This 1980 Rabbit Pickup sat for 25 years. So I tried to drive it 2,300 miles home…

[@recklessMG]

You're doing excellent work, James. Tiktok will respond to the drama. KZbin will respond to the detail. Everyone responds to your passion and enthusiasm. Keep going!

[@achgffgh]

I flew to Tennessee from Fort Lauderdale on a 3am Red eye with 4 hour philly layover to pick up a 1984 Vanagon last year. Broke down after 10 mins, towed the sucker home, lost tires on the u-haul, almost went off a bridge, got going again, tree fell on the u-haul, kept going, made it back. A year later, 0 regrets- this video has me wanting to do it all again

[@itsreallytom4310]

I heard somewhere “Bad decisions make for great stories” and that’s what I say out loud every time I get in a VW. The story is always great

[@coltonshort826]

Awesome video im also from Ohio an just inherited a 82 vw rabbit pickup from my grandpas passing and have started bringing it back to life love this little truck first manual vehicle I ever drove on the road!

[@DavidHansen725]

Thank you for saving this truck. I can't be the only one who shed a tear or two... I can't wait to get my '71 1302 back on the road. 😭😭

[@djstangerdude]

Been following on KZbin and TikTok and I would say the trip was a success! You can always make up the meet and greets after it is mechanically reliable and do another trip. Hagerty should hire you as a video host! You have the voice and expression for it. Great video!! Thank you for posting this wrap up video. I am a Ford guy but now I am watching videos on VW's??? With quality like this.....you bet!!

[@mstjohn33]

Fantastic story, I totally loved watching it, those types of stories keep the spirit going. I am looking for a VW Pickup but there are not very many around in New Mexico. I hope you make more material here on KZbin, I am also going to watch your TikTok Videos. Keep on keeping on...Hope to see much more

[@jeremygrimes7142]

Solid Content James! I've been watching you on several platforms and I hope you keep it up. There's not much for early VW stuff with your level of production quality. I'm not even a VW guy and I'm hooked haha!

[@ThrottleGrotto]

that's a pretty rad story. And a lots of fortunate coincedences along the way, esp with the hagerty hook. I've had 7 or 8 of those trucks and they were all great.

[@TheDrivingFool]

Very talented with the documentary style videos, James. You should cover other peoples builds at shows and get togethers. Every car has a story, and I think we all like listening to you tell it. Cheers

[@JamesCooperider]

I really appreciate this, thank you so much! I’d love to cover other builds and talk to people on the channel - I think that’d be a great element to add to my existing content.

[@tallgiese1]

This story is amazing and was so close to both my homes, my childhood home in Ohio and so close to Tricities WA. It was definitely a win. The VW community is pretty awesome.

[@tallgiese1]

@@fastinradfordable my wife would highly agree with you 😁

[@brianclark9507]

Followed on Facebook and have been waiting on this video. Thanks for documenting the video on multiple platforms.

[@DavidWilliams-dg8gl]

Congrats on the adventure! Great to see the revitalization of the VW rabbit truck! Great story of a lifetime!

[@kbeck4660]

The best part about this is this happened not very far from where I live and I absolutely love rabbit pickups. I've had 3 and all of them have been diesel. This honestly just made me really want to start looking for another one.

[@robditman6038]

I loved this story. Here is some irony. I have the identical truck except LX. It is 1980, sunshine yellow, original 1.5 diesel

[@robditman6038]

I purchased mine south of Portland and attempted to drive it to Valdez. Alaska. Made it to Watson Lake- the engine/head/gasket gave up. I hitchhiked home, grabbed my Excursion and trailer went back and retrieved it.

[@robditman6038]

Long story short. Its been sitting for at least 15 years with a fully rebuilt original engine ~4k miles since. I was getting 58 mpg at sea-level.

[@samrugh]

You are a bold& determined guy.....I built this truck@ VW Westmoreland and bought one of the first ones we made..It was Lago blue/Diesel 4sp and i have some stories to tell also...We made 15,000 in 1980 mit only 5000 of them being diesels making this fairly rare

[@jakewood2914]

What a great adventure! Can’t wait to watch more of your channel. Much love from the UK

[@johnmeier270]

Wow sounds like you had awful few days there, I hope your trucks in much better shape now

[@braxtonjens7839]

This is awesome.. And I’m in yakima! We definitely have some farm trucks out here Awesome story,

[@jaycle7832]

Absolutely fantastic project, certainly wishing you the best. Seeing as how you mentioned you were from Ohio do you happen to know of any MK1 resources in central Ohio?

[@bruhpitty]

This is so well made

[@andredya9867]

Crazy story , I can’t imagine how you made through mountains Remind me of my story when I got diesel Mercedes’ from auction and drove from North Carolina to Seattle during winter

[@htmotorworks799]

What a great watch, you are a fabulous storyteller James!

[@66slammed]

You did a great job. I just picked up an 80 sunbrite yellow myself from the pnw and it was great to watch this all unfold. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it in the future ✌🏼

[@s.mig8668]

You got it home, that was the mission.

[@nozanoza8709]

Amazing job dude, your going places. Keep it up!

[@albaniansht8578]

what a good trip love from albania🇦🇱

[@Kowafatcompany]

Keep it up! Watching you from Russia

[@mr.nickivey537]

Love the content 👌

[@terryraymond7984]

Thats quite a trip.

[@luukhoog8449]

Amazing qualty video keep it up

[@HowtoRestoreHeadlights]

I like the VIN wiki style interview setup!

[@munozrdg]

Came here after seeing you on Tik-Tok

[@sebsrey]

Great watch! Nice job James.

[@johnnyhernandez8530]

Moses lake, yeah buddy!!

[@unholylillim]

I want a yellow Caddy too.

[@JakeStreisand]

Idk what you expect out of a car that's been sitting for 25 years with a broken engine and trans. No one could ever do it thoroughly and everything it needed within 3 days. You did better than most and should of known better but now you know.

[@terryraymond7984]

Youre buddy has a white Pickup like mine, I have an 1981 Pickup, GAS 1.7 Liter CIS Injection

[@johncooper9976]

You where In Ritsville

[@lividpotaoes5437]

Great job my friend!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it if you need any help or just someone to buy you a couple of beers, let me know!! I already sent you a message on instagram.

[@headkicker79]

I live in Moses Lake! 🤪

[@BrorAppelsin]

Hello from Finland! I have a 1990 with 1.8i and automatic transmission :) I used to have a 1986 with turbo'd 1.6d and 5-speed, there's a short video of it on my yt channel.

[@BrorAppelsin]

@@fastinradfordable That's how it came from the factory... And I've got 3 other cars :)

[@chadcarter9581]

So here from tictok… idea for you buy old Jeep yjs…. 1986-1995 Jeep Wranglers and swap tdi engines I. Them… keep stock look and wheels unless customs pay more… it’s VW content and you can’t sell the product

[@6ixthstage845]

Whelp. Subbed. ❤️ Maybe I should start TikTok lol

[@chadcarter9581]

I’m I. Central Ohio would love to have a Jeep swapped with a tdi…

[@DerekJason3000]

All about the people.

[@Chick3nLittl3PVPSAAN]

TIK TOK Sent me Here 🤔

[@830Video]

Drink every time he says tik tok

[@ovelhaperdida]

James, hope you have bought the cover top that was in first the photo, it looked so well in the truck;)))))))))))))