Compact Pickup

Volkswagen · 1980-1983

Rabbit (Caddy Mk1)

The Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup (Caddy Mk1) was a front-drive pickup based on the Golf that VW built in Pennsylvania and sold in the US for the 1980-1983 model years. Gas and diesel Rabbit engines powered it, and diesels are famous for their 5-speed "E" economy gear.

Years
1980-1983
Drivetrain
FWD
Engines
1.6 L EA827 (49-state) · 1.7 L EA827 · 1.5 L diesel
Sold in
US · Canada

Spec sheet

Spec sheet
Production
1980–1983

Built at Volkswagen Westmoreland Assembly, Pennsylvania: production began in 1979 for the 1980 model year and stopped in mid-1983 (Hemmings; 4crawler). Wikipedia gives 1978-1984.

Assembly
Westmoreland County, PA (VW Westmoreland Assembly)
Sold in
US
Canada
Codes
Typ 14
Body styles
2-door coupé utility
Bed lengths
6 ft (double-wall)
Drivetrains
FWD
Transmissions
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
Trims
LX
Sportruck
Wheelbase
103.3 in
Length
174.6 in
Width
64.4 in
Height
56.3 in
Curb weight
1,000–1,100 kg

Engines

1.6 L EA827 (49-state)1.6 L · I4 · 78 hp · 84 lb-ft · 1979-1980
Displacement
1.6 L
Config
I4
HP
78 hp
Torque
84 lb-ft
Years
1979-1980
Notes
76 hp California
1.7 L EA8271.7 L · I4 · 78 hp · 88.2 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm · 1981-1983
Displacement
1.7 L
Config
I4
HP
78 hp
Torque
88.2 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm
Years
1981-1983
Notes
74 hp California. 1981 brochure: 105.0 cu in, 78 hp @ 5,500 rpm SAE net, CIS fuel injection
1.5 L diesel1.5 L · I4 diesel · 48 hp · 57 lb-ft · 1980
Displacement
1.5 L
Config
I4 diesel
HP
48 hp
Torque
57 lb-ft
Years
1980
1.6 L diesel1.6 L · I4 diesel · 52 hp · 71 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm · 1981-1983
Displacement
1.6 L
Config
I4 diesel
HP
52 hp
Torque
71 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm
Years
1981-1983
Notes
5-speed with "E" economy fifth gear (0.76:1). 1981 brochure: 97 cu in, 52 hp @ 4,800 rpm SAE net

Highlights

Highlights
01
First US-built VW; compact FWD pickup based on the Golf/Rabbit
02
North American version had rectangular headlamps (rest of world round)
03
1981 EPA estimates: diesel 39 mpg city / 48 highway, gasoline 23 / 32; economy fifth gear labeled "E"
04
>207,000 built worldwide

Photos

  • Volkswagen Rabbit (Caddy Mk1) 1980-1983, image 1 of 2

  • Volkswagen Rabbit (Caddy Mk1) 1980-1983, image 2 of 2

Related

Successor

VW Taro (rebadged Hilux, 1989-97)

Related

VW Golf Mk1 / Jettaplatform

Overview

VW's first pickup was based on the Golf/Rabbit and sold in North America as the Rabbit Pickup from late 1979 (as a 1980 model), built at VW's Westmoreland plant in Pennsylvania. Elsewhere it was the Caddy, a name never used in North America. US trucks wore rectangular headlamps and came in LX and Sportruck trims.

The launch 1.6-liter gasoline four (78 hp) was joined in 1980 by a 1.5-liter diesel, then the 1.6 diesel (52 hp) and 1.7 gas (78 hp) from 1981. The diesel's five-speed had a fifth gear labelled "E" for economy.

US production stopped in mid-1983, after the last (1983) US model year; worldwide over 207,000 of the Typ 14 were built. VW's later pickup, the Taro, was a rebadged Toyota Hilux.

Sources