We tend to think the buzz around electric vehicles is a modern phenomenon, but the truth is, inventors and entrepreneurs have been trying to crack the code of alternative fuels for some time. To this day, we still see cars pop up for sale from the 70s and 80s that represent what was, at the time, an advanced approach to operating a car without the need for fuel fill-ups. This 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit listed here on craigslist is what’s known as a “VoltsRabbit” kit made by ElectroAutomotive out of California.
The Rabbit would be desirable just for being what looks like an incredibly virgin specimen that hasn’t been touched in years. The color scheme is pretty great as well, as that “mellow yellow” paint job ringing in as a perfect shade for a cheerful economy car with 1970s roots. We can get to the electric conversion in a moment, because right now I’m just distracted by this being a clean Rabbit in a great color with the elusive “Westmoreland” front end, which means this VW was likely built at the company’s plant in Westmoreland, PA.
The seller notes that the Rabbit is a “….Pb-acid car wanting an upgrade to lithium battery pack,” and that it has not had an operational battery setup in many years. He sounds like a tinkerer, noting his back won’t allow him to do yet another battery swap after the last update, as we all know how notoriously heavy battery packs can be in cars like this. The listing also notes he has recently upgraded to a Tesla, and so the Rabbit needs to find a new home.
These battery-powered Rabbits have popped up for sale more than once, indicating to me that the conversion kit was at least mildly successful in creating a reliable conversion kit for owners of VW’s entry-level hatchback. The photos show that this seller has been an EV enthusiast for some time, and I respect the fact that he was an early adopter of this approach to alternative fuels. The Rabbit in its current form, however, strikes me as vastly more appealing as a restoration candidate going back to its internal combustion engine-roots with what looks like a minty California body and original interior.
Put it back to ICE. The little I believe fi1.5l engines were pretty dependable and got great gas mileage. Keep the tbelt up to date and your good to go.Sell the electric setup to buy the engine.
I would wind up getting the seller mad at me because I would either buy a newer gulf from copart and put the drive train in this thing or in the city just across the state line from me there are two Rabbit diesels for $900 I would take the three and get one diesel rabbit. Then part out the rest or send them to Copart auction
At $1000 I’m surprised this has not been bought yet. I loved my ’79 diesel. It was amazingly cheap on fuel. I loved the rattle of the engine. It felt like something very mechanical and strangely exotic.
I’m not sure I’d go back to an ICE engine. It appears all the hard work converting it has been done. I’d refurbish the electrical system and upgrade the batteries to lithium.
These diesel rabbits appealed to people wanted simple and cheap back in the day. That’s what electric cars tease us with now except in reality they are expensive and as they get older they will be complicated PIA in ways we can’t imagine yet. This one with it’s old school simple electronics might outlast a lot of current new electric cars. We can see a future where it’s not the drive systems that kill your car but the manufacture no longer supporting and providing updates to the software.
You must live in a warm climate. Former colleague had a diesel Rabbit, and it just refused to start on many cold Midwestern mornings. He ended up with a bad case of buyer’s remorse.
These conversions were popular when cars would no longer pass the smog test. They were very simple to work on. Most used a Curtis controller such as this one, a series wound brushed DC motor connected to the manual transmission, and 16 6 volt golf cart batteries for 96 volts. Because of the low maximum rpm of the DC motor, the car had to be shifted just like a gas car. I would like to see this one preserved since it was a professional conversion.
Weird ugly car in 1980 when we sold them at our 2 VW Franchises in Midwest i disliked them then & still do.
Ultra thin sheet metal no real crash protection v modern small SUVs & those huge pickups.
No real power & its a grocery getter commuter ultra econo box.
Idk the costs of getting it running – I’m sure some enthusiast will do it tho.
1000$ says to me it’s really just a 200$ parts car.
Who restores 1980 VW rabbits?
I don’t even see these on the road here in Germany like EVER.
Hard pass
I wouldn’t restore it but it would make a great build for its rust free body. Mint condition Mk1 GTI’s go for $20k – $30k so you can swap GTI parts to it and make a clone. A Callaway Turbo 83 GTI sold for $62k a couple years ago so a clone of that would be valuable. Lots of possibilities.
You don’t see any cars on the road in Germany older than 10 years. These rabbits were great little cars for their time. They were much better than most of the junk out there in the late 70s and early 80s. You don’t seem any around anymore in this kind of condition The GTI Models are worth serious money back in the states.
One of my dream cars is actually a 1980 VW Rabbit pickup with the stock diesel engine.
My dad had one before my time, and loved it. Excellent mileage.
So no, a car this hard to find in such good condition is worth far more than $200.
And yes, there are people out there who collect and restore these!
I helped convert one of these to an EV in a college class that I participated in. It ran great, was trouble free (after debugging) and the owner loved it. I believe that he is still driving it seven years later. No oil, no plugs, no belts, etc. Simple.
My 86-87 diesel Jetta was a great machine, very simple injection pump, no electronics ( sorry garages I don’t need your computers) great mileage. Not to mention the to die for Heat, soooo comfortable.
Wow the EV is a great idea, it’s good to see all the progress being made, But I would be foolish not to stick with what I know.
Pull the EV junk out, take it to the scrapper. Turn it back into what it deserves to be.
There is no such place as “Westmoreland, PA.” The Chrysler/VW/Sony plant is located in a rural area of Westmoreland *County,* near New Stanton.
Troy has the right idea, put it back to diesel. The diesel engines outlasted most of the bodies, especially in the rust belt. I bought a new 83 Rabbit diesel for the wife to drive to work, she loved the 45-50 mpg. Put 120,000 on it, she got concerned and afraid it might leave her stranded, so she traded, no she gave it away to a dealer on a new 85 Pontiac pos that stayed in the shop more than on the road. The VW was still in great shape, only needed tires, a battery, and a set of glow plugs in the three years we owned it. She realized too late what a great car it really was versus the new Pontiac she thought she had wanted.
I can’t imagine that the cost of new Lithium-based batteries for this would make it remotely viable. Back to ICE.
And since I always wanted to say it – put an LS in it….