What is a Volkswagen Caddy?
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1981 Rabbit Pickup |
1996 Caddy |
The Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup was first manufactured in the town of New Stanton, Westmoreland county Pennsylvania from 1979 through to 1983. Based on the Rabbit (Golf A1) chassis, these water-cooled models were originally made for the US and then the US and Canadian markets. The US pickups were sold in the 1980 to 83 model years and the Canadian pickups were sold in the 1981 to 83 model years.
In the US the vehicle was referred to as the VW Rabbit Pickup, but in other parts of the world, it is referred to as the Caddy. Where did that name come from? Just like the US Rabit was named Golf in the rest of the world, the Caddy name was a take off on that sporting theme; "Golf", "Caddy".
United States Rabbit Pickup Sales Figures
Year |
Sales |
1979 |
|
1980 |
25,532 |
1981 |
33,879 |
1982 |
12,769 |
1983 |
_4,861 |
1984 |
___392 |
1985 |
_____2 |
Total |
77,513 |
After manufacturing of the pickup in the US came to a sudden halt mid way through 1983, production started in Yugoslavia for the European market later that same year. The European truck that was based on the American design was called the Caddy and was produced at rates of about 1000 per month until war broke out in 1991. The "original" Caddy is still manufactured at the Uitenhage VW plant near Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The visible differences between the North American Pickup and the European Caddy were the headlights and bumpers. The North American models had the square 4x6" Halogen sealed beams. 1980 pickups were sold with European fenders and the turn signals on the front bumper. In 1981 all pickups had turn signals to the immediate outer corners of the truck resembling the 83 to 84 American made Rabbit GTI. All European models had round 7" H4 Lights with signal lights mounted on the front bumper. North American Pickups had metal front bumpers and the LX series had a metal rear bumper (the base model had no rear bumper) license plate lights are mounted on the body of the truck. European Caddies had two separate bumpers on the rear with a space left in the centre to allow mounting of a longer license plate. License plate lights were also mounted on the bumper instead of the body of the truck. Front bumpers were the standard Golf 1 issue with back plastic covering them.
Canadian models were available with a choice of one engine. The 1.6L 48 hp diesel with 4 and 5 speed manuals transmissions. American customers also had the choice of the 57 kW (78 hp) 1.6L or 54 kW (74 hp) 1.7L gasoline engines as well as the diesel engine.
European models came with various 1.8L 8.5-1 compression Cabriolet / Scirocco gasoline engines with the later models having Digifant injection other models had the 1.6L diesel.
What Volkswagen parts can I use on the Caddy? The Caddy is for the most part, the same as the four door Rabbit / Golf Series 1 or four door Jetta Series 1 from the rear of the front seats forward. The rear suspension is totally unique to water-cooled Volkswagens with the absence of coil springs. Instead there are leaf springs with a rate of approximately 75 lbs per inch. The 200mm rear drum brakes are also different from the rest of the A1 series, these are borrowed from the Audi 4000 to help stop any large load you might be carrying. Later style 180mm adjustable drums are an easy upgrade option with Scirocco 16v disc brakes being the ultimate solution. Exhaust systems are also unique to the Caddy. Tectonics of Oregon is one of the few manufactures to produce high quality galvanized and stainless steel performance exhaust system for the pickup.
Currently a second generation of Caddies are being produced for the European market. The Caddy Pickup is based on the Skoda's Felicia and the Caddy is base on the Seat Ibiza / Cordoba serries, which is also the basis for Volkswagen's Polo Classic (small 4-door sedan) and Polo Variant (small 4-door station wagon).
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1987 Caddy Pickup |
1996 Caddy |
Rabbit Pickup Technical Data
1980 Pickup Truck:
Gasoline Engine power: 57 kW (78hp) @ 5500
rpm Engine displacement: 1.5L Fuel & Air Supply: Mechanical Fuel Injection Pump |
Dimensions Vehicle Length: 4.36m Width: 1.64m Height: 1.43m Weight Total: 986kg Front GVWR: 638kg Rear GVWR: 348kg Fuel tank capacity: 57 litres Oil capacity: 3.5 litres with filter |
1981-83 Pickup Truck:
Gasoline Engine power: 54 kW (74hp) @ 5500
rpm Engine displacement: 1.6L Fuel & Air Supply: Mechanical Fuel Injection Pump |
Dimensions Vehicle Length: 4.36m Width: 1.64m Height: 1.43m Weight Total: 986kg Front GVWR: 638kg Rear GVWR: 348kg Fuel tank capacity: 57 litres Oil capacity: 3.5 litres with filter |
1984-97 Caddy:
Gasoline Engine power: 60 kW (82hp) @ 5200
rpm Engine displacement: 1.6L Fuel & Air Supply: Mechanical Fuel Injection Pump |
Dimensions Vehicle Length: 4.38m Width: 1.64m Height: 1.49m Weight Total: 986kg Front GVWR: 638kg Rear GVWR: 348kg Fuel tank capacity: 60 litres Oil capacity: 3.5 litres with filter |
Paint Codes:
The Rabbit Pickup had a limited quantity of factory colors to choose
from. This is not a complete list and I am looking for more colors and
paint codes. Please email me if there is some color that I have missed.
| 1980 Black - L041 Alpine white - L90E Lago blue - LE5B Mojave beige - LE1N Tabasco red - LE3A Sunbrite yellow - LE1N Mountain green - LE6B Diamond silver metallic - LE7Y Tarpon blue metallic - LE5V Inca brown metallic |
1981 Black - LO41 Cashmire white - LE9C Lago blue - LE5B Mojave beige - LE1N Royal red - LE3C Sunbrite yellow - LE1B Forest green metallic - LE6Z Diamond silver metallic - LE7Y Slate gray metallic - LE6U Sandstone metallic - LE1Y |
1982 Black - LO41 Cashmire white - LE9C Lago blue - LE5B Mojave beige - LE1N Royal red - LE3C Mahogany - LE3K Forest green metallic - LE6Z Diamond silver metallic - LE7Y Slate gray metallic - LE6U Burnished gold metallic - LE1Z |
1983 Black - LO41 Cashmire white - LE9C Lago blue - LE5B Mojave beige - LE1N Royal red - LE3C Mahogany - LE3K Jasper green - LE6D Diamond silver metallic - LE7Y Slate gray metallic - LE6U Frost blue metallic - LE5U |
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[Last updated: 03.January.2024 ]