Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

New to the site? Stop in here and introduce yourself so we can all welcome you to the mad house.

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leah's_dad
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:13 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1990
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

Post by leah's_dad »

I posted this in the VWVortex forum, but it was suggested I hang out here as well.

Hi everyone. My name is Harris and I live outside Atlanta. So now that I'm fast approaching my late 30's, and am going to be a Dad in about 8 weeks, I was beginning to feel a bit nostalgic. My first car was a '78 Rabbit that I pumped gas at the local Exxon station back in Delaware every day after school and saved every penny I earned to get the $950 I paid for it in 1986. I loved that car. Then the muscle car bug bit me a year later and I sold it to buy a 1972 Olds 442. And the rest, they say, is history.

I always said "someday, I'd like to get another one." I even tried to buy that old Rabbit back in 1989 and almost convinced the owner. But I enlisted in the US Navy and never saw Delaware again. That car is probably quietly rusting away somewhere. :(

Anyway, I was on a mission last week to find a Rabbit. I found this on craigslist. I've been wanting a convertible with a backseat for a while, and have been itching for a toy. So this is the best of all worlds combined. And since it was only $500, I was able to keep the peace with my very pregnant wife.

My Rabbit was white with '84 GTI fender flares, '86 GTI wheels and a Scirocco Mk I interior. I'd like to paint this one white with the flares and add some teardrop wheels. The car came with a complete, nice grey tweed interior from an '89 Cabby.

It runs, but has a cold start problem. I'll dive into it this weekend, I guess. And post some better pictures. These were taken by the seller back in January, and aren't very good. That's not me, nor is that my kid. My daughter is due in November and she'll have a place in the backseat!

Scroll below the '83 for a picture of my '78 taken in early '87 that I found and scanned.


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If anyone knows where to find one of those windshield banners (it was tinted and static-cling,) or one of those Kamei front airdams, let me know!
Last edited by leah's_dad on Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Briano1234
Whats that smell?
Posts: 4105
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:45 am
What year is your cabby?: 1992
Do you own a Cabriolet?: No
Location: Duluth, Ga
Contact:

Post by Briano1234 »

Welcome to the bestest local site run by the bestest local yokels that I have ever had the chance to meet.

Nice looking cab with a lot of possibilites.



Okay the site isn't exactally local, but I am.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
1lowcab
DropTop Pimp
Posts: 1809
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 12:42 am
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: mt. vernon, ohio

Post by 1lowcab »

welcome to the forums!
looks like you got a pretty good deal on that cab, good luck with the project.
If you can't beat them, drop the top and pimp by 'em!

85 Mercedes 500SEL grey market euro
Bunch of GM crap
In need of a VW lol
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kamzcab86
Queen and Popette of Cabbydom
Posts: 1277
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2002 3:54 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1986
Location: Arizona
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Post by kamzcab86 »

Welcome to the Topless Club!

Your old Rabbit, minus the spoiler and wheels, looks like my Cab before I put the euro bumpers on it! 8)

Have fun with the new toy! :D
leah's_dad
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:13 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1990
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Post by leah's_dad »

A little update...I sold the wheels off the car today for $150, bringing my total investment DOWN to $350. GOTTA find a set of '86 GTI snowflakes like my old car had -- this sitting on jackstands stuff is for the birds (and NOT the Rabbits!)
tolusina
Posts: 163
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 11:30 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: 313

Post by tolusina »

leah's_dad wrote:..... GOTTA find a set of '86 GTI snowflakes like my old car had -- ......
Snowflakes go for around $20 in the junk yards around here. About 1/4 of the ones I find are straight, most all have at least some curbage. Took about two months of irregular yard searching in four different yards to get a set of four, I'm still looking for a 4th white one.

I never see those A2 center caps pictured on your GTI in the yards, maybe one set every two months on the road. I keep looking, I think they're sharp.
tolusina
Posts: 163
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2006 11:30 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: 313

leah's_dad

Post by tolusina »

Love your user name!! I remember when I was known in the neighborhood as Jasmine's Dad. I puffed up a bit whenever I heard that, still do. :wink:
leah's_dad
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:13 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1990
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Post by leah's_dad »

Thanks...still not used to it (Leah's not due until November 10th!) :wink:
leah's_dad
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:13 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1990
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Post by leah's_dad »

Found another old picture of the first car! (I forgot that someone had jacked my gas cap!)

Image
Last edited by leah's_dad on Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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gull
Posts: 817
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:30 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1989
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Auburn, WA
Contact:

Post by gull »

Love that vanity plate!

The Cabriolet looks like a good project. Just a little rough, but fundamentally solid.
VW fan who fell to the Honda side of the force
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leah's_dad
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:13 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1990
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Re: Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

Post by leah's_dad »

BUMP!

LOL...I'm back. Just bought this. I need to do some catching up I guess!

Image
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Briano1234
Whats that smell?
Posts: 4105
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:45 am
What year is your cabby?: 1992
Do you own a Cabriolet?: No
Location: Duluth, Ga
Contact:

Re: Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

Post by Briano1234 »

leah's_dad wrote:BUMP!

LOL...I'm back. Just bought this. I need to do some catching up I guess!

Image
That top can be fixed..... Didn't realize you were around the corner from me.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
leah's_dad
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 12:13 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1990
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia

Re: Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

Post by leah's_dad »

Briano1234 wrote:

Didn't realize you were around the corner from me.

Yep...have been all along (almost 8 years since I first posted on this forum)
User avatar
Briano1234
Whats that smell?
Posts: 4105
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:45 am
What year is your cabby?: 1992
Do you own a Cabriolet?: No
Location: Duluth, Ga
Contact:

Re: Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

Post by Briano1234 »

leah's_dad wrote:
Briano1234 wrote:

Didn't realize you were around the corner from me.

Yep...have been all along (almost 8 years since I first posted on this forum)
My daughter and husband lives off of Old Alabama in Johns Creek, the Safest City in Ga.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
84Vert
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:03 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1984
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Avon Park, Fl

Re: Newbie intro -- back in it after 20 years!

Post by 84Vert »

Very nice
84 Rabbit Convertible
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