We lived through the ’80s and ’90s and spent a lot of time with the era’s greatest hits–drove them, raced them, even knew them when they still had that new car smell. We fondly remember shopping for Kamei air dams, Hella lamps and 14-inch tires.
But were the cars of those times really that rad?
We wondered that ourselves, so …
Remember, this was when you didn’t need a GT3 Porsche for a local track day.
Where have we gone wrong?
Anyhow, I've had three A1s, though only one proper GTI. I recall them all more fondly than my one Miata, though it's possible I should've given said Miata more of a chance (and some new shocks).
In reply to Jesse Ransom :
I have a 4k 020 with maybe 25k miles post Stu-Brumer rebuild, if you want to take one of the others closer to a GTI.
Jesse Ransom said:Remember, this was when you didn’t need a GT3 Porsche for a local track day.
Where have we gone wrong?
I still think a track day with a 200-horsepower cap would be cool.
JG and I should tell the story behind the photo, too.
More rabbit action please! I'm just getting the final bits done to mine for Autox season! Call it motivation.
David S. Wallens said:Jesse Ransom said:Remember, this was when you didn’t need a GT3 Porsche for a local track day.
Where have we gone wrong?
I still think a track day with a 200-horsepower cap would be cool.
Yes! The FR-S would be a track bully on that day.
In reply to parker :
Yup. BRZ/FR-S, Integra Type R, Civic Si, Miata, non-M 3 Series, etc., etc. Air-cooled 911, anyone?
David S. Wallens said:Jesse Ransom said:Remember, this was when you didn’t need a GT3 Porsche for a local track day.
Where have we gone wrong?
I still think a track day with a 200-horsepower cap would be cool.
You have my steel by your side!
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Hmmmm, maybe there’s something here.
And maybe the most important thing here: Where did those SCCA Solo Events stickers go? I have (seriously) been looking for a pair. Looks like I had a set on magnetics at one time.
David S. Wallens said:In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
Hmmmm, maybe there’s something here.
When I used to do track days, there were, in theory, different run groups. In practice, there weren't, and people with low powered cars would get stuck behind people putt-putting around corners and not get point-bys on the straights.
Which is a large part of why my track day "career" is past tense.
Granted, there were some people who were rad as all heck, like the guy in an early C3 who would let it all hang out, as well as some improbables (ever see a second generation Lightning on track?), but it was the show and shine 911 drivers who made it all painfully frustrating.
A 200hp cap would be very difficult in this day and age, sadly. And hard to police.
I miss Kamei air dams.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:I miss Kamei air dams.
BITD, we sold a ton of them: Rabbit, E30, RX-7, etc., etc.
I’m still looking for a Dosenboy.
Always liked Sciroccos better, especially on the interior. My second car was an 83 Scirocco Wolfsburg Edition which was basically the same as the GTI under the sheet metal. It was a good car but without some modification, it wasn't incredible. And I knew this back then from day one so that opinion does not come from looking back with newfound knowledge of how much better cars can be. However, with fairly cheap suspension mods, you could make it handle pretty darned good, a veritable go kart. Engine improvements were a bit more difficult and expensive. VW cars of this era had ok torque but their main problem was the fall off at higher revs due to stifled breathing. Aftermarket exhaust, better exhaust manifold, a higher lift cam and whatever else Techtonics said to put on it would cure a lot of this problem but nowhere near what the most basic car today can provide! Every modern car, and I don't mean sports cars but just ordinary cars, always impresses me with engines that rev and pull all the way up the tach, brakes that are insanely impressive, and a stiff chassis. Where they almost always let me down is the transmissions but that's another story! Also, the great thing about today is any good car from the past can be improved so much, simply with modern tires which have made incredible progress!
Oh, and I still own a heavily modified 16 valve Scirocco that is great fun, has that otherworldly 80's German car smell inside, breaks down a lot, and gets a lot comments from so many people, mostly about how they wanted one so bad back in the day or how their sister's friend's boyfriend had one that they always loved. Good times!
I had an '88 GLI, black, bone stock. Loved how it handled, the Recaro's kept one planted pretty well.
Only issue was it would not pull redline in any gear. Had it to a couple shops, replaced fuel filter and cant remember what else.
Then we got pregnant with our fourth and the seats hurt and there wasnt room for all the kiddies, so it got traded in on a mini van.
Found out later that a poor ground to the ECU was the probable cause.
oh well, it was still fun in the backroads, and a true momentum car
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:I miss Kamei air dams.
I found the one for the coupe at Racing Dynamics. I was talking to him about something on their website and he said there were some leftovers they would sell cheap. I bought 6; 2 were for MKI, 2 for E30, 1 for 80's Celica and 1 for W201 chassis. Wish I would have saved a MKI in my basement for the rest of time.
In reply to chandler :
Dang, that Jetta coupe is all the win. (The GTI is way cool, of course.)
David S. Wallens said:In reply to chandler :
Dang, that Jetta coupe is all the win. (The GTI is way cool, of course.)
All the period accessories, the coupe had a G60 swap, kamei hood scoop and front spoiler, BBS rear spoiler, Recaro trophy and adapted Porsche Phone Dials. The 78 wasn't a real GTI, it had BBS front and both rear spoilers and hood scoop, Fuego magic roof, Audi Recaros in rabbit print, etched rabbits in the windows, shine racing suspension, a Turbo ABA, BBS steering wheel. It was cool and I got tired of it. Dang it.
Had a couple 84 GTIs. Both fun. 2nd one became my SCCA ITB car. Couldn't afford the the Uber cool Kamie air dam. But the local circle track store sold simple cheap black plastic sheeting plastic that did the same thing. Then I discovered Miata's. 
j
In reply to matthewmcl :
Good grief, this deserved a reply. I'm a year late, but I'm also all out of Rabbits. For now?
I'm removing clear bra on mine now and getting her off to paint shortly. The windshield seal rot caught up with me and had a buddy weld it all up nice and tidy. Should be all ready rock for spring autox. My "built" FSP 8V motor cranks out an astounding 100Whp but at least weight is down to 1,850lbs wet.
In reply to Jesse Ransom :
I don't think I want to move it again, so you have maybe two or three years to find another. 
Speaking of Kamei, I’m on the hunt for a Kamei Dosen Boy–aka a Can Caddy.
At Automod, we used to get them in six-pack boxes. 
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