1979 Volkswagen Rabbit Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
The 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit was the first VW made in America, at a new plant in western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. In fact, the '79...
The 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit was the first VW made in America, at a new plant in western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. In fact, the '79 Rabbits were the first European cars produced in the U.S., and demand was high for the high-mileage vehicles, especially at a time when a gas crisis was pushing up prices at the pump.
One of the most noticeable changes for the American-made Rabbit was the use of square headlights in a black grille, instead of round headlights. New trim packages were also available for 1979, with a Rabbit C and a Rabbit L joining the basic Rabbit in the lineup.
The Rabbit C package was equipped with an AM/FM radio, a color-coordinated interior, reclining front seats, a rear window defogger, and a day/night rearview mirror, while the Rabbit L package added such features as a wood-grained dash, special moldings on the windows and hatch, and a lockable glovebox. In addition, several other special packages were available, including the Rallye Package, an Air Conditioning Package, and a Custom Exterior Package. Plus, the Rabbit was available in a number of new colors for '79.
Standard power for the Rabbit was a 1.5-liter overhead-cam four-cylinder engine that generated 71 horsepower. A 1.5-liter diesel engine (made in Germany) was also available. MacPherson struts, large disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, four-wheel independent suspension, and energy-absorbing bumpers were all standard equipment.
The 1979 Rabbit was generally very popular with drivers, particularly the diesel models, which were especially appreciated for their high gas mileage at a time when gas prices were soaring
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit fondly remember it as a fun and economical car, particularly valuing its handling and performance on curvy roads. Many appreciated its fuel efficiency and compact size, which made it a great choice for younger drivers or those seeking a practical first car. However, some also noted issues with engine reliability and rust, particularly with older models. Despite these negatives, the Rabbit remains cherished for the freedom and experiences it provided to its owners."
Mine was almost flourescent yellow in color, 4 door, automatic with an after market ac unit. Black vinyl interior that killed you in the summer time. Was great to put the surfboards on the roof and head to the beach. Great on gas and because of the design, really did well on fast corners.
May 17, 2008I don't recall a lot of the specs of this car...I'm pretty sure it had a Rabbit 1.6L engine, but it had been tuned up and had better brakes and suspension. It went under the GTI label but this application doesn't go earlier than 1983 for Rabbit GTIs, which is of course incorrect. It had nice Recaro seats which were standard and an after-market vinyl sunroof which was huge and opened the entire roof up which was brilliant. I bought with a reconditioned engine but the guy who fixed it gave me a cracked head and so the thing spewed oil and black smoke shortly after I go it. I was 18 at the time and my mum threatened to make his life very difficult if he didn't fix it for free and he relented. My mum had that kind of power over people! I loved my GTI...it was great fun, handled well on the many curvy roads we had in West Vancouver, had good performance while being economical.
March 22, 2008It was my first car, it gave me freedom. I drove it like a demon, as much as you can in a '79 diesel Rabbit with 180,000 miles on back roads in Maine in 1990 ... I loved it. It blew up unfortunately.
March 15, 2013What owners say
Mine was almost flourescent yellow in color, 4 door, automatic with an after market ac unit. Black vinyl interior that killed you in the summer time. Was great to put the surfboards on the roof and head to the beach. Great on gas and because of the design, really did well on fast corners.
May 17, 2008I don't recall a lot of the specs of this car...I'm pretty sure it had a Rabbit 1.6L engine, but it had been tuned up and had better brakes and suspension. It went under the GTI label but this application doesn't go earlier than 1983 for Rabbit GTIs, which is of course incorrect. It had nice Recaro seats which were standard and an after-market vinyl sunroof which was huge and opened the entire roof up which was brilliant. I bought with a reconditioned engine but the guy who fixed it gave me a cracked head and so the thing spewed oil and black smoke shortly after I go it. I was 18 at the time and my mum threatened to make his life very difficult if he didn't fix it for free and he relented. My mum had that kind of power over people! I loved my GTI...it was great fun, handled well on the many curvy roads we had in West Vancouver, had good performance while being economical.
March 22, 2008It was my first car, it gave me freedom. I drove it like a demon, as much as you can in a '79 diesel Rabbit with 180,000 miles on back roads in Maine in 1990 ... I loved it. It blew up unfortunately.
March 15, 2013Great first car for a college student. Paid $450 fof it. Vinyl interior. Manual sunroof. Yellow foglights.
May 28, 2008
