA**

Ian · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:58 am Post subject:

I think I have pretty much everything to complete it. Just going to take a little bit of time to get it all back together, maybe a week or two.

My truck is a non-catalyst model which is weird considering it's from 1981? Cool beans though for sure!

Found the horn button for my steering wheel, in near mint condition.

Right now I'm working on the wiring harness install. Seems like the guy cleaned it up a bit so I'm going to start putting it back in. I got this bracket with the aluminum bit on it with the parts and I think the ignition module bolts onto it with some heatsink goop. Can anyone tell me if the bracket location is correct? I have it in the driver's side corner of the rain tray area. I am going to put two screws through the holes already in the top side of the bracket and remove the plastic clip from the bottom so it will sit flat. While the wiring really looks like a mess, it's actually super simple.

_________________
All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012
**ACHTUNG DO NOT USE AA BRAND PRODUCTS OR BUY ANYTHING FROM PACIFIC PARTS INTERNATIONAL IN CALIFORNIA**

TDCTDI · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:51 pm Post subject:

Yes, that's where the module bolts to & the ECM mounts on that plate in that corner of the rain tray. If it's says non-cat, then it was originally diesel. From the extra parts you have, I think the previous owner stripped all that out of another truck (perhaps this one was a reshell for it?) & was going to do what you're doing now.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

TDCTDI · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:54 pm Post subject:

Snag a better pic of the yellow sticker on the pass side strut tower.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

Ian · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:53 pm Post subject:

Holy crap, you're right! It was a diesel!! WOW!

Anyway, I'm putting the carbed motor in it that it came with.
_________________
All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012
**ACHTUNG DO NOT USE AA BRAND PRODUCTS OR BUY ANYTHING FROM PACIFIC PARTS INTERNATIONAL IN CALIFORNIA**

oasis · Samba Member Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168

Rare is a relative term. My LX was that color, and I have seen others and four-doors that color, too.

The rare part for me is getting yours so reasonably priced. And I have always loved that steering wheel. Well done!
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

76VwBug1600 · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 11:51 pm Post subject:

Thats just beautiful that needs a VR6 Swap
_________________
1976 Fuely Bug
1973 Super beetle with 26k Original miles.
1968 1600cc
1973 1641cc
1966 Rat-rod
1981 VrRabbit

Not Just our cars.. They are our best friends.


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