Barn Find VW Rabbit Golf Pickup Sitting for 25 Years! :Rebuild Part 1

[@hassenfakroodeen5833]

That's a sweet looking caddy , that's what they're called here in South Africa.. I'm a big fan of your choice in cars👍

[@arno838]

caddy is the original EU name

[@forrestozbolt1107]

That's what we call them here in the states too.

[@ruthlessgaming7southafrica804]

Caddy looking good ekse just a shame we dont have these rabbit caddy in South Africa and if there is , its going to be very expensive

[@wellingtons.cassiano3002]

In Brazil it’s called Saveiro, which is a sort of a sailing boat. Very popular and shares the top positions of the market in that category with Fiat’s Strada, which was renamed RAM 700 in North America.

[@SuneSalminen]

@@wellingtons.cassiano3002 The Saveiro is built on the Brazilian VW Gol platform. This pickup is derived from the VW Golf MK1 (VW Rabbit in the US) which was never built or sold in Brazil

[@GearheadStew]

What a cool little pickup! I've never seen a VW Rabbit pickup here before, didn't even know they made them.

[@davidcampos268]

Dude your choice of vehicles is right up my alley

[@BudgetBuildz]

David Campos If it’s weird and different that’s all me! 😁

[@789costela]

@@BudgetBuildz NOT complaining to be wierd ! I mean wat The fun to be normal ?

[@BudgetBuildz]

@@789costela Truth!

[@andy1056]

Great job, and pretty clean for its year and model. It’s good to see someone caring about non-muscle cars, too! They’re all interesting in their own way.

[@BudgetBuildz]

Andy 105 Thank you! I love weird and different 😛

[@raymondjohnson1995]

I had an 82 Rabbit pick up. Black Tie Edition. Diesel 5 sod. Neat truck at the time.

[@danielfisch655]

Your daughter is adorable and great job getting her to start. That VW pickup is a beauty.

[@brentspepper2087]

Reminds me of when I was tinkering with something and my girls were helping me.

[@linseyyoung1772]

I had no doubts. Old diesels never die. All it needed was fuel at the injectors and enough amps getting to the starter.

[@elmarruben]

Those square headlights and grill are wurth a fortune here in europe😎

[@darrylbusch3058]

I just pulled an 81 out of a collapsing garage. It's been sitting since 1990.

[@Infidel1967]

My 1981 diesel rabbit truck sat for 18 years. Didn't even change fuel, had it running in one day.

[@colindavis2322]

My grandpa has one of these and it was sitting for 6 years and I got it running when I was 14. These trucks are so hard to fined and I love them so much.

[@michaelb4234]

What a score! I think I’m more excited about this than the Porsche. Great color. 👍🏻

[@BudgetBuildz]

Michael B Haha thanks!

[@bobcooke6346]

This is funny Michael, I’m watching this playlist for the first time, it’s 4th March 2024 and you are now on 263k subscribers, what a long way you channel has come, in my opinion it’s one of the best, if not THE best in this genre, and going from strength too strength 👏👍🙂

[@geo86able]

I too have a 1981 Caddie Diesel, I took it for a drive down Pacific Coast Highway in "Surf City" and so many positive comments from folks especially the "Surfer Dudes" asking if it was for sale! I also paid $500.00 for mine. I rebuilt the injectors and the VE pump cause it was leaking from the advance piston seal under the pump. A nice truck to own!

[@camieljansen5504]

Don't apologize for buying these old things on the cheap! I love the fact that you're trying to restore these things for next to nothing. I'd do the same if I had a shed!

[@wtburns01]

Growing up, my dad bought two rabbits '75 and a '78, both diesel. Those cars were amazing. They had killer stereos, they got around in the snow like a snow cat, and they got like 50 miles per gallon in the 1970s. During the energy crunch. Crunch. Other people were sitting in gas lines. We just sailed on by.The trick back then was finding a diesel pump that wasn't 20 mi away at a truck stop on the edge of town!

[@johnkennedy5117]

Install the Euro front golf GTI grill and headlights round headlights will look great Volkswagen caddy over here in England👍

[@goclunker]

That American front end and bumpers are just brutal

[@forrestozbolt1107]

Keep the squares! Everyone does the euro front.

[@sneakerfreak2002]

Keep it just the way it is

[@forrestozbolt1107]

500?! I paid 4k for mine but it's in excellent condition. Interior and exterior are near immaculate. Near no rust. Minor weather seal leak and oil leak. The oil leak is to be expected with 250k miles, but runs like a dream. Internals are immaculate as far as I've inspected. My first car was a 1983 golf diesel 1.6, just like my truck and I would hazard a guess the same as yours. Mine is yellow. Your tailgate looks amazing! I'm the second owner. Just like my golf. I got that from my grandparents that bought it new. It had 300k+. Mad jealous! All of my stuff works minus the shift light. Lol!

[@feltongailey8987]

About a month ago i purchased this trucks domestic equivalent the Dodge Rampage. I love the weird stuff too! Glad I found your channel. Keep up the great work!

[@BudgetBuildz]

So cool!! Glad to have you! Thank you!

[@samrugh]

I worked@ VW Westmoreland & built your truck! I purchased one of the first trucks we made mit same Lago blue paint..Only made 15000 trucks in 1980 with 5000 diesels which makes this fairly rare....

[@5150mxVW]

Nice ! I had a Rabbit 4 door gas job in high school , good luck with it .

[@juanmauricioneira7864]

This motor is like a watch ! Sound well ! Nice light truck !

[@kevinnilsson1334]

Awesome bro, i live in europe and got my hands on a 1976 golf, been sitting since 2005. Just passed inspection yesterday and ready to roll

[@benreed3223]

I was excited about the Porsche, but I'm 10x more excited to see your progress on this one. Ready to get mine together so we can cruise to some shows together!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Sounds good!

[@diggleboy]

What a nice find! Great little pickup truck and very rare. Congratulations on getting it started. Great all purpose compact pickup truck! Another one in the German family.

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you! I love em! This is my third one!

[@walterrobbins4470]

Pretty straight little pickup

[@scottmottazsr3030]

That is so cool. I've been asked to get one of these going that's been sitting for at least 15 years. The information in this video is very helpful.

[@happytimesagain3458]

Great channel. Great score on this pick-up. I have an 85 Golf 2-door diesel 5 speed 83,000 of miles. It can sit for ever and start right up. Started right up in 28 degree weather other day with ease.

[@abethebabe539]

I had to do this to a 2030 John Deere and it’s a pain in the but I gotta tell you love this, never seen the channel before!

[@utopian909]

Had an 80s diesel Rabbit. Hands down the perkiest naturally aspirated diesel I ever drove.

[@raphaelbroyer7280]

Cool! I'm French and here, this one is loved a lot... I would like to drive this one in Paris... My first car was a 1981 MK1 GTI+ 1.8, 740kg for 220ch... That's fire in it! But yours is different and so fun! Thank U very very much. Coucou de France👍

[@windsormohler1478]

Finally got my mk1 go in today had been sitting for approximately 20 yrs idled after starting What a surprise

[@TheEfterbliven]

Cool project! Axle flip rear. Lowering kit front. Euro front. Bumper delete. Widened, centerflipped steelies with stretched tyres and you´ll have one cool car.

[@alpha6ix222]

TheEfterbliven found the flat brim hat wearing sheep....

[@maxmoo3275]

Nice find. What it needs is a mechanically pumped ALH and a limited slip differential.

[@BudgetBuildz]

maxmoo thanks! Mmm that does sound nice!

[@dannybarten2438]

Now that is some treasure, man this car is an absolute legend. Thumbs up!

[@73twall]

Thanks for showcasing this little truck! I thought it'd be a shame to just do the Porsche and not show this little thing some love, too! Thanks for bringing us along!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Absolutely! Maybe I’ll bring some of my other rides out before long!

[@73twall]

@@BudgetBuildz It seems like when you do a video on something, another thing peeks out. That buggy next to the truck looks cool, too! ;)

[@BudgetBuildz]

Todd Wall it’s a fully hand built fiberglass car from the 60s’! One of kind...I would love to share it as well!

[@73twall]

@@BudgetBuildz Please! You obviously have so much cool stuff, we may just forget you have a Porsche if you're not careful! LOL.

[@MadsWorld34]

my dad had alot of these and the rabbits. he even pulled the engine of one of these and stuck it on a honda Goldwing. I drove on for over a year and got 50 mpg. but I never had the love for them my dad did. and the rear axels made good little trailer too.

[@arranashworth1366]

Great to see it out! Clear coat that patina’ 👌🏻

[@TheReadBaron91]

Just bought a yellow rabbit pickup deisel, gonna follow your channel for sure!

[@dieselmiro7241]

I had one of those engines, let me tell you they don't die! you can't kill it. But if you want to go to an even more powerful and durable one, swap it with the 1.6D or 1.6 GTD .. those are amazing. I'm not sure if you guys have it in America or not. And your kid is so lovely ^^ god bless.

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you! I built my last one to make more power naturally aspirated than the turbo 🤷🏼‍♂️ and it did quite well. I’m still unsure of what I plan to do with this one, something fun though!

[@wilsondavenport6939]

ok, i have been loving the new videos, i was looking to restore a MK2 golf (same frame and powerhouse) to be honest so glad to have stumbled across this video!

[@SticksAndCans]

Love this video, I’m using it as a guide for a 81 rabbit pickup I just pulled out of a field. It’s great help for you to go through the steps you took and getting it going!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Glad you enjoyed! I’ll be going thru the timing belt and maintenance on it shortly as well, and will have a video out for that! 🙂

[@bradkuether3561]

Back when VWs were made well. I had a gas 78 4 door Bunny, Champagne Edition. I so loved that car.... Drove it for two years in HS, then 5 years in college. Did all my own work where I could, oil, plugs, rotor, timing..... So peppy for the time and low to the ground so great handling. I only sold it because the floor boards were starting to rust out. Bought a VW Fox because I wanted a trunk. Not as fun as the Bunny but more practical. Then I went Japanese as VW started its decline. Have fun with this car truck thingy.

[@JonBlondell]

Good job! And you're a lucky man, what a little sweetie!

[@tomrausch7014]

IMO a perfect vehicle. Great front wheel drive for going to work and doing errands no matter the weather.. Definitely not for anything more than light hauling and you better not be a big guy either I’ve owned (3) 1981’s. 1 gasser and 2 from the dark side. Ended up being the wife’s’ car as MS got me. She LOVED the attention she got when people asked her what the heck is that? We would still have the second diesel IF VW hadn’t made a change mid year of the head drilling negating the ‘81 Rabbit parts cars good head. Grrrr!

[@99unclebob]

great video and great job on this pick up VW i had a few co workers who owned drove these who drove them 100 miles a day round trip to work every day and they got over 50 miles to the gallon, that is a Imperial gallon and with the compression release and a block heater here in Manitoba Canada they started in the very cold winters here, enjoy your find they are very reliable and super unique

[@tigerfan8244]

Love it! Greetings from Charleston! My late father had a tan 1978 Rabbit Diesel 5 Door when I was a youngin’. Thanks for saving this one. Looking forward to seeing your future videos!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Tigerfan 82 Absolutely! Glad to have you!

[@frankdenardo8684]

Great to see this Volkswagen trucks being taken out of storage. This truck was built at the Volkswagen assembly plant from 1979 to 1983.

[@stevezwemer1262]

Wow. Lucky find. Looking forward to the rebuild.

[@craighiebert3384]

Yes...I always loved these pickups! It was my understanding that before a certain year, Rabbits/Sciroccos w/ rectangular headlights were made in America and the ones w/ round headlights were made in Germany.

[@waynekhumalo7860]

I know I'm late to this channel but damit how excited I got when that vdub started up...

[@brianjoyce9742]

Great work with a happy child in tow to help you

[@chrishiggins1811]

my day just got better and better, not long ago watched the Porsche video now this beast cant wait for the updates on these and the other builds you may have going

[@BudgetBuildz]

😁😁

[@smacdiesel]

I owned a Scirocco and a Rabbit during the early eighties. I remember it was usually older gentlemen that bought those caddy trucks. Maybe I'll buy one of those someday.

[@BudgetBuildz]

Maybe I’m an old soul, this is my third pickup! Only small portion of the volkswagens I’ve owned though!

[@Pop_Hockenbush]

Probably my favorite episode.

[@steelchain384]

These engines are great i got 2 audis with the same engines they ran over 500000 kilometers if you keep this one before fill up your tank(full) take 0.2 liters of 2 stroke oil and it will run forever (the pump and injectors get better lubricated)

[@aarongrabowski3775]

I had a 84’ rabbit gti. The nose of it is identical. Car was pretty quick too. Those volkswagon’s were one of the first vehicles to use fuel injection. Most other car manufacturers did’t start that until about 1988-1989.

[@aarongrabowski3775]

Mine was a 1.8 liter gas engine though.

[@Bjyrgen666]

I like the porsche. I LOVE the rabbit pickup/caddy! The blue interior is sick!

[@BudgetBuildz]

😃

[@bryanphillips1432]

I have always been a chevy gasboy myself you are the first diesel anything ive been into i do follow bruce wilson. However you have gotten me more into vw diesel more so then my teacher did

[@bryanphillips1432]

Wd arew down

[@ThrottleGrotto]

Yeah! Thanks for working on the caddy!

[@ils360]

Lucky!!! That's a crazy good find!!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thanks!

[@AmericaBumpertoBumper]

That was my biggest hang up when I started Vlogging is Ah and Um. Love the Caddy.

[@BudgetBuildz]

America: Bumper to Bumper Glad I’m not the only one! 😋 thank you!

[@froggersgarage5127]

That truck is so cool it's good to see a old engine start new subscriber

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you! Glad to have you!

[@Oyvind88]

Love old VW cars, this is a awsome car and saved, caddy we say here in Norway😁😁🇳🇴🇳🇴 Love the color and patina😁😁

[@BudgetBuildz]

Great! 😊 Thank you!

[@charlesmoore2485]

This is awesome , love old vws , ☺️especially diesels. I like your humble personality. Great work 👍😎

[@richardlittlepage9069]

Awesome. I'm trying to purchase a 82 rabbit n this video helps. Thanks

[@petarpanic8090]

Nicely done mate, but when you say it has little bit rust or what ever and that ok for this mileage i was like wdf :D here in Serbia golf 1 diesel my grandfather drove on old changing oil during the war, than when he was out of old oil he just put oil from franc frieze, and after the war ofcourse on standard diesel, he died not much after the war, we sold vw Golf 1 here in place near by..Guy is still driving it, it has 470 000 km on it . so 55k miles-70k km thats a brand new engine :D

[@BudgetBuildz]

Haha I know! I shaved the bay on my last one and put a built pump, header and velocity stacks on it...it had 500k plus miles on it 😅 cool story man! Love it!

[@the66volks]

Wow! Awesome! I actually had 3 of these at one time a 2 1980’s an one 1981 that video!

[@mowler8042]

VERY cool will be a fun rebuild...for fun I looked up VW Rabbit truck here in Canada and someone wants $7000 for one that is rough looking.

[@namtech425]

Here we call it a VW Caddy. Awesome cars.

[@austendorey2533]

Great to see this. Reminds me of first start on mine 7 years ago. Was a complete newbie to diesels then. Love the funky interior so different to mine.

[@donniebrown2896]

Love these older Volkswagens, you probably already know this but here goes. I found out the hard way, over 3k $ repair. The service manager at the local Cummins dealer said the older fuel pumps used the sulfur in the fuel for lubrication. Both my up pump and distribution pumps went out and were replaced with the newer version designed for the new sulfur free fuel. Additives are available to be used with older pumps. Rule of thumb when you change the oil you need to change the fuel filter also. Prime the new fuel filter before you install it.

[@BudgetBuildz]

donnie brown Always do! 🤙🏻 thanks for the suggestions! 🙂 thankfully these pumps are only $350 to have rebuilt which makes it a little less worrisome 😃

[@MrKubbler]

I'd love to own this truck.

[@Photostudioww]

Check Facebook in the Chicago area I saw one for sale.

[@ashleyknight4127]

i own one in the uk lol

[@joshuamcpeek4708]

My dad had a 78 rabbit hatchback with this diesel in it. It had a gas motor when he bought it with 250k miles, he put the diesel in it and drove it another 150k miles before junking it

[@eduardosouza2811]

Really nice! I want see more about that Rabbit soon!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thanks! Should have one up on it today! 😊

[@Astra8676]

Yeah dude, glad to see this build too. Would like to see both builds, keep it up man!!!

[@BudgetBuildz]

You will! Thanks!

[@derrinpickett9948]

At the 2:00 mark that still shot gave me a Hotwheels Deorea vibe. I'd customise the Blue Goose in a heartbeat.

[@GuyCrawford]

Hey, congrats on another great project! You're 2 for 2 of my dream rebuilds so far :D I can't wait to see your progress.

[@stevengoodman7606]

Your kid is adorable!! Love the vw truck .. big vw fan!!

[@matthewjohnston1400]

Really cool little truck.

[@travislayson2384]

Man, I didn’t think it was going to fire! Great job!

[@BudgetBuildz]

I didn’t either! Haha

[@rgs4x]

These are great little pickups.

[@BudgetBuildz]

I love them!

[@thomashixson8572]

What a crazy find and that price so cool and rare

[@Blacklight8001]

I am liking the looks of this series. Keep them coming!

[@johanbjork1650]

The smoke coming out of the exhaust when it finally started up :The smell of Victory.

[@BudgetBuildz]

Yassss! 😁

[@sarcasmpending3415]

And that is what it sounded like new. That engine will last forever but you never see them on the road anymore. Would be cool to have one with a little more power. That was actually a pretty practical vehicle back in its time. But...today you probably need to use back roads cause I am pretty sure maintaining 70 on the interstate would only be on a downhill slope. I would probably have bought that thing if I ran across it. Still miss mine and it was borrowed constantly until I sold it.

[@BudgetBuildz]

I had a built pump, custom header and a velocity stack intake on my last one. It did pretty well for being a tiny na diesel 😉 this one will stay bone stock other than probably sending the pump off to be built. Takes them from roughly 36whp to over 50whp which doesn’t sound like much but actually makes a huge difference.

[@earthbound4now474]

Ah elevator music... nice addition 😃 just stumbled upon your channel today and you've made it with Mustie1 as a favorite 👍

[@BudgetBuildz]

😀😀😀

[@welshboi1453]

Thoroughly enjoyable! can't remember the last time I saw one of these Golf/Rabbit pick ups, they were not very popular here unlike its saloon and gti counterparts which still are

[@jasonkowitz4598]

Cool little car, can't wait to see it on the road!!!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thanks!,

[@shawncastilla]

Can’t wait to watch the rest of this serious! Keep me coming!

[@josephdeluca3338]

Nice little truck, can't wait to see done.

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you!

[@junkyardvette613]

love it. My first car was a 79 rabbit the same powder blue.

[@TheTribalface]

gotta luv the caddy best old skool ride vw ever done ....

[@ryanlott6309]

What a cool truck. Glad I found this channel. Cool stuff

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you!

[@kens97sto171]

You got a great deal on that caddy. I've seen those in good condition sell for $4-5k. Which is kind of ridiculous but. I had a couple 84 quantum turbo diesels. Definitely like the older Volkswagen diesel powered cars. I had a CV joint fail in one of those went to a local parts store, The part was in a paper box wrapped in oiled paper, an inside the box it said made in West Germany.. West Germany didn't exist as an independent country for quite a while at that point.

[@charlesmoore2485]

What year were your Quantum’s? I had an 84, turbo diesel , dark brown , brown interior with the automatic with the E position on the shifter. Was imported to Canada in the late 80s. We didn’t get Quantum’s here. Miss that car!

[@kens97sto171]

@@charlesmoore2485 I'm pretty sure one was an 84 or the other one I'm not totally sure about. It was funny because the one was a lot more beat up but ran better the other one was a lot lower miles and a lot cleaner and ran a lot worse LOL. Both of mine worse 5 speeds both had AC.

[@redwood410]

You seem to have fixed this in your later videos, but on close ups look at the lens and not the viewer.(I'm sure you already saw that) I love your projects!! keep up the good work. I look forward to when you have 100k, 1 million subs!! You have a great demeanor that I know will catch on and take off!! There are too many vulgar, trying to be cool channels out there. You are a wholesome rebuild channel. Your style will build subs!!!

[@TheCam2363]

I saw this and I Got excited. This is my dream truck. I subscribed just from this and I will definitely follow along!

[@thomasuitbreda]

Great truck! Great program you're making! Thanks!!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you!

[@andresrtorres9794]

You are legit man! keep up the good work and the down to earth projects!

[@BudgetBuildz]

Thank you!

[@chrisnelson6226]

I built that truck at the New Stanton Plant in Pennsylvania haha. Remember when only colors on the assembly line where white, blue and tan.

[@rickycollins4633]

I'm from SC and I remember a farmer I'm kin to used to use these exclusively on his farm.