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It’s always cool to see some rare dealer bits; from big promotional posters to service guides, they’re a neat way to relive the past and have some cool details to go along with your automotive passion. Today I have a roundup of Volkswagen dealer pieces. First off is the neat Global Rallycross calendar that is signed by Scott Speed, Tanner Foust and Michael Andretti. There’s a service guide for 1969 which is cool for aircooled folks. But I love the posters – there’s a 1986 Quantum Syncro Wagon original poster and a more modern Beetle RSi Cup poster. And there’s a cool fleet brochure – can you imagine specifying 1988 GTi 16Vs for your fleet? I’d love to work for that company!
As we round off another Wagon Week here at GCFSB, we’ll take a look at something a little bit different. The original Volkswagen Passat, otherwise known as the Dasher in the US market, would replace the Type 3 in the lineup, ushering in a new era of larger, front-engined, water-cooled vehicles. Successive generations of the Passat would see the car grow further in size, with four-wheel drive as an option on some models. The fifth generation would go on to be quite a success and help drive Volkswagen’s comeback in the US. This early Passat L Variant for sale in Hamburg, Germany isn’t fast, luxurious or flashy, but in Manila Green, is rather eye catching. Rarely do you see them this nicely preserved.
In yesterday’s Audi project post, I wrote up two more-rare Audis with potential, though both would require some work and dedication to get to daily driver status. Today, I’ve got two more “project” cars – though, if anything, these two are considerably more rare these days than either of the two Audis. Both are all-wheel drive wagons from Volkswagen, but if you can quint and see a family resemblance, that’s about all that links them together. The first is the B2 Audi-derived Quantum Syncro – essentially, an Audi 4000 quattro with Volkswagen hubs, wheels and brakes and a unique rear suspension under the Quantum body. The Passat W8 also shared Audi A4 all-wheel drive components but essentially was a completely different offering, from the 6-speed manual transmission this model sports to the unique W8 motor stuffed into the discreet Passat Variant package. While there were considerably more Quantum Syncros produced than W8 6-speeds, finding one today can be quite hard – many succumbed to poor residual value, rust and neglect; though not complicated cars, the were more expensive to work on than the standard 4-cylinder models. The W8 is at the verge of falling into the same fate, with the exception of original production numbers – with only a handful of W8 Variants imported originally, both of these cars are serious unicorns these days. Which is your style?
My love for obscure cars dictates my leaning towards one of my favorite Volkswagens of all time: the Quantum Syncro Wagon. Known as the Passat, Santana, Corsar and Carat in other markets, the Quantum was the choice for someone seeking German engineering in a mid-sized package on a budget. Curiously, Volkswagen only offered Syncro four-wheel drive in the Quantum Wagon, as it was the bigger seller. This car shared its drivetrain with the Audi 80 and required a completely new floorpan which relocated the gas tank and deleted the spare tire well. Mated exclusively to the 2.2 liter inline-5 engine, this was a very versatile machine popular with those in the snow belt.
Few of these Quantum Syncro Wagons survive in good condition, but they have a rabid following of enthusiasts. Rarely do you see a pre-facelift Quantum Syncro Wagon but here is one for sale in Seattle. A few items need doing but nothing too terrible to put off those handy with a wrench.
Love the recently featured Audi Coupe GTs and Audi 4000 Quattros? Well, if they’re quickly getting out of your price range there is an option few think of that combines the GT and 4000 into a unique package. Although the 4000 front wheel drive was offered early on with a 5-cylinder engine, after 1982 if you wanted that rally-bred inline-5 you had to get a Coupe GT – or did you? The revised and slightly restyled Quantum offered the 5-cylinder engine as well in “GL5” form, both front and all wheel drive. They’re rare to find in good shape and most hold out for the Syncro wagons, but if you’re looking for a unique daily driver Volkswagen this GL5 in Tornado Red may just fit the bill:
