Most 80s cars you see that are worth buying have had a combination of upgrades and degradation that may look just fine but give an underlying impression of “used car.” Every once in a while we get to see an icon in its purest form, and this 1984 Rabbit L is a shining example. Original-spec tires make an i3’s motorcycle wheels look like steamrollers. Chrome shines on every trimpiece. The tiny 1.6-liter four barely has any dust on it, let alone oil or grime. It all looks like a museum piece, or perhaps a classic military show item.
The latter isn’t too far from the truth as this Rabbit has spent nearly its entire life with a military doctor’s family. It clearly received the utmost attention throughout its three decades, and now the seller has given it a thorough refresh, making what is quite possibly the nicest, basic, decidedly-not-a-GTI Mk1 Rabbit.
