The sad truth about interesting cars is that no matter incredible their survival is, this doesn’t automatically translate to significant desirability. Still, we have to give credit where credit is due when a car seemingly survives against all odds to emerge from a barn in shockingly nice condition. That is certainly the case with this 1979 Volkswagen Dasher wagon that has over 200,000 miles and has been barn-stored for decades but still looks like a lightly-used daily driver. Check it out here on eBay with bids to $1,824 and the reserve unmet.
In most cases, I’d say you’re crazy putting a reserve on a car like the Dasher, but this does look like it is one of the only and best examples left. The Dasher is powered by an incredibly robust diesel powerplant, so don’t be spooked by the mileage. There’s a lot of Audi 80 running gear and equipment in these U.S.-spec Dashers, but most Americans buying one for the first time had no clue (nor any interest) in VW’s relationship with its sister company. All that mattered was gas prices were high and the Dasher diesel offered significant fuel economy relief.
They were also fairly well-packaged with lots of interior space despite having a small form factor. The German influence was heavy inside, with basic instrumentation, sensible features, and zero extravagance (although those leatherette seats look pretty nice.) In addition to the Audi connect, the Dasher was VW’s Passat before it was called that here in the states. In retrospect, the humble Dasher becoming the VR6-powered Passat is fairly remarkable; the evolution is significant. Personally, I find the Quantum Syncro wagon far more intriguing, but that’s a story for another time.
The Dasher is powered by a 47 horsepower, naturally-aspirated 1.5L diesel. This is not the car for speed, or really acceleration of any meaningful value. It is the car you buy to park in your bunker for when the first wave of EMP attacks hit. The seller reports a significant list of maintenance performed in preparing it for road-going use, including a new timing belt and injection pump. The attractive “Mexico Beige” paint is original and looks great with the brown interior. While it deserves all the love, $5,000 should be more than enough to bring this survivor home.
A Dasher,,,for Dashing around? Not with 47 HP. you won’t. The Dasher was another tough sell. It somewhat resembled the very popular Rabbit, but never caught on. Like the Scirocco, it’s like folks in the US let the Rabbit slide as the token German econobox, but many still loved the iconic Bug, and that was it. I tried looking up why manufacturers used a cam belt on an interference motor, and some baloney about quieter and cheaper to produce, but the bottom line has to be it helped sell cars, and kept mechanics busy. In fact, due to public outcry, I don’t think many cars use them now, except the ones that want you to puke the motor. 47hp.,,,I think I’ve had bigger reefer motors, and fuel mileage was grossly exaggerated with lofty claims of 50+, when in fact, the gas job did better and had more power. No sir, I haven’t met a diesel powered car I liked, ever.
More like a “Door Dasher” because it will take awhile to get there. I’d even forgotten VW had a model called a Dasher. I never knew they offered a diesel version of same. I know one thing, diesel may have been cheaper then, but not now. A gallon costs your first-born compared to gasoline.
Yes, but my 1980 Rabbit Diesel gave me 42-55 mpg so it would still save you money (just not as much!)
Cars like this were, for teenagers in my era (1980’s) a form of birth control.
You’d go to school in your Diesel Dasher, your ’77 Marquis, or your ’80 Diesel custom cruiser wagon with the fake wood trim, and have to park next to the convertible mustang…
Wow, havent seen one ofvthese in ages. From an era when VWs were really different. To bad about the dreaded dashboard cover, but hopefully the reserve isn’t too high.
0-60: Yes. This was the car that made Germans fall in love with wagons, but in America it was hammered by the exchange rates making it a lot of money for not much metal, even if cutting edge space efficiency meant it had as much room as a much bigger Detroit wagon.
The head is notorious for cracking on these engines, making “robust” more likely to be “bust.”
I had seen one on FB Marketplace in AZ recently — diesel, silver, low-ish mileage, non-running but garage stored. Estate sale. The guy was asking 4Gs for it. Someone stepped and paid him something close to that because my realistic offer was rejected. LOL!
Interesting cars and coffee car? Maybe… maybe. You’d have to leave at 6am to make it in decent time, though.
I find it ironic that you mention heads falling. Me & my Extended Family had at least 12 of these diesels: Jetta, Rabbits, Dashers & one Caddy…Not one ever had a cracked head. Several had failed head gaskets, as the “stretch bolts” failed. A US Company made studs for the 1.5/1.6. Once I put in a new gasket & NEW Design studs, we NEVER had a single head gasket failure!
47 HP and air conditioning? I’m guessing the A/C has to be turned off to go up a hill.
I was thinking the same thing. I had a 1980 Rabbit Diesel, same engine; I would never add options to that or a larger body. Leave this one in the garage.
I owned a 1979 German 4-dr Rabbit in Inari Silver. Spectacular car! It had Factory or Dealer-added air integrated into the car! ABSOLUTELY loved it! I never noticed any significant power drain from the ac, but sure appreciated a bit cooler for long Summer Drives. Towed it with my Class A Motorhome and it was perfect! Put it in neutral & go!
In 1982 we bought a used 1980 Rabbit Diesel 4dr sedan. The previous owner had installed a second fuel tank so, with a full load, we could drive halfway to the moon, but it was SLOW! On a level road, you could maintain highway speeds, but you had to plan for your hills. I was driving from Danbury toward Hartford, CT down a long hill and building my speed for the upcoming climb when I was pulled over by a Trooper. I explained that I was just trying to avoid dropping below 40mph on the interstate on the next hill. He understood and told me to stay in the right lane.
My experience with one of these, you shift into “Vent” to climb a hill. At 52 mpg you just sat back and smiled while you enjoyed the scenery.
In 1979, I was a senior executive of Volkswagen of America in Englewood Ckiffs, New Jersey. Fortunately I was
S eligible for a new company car every six months. Unfortunately I was a
Assigned t drive whatever car came up next. Sometimes it was an Audi 5000 turbo, once it was a Dasher Wagon just like this one. Everything you say is exactly correct. I actually liked it. I lived in Mabhartan and it was perfect for city life. I could park anywhere without worrying too much. I was sad when my six months with it with it ended!!!
In 1979, I was a senior executive of Volkswagen of America in Englewood Ckiffs, New Jersey. Fortunately I was
S eligible for a new company car every six months. Unfortunately I was a
Assigned t drive whatever car came up next. Sometimes it was an Audi 5000 turbo, once it was a Dasher Wagon just like this one. Everything you say is exactly correct. I actually liked it. I lived in Manhattan and it was perfect for city life. I could park anywhere without worrying too much. I was sad when my six months with it with it ended!!!
I bought 1974 Dasher 4dr. sedan with A/C and A/T. Acceleration from a dead stop with the A/C running had to be timed with an hourglass. There was no auto/disconnect for the A/C at full throttle. One had to manually turn off the A/C until an adequate speed had been attained. Despite this, I really liked the car. But, I encountered another issue.
Joe, you may recall the recurring problem with throttle cables on the early Dashers. You could be driving along at highway speeds and suddenly lose power. I had the dealer replace a couple before the warranty expired. After that, it was out of my wallet. The dealer mechanic confirmed that other owners experienced the same problem. I contacted VW of A about the problem and enquired if an improved cable or linkage was available and if so, please advise the part number and I would buy it and have it installed at my cost as I did like the car. I received a somewhat arrogant response from a VW of A Vice President telling me that there was no defect. I replied to him a few weeks later and advised him that I had traded my Dasher on a new Lancia. A month or so later the NHTA announced a factory recall for the throttle problem.
I haven’t owned a VW since. FWIW, the Lancia was in our family for 12 years.
Yup, slow, but super-reliable! Owned an ’80 Dasher Wagon from ’80 to Late 2006….Never left me stranded or any other problem….Drove it cross-country & loved the nice ride. Sadly, mine did NOT have ac, so I sold it in the NW, where they were fairly popular. I did drive an ’80 air conditioned Wagon from SoCal to Seattle. AC worked great & did not seem to degrade power. I have an ’80 “Barn-Find” Dasher Wagon now, that was “sleeping” from 2012>>January, 2026! And has ac..
It is always interesting when the VW/Audi connection is brought up – I had a 1978 Audi 5000, and when I went to buy parts for when something went awry, I learned from the dealership which sold both Audis and VW’s that there were several parts that were identical, but the VW parts could be as much as 50% cheaper! I had a visor clip break and went to the dealer to buy another one – the Audi clip was $12, and the VW clip, which was identical even to the part number, was $4! I was only 24 at the time but knew enough about cars to know to look for parts carefully to see if a sister division had the same part which may be cheaper! This Dasher would carry some of those same parts, and smart owners would know to get the less expensive part.
Yep, it pays to search for common parts within the corporate family, and sometimes beyond. My ’69 BMW 2500, my ’74 Dasher and parent’s ’72 Audi 100LS all used the same Bosch windshield washer pump. As expected, the BMW was the highest cost, Audi was mid-range and VW was downright cheap.
I learned to search for alternate sources when I bought my 1st Alfa. During the 1960’s the Alfa Owners Club had a typewritten newsletter that cross referenced Alfa OEM parts with domestic equivalents. New rear wheel bearings came out of the Timken Bearing catalog, thermostats from American Motors, etc. Often wondered why the Italians employed British components, usually Lucas (ugh), in their cars. Found out later it was due to WW2 reparations.
Lovely looking car. Although I was too young to drive a car at the time, I remember the VW Passat (Dasher). I had a neighbour who had a VW Dasher when I was a boy. I can’t remember whether theirs was a Diesel model or not, but I know it was a Dasher. It’s nice to see one in nice condition. This one looks brand new, like it came from a Volkswagen dealer.
Most people seem to focus on horsepower and not torque. I have always said that horsepower is for bragging; torque is for driving. Not that this dashing little vehicle has much of either. But it will still get you where you want to go. I’ve been driving diesel vehicles as daily drivers since the turn of the century ( I love saying TOTC) and have watched diesel fuel morph into the black gold that Jed Clampett found. I’ve heard all the reasons why it costs more than gasoline and well let’s just say I think that the preponderance of diesel trucks and equipment has presented the oil companies and greedy government with an opportunity to make bank. I still enjoy a small bonus with the fuel economy of my diesel. But it has shrunk considerably over the last few months. I don’t drive a whole lot anymore so for me it’s not a big deal. Of course when next winter rolls around and I have to buy heating oil I will be checking the couch cushions. I hope this little rascal finds a new home and I actually would like it to be mine. But it’s not going to happen. GLWTS.
Was there a Prancer option?
There was, but they had a poor reputation, you were always Vixen it.
Elsewhere it was called a VW Passat
Was there an option for a red light on the hood? (oh wait, that would be Rudolph). I had a friend who bought one of these (gasoline) around 1974. It seemed like a smart little design at the time.
Wow I remember these things being on the road this one is in really nice condition considering the high mileage I would have loved to have one back when diesel was the cheapest fuel , thanks California and EPA for messing that up.
SOLD for $4207.
31 bids.