1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup

I knew there must be something interesting in the area when I saw three motorcycles in the front yard in various states of assembly. Given it's current environment in deepest darkest Commercial Drive, this rare car is in pretty good shape.

One must wonder what Volkswagen executives were thinking when they decided to build a truck based on the Rabbit. Probably decided to build cars in the US at the same meeting. Seeing that long loadbed behind the econobox front is now a treat.

BTW 1778 is the address, not the year.

1981 Volkswagen Rabbit Cabriolet

So good to see such an old Rabbit. It's unclear to me whether it has just been very gently used, or restored and driven normally.

While it may be of uncertain colour, I'm calling it red. It's definitely not the standard VW orange. Regardless, I love that paint, the glossy "eggshell" grain visible in the close-ups, the contrast with the black trim, and patch in front of the rear wheel-well. Wheels may be original -- would look great with the simple original chrome hubcaps. Aside from the few dents, looks incredibly straight.