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You're looking at a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, the car that kickstarted America's hot hatch movement.
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Beloved by enthusiasts, this Mark 1 ("Mk 1") GTI is owned by VW.
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Powered by a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, US-spec GTI models like this one developed 90 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque.
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The businesslike interior featured grippy seats and a mandatory manual transmission, its gearshift topped in VW's now-iconic golf-ball knob.
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The GTI's golf-ball shifter has become iconic. It's also screwed to a nice, direct gearbox and an easily modulated clutch.
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Remember colorful interiors?
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Surprisingly roomy, the GTI's practical shape meant that this enthusiast-friendly car could be sold to spouses as a family car.
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0-to-60 mph was pegged at 10 to 11 seconds when new. That may sound like an eternity today, but feels much quicker than those numbers suggest.
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This particular model has had its exhaust system tinkered with, and it's noisy and aggressive in character.
Fantastic.
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Although slow by modern standards, the GTI was quick enough to show its taillights to far costlier European sport sedans in its day.
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This GTI didn't receive power steering, but with modest 185/60-series 14-inch tires, it's hardly a problem, and the payoff is great road feel.
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America's hot hatch family tree has its roots planted firmly in this first-generation VW GTI.
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These original GTI alloy wheels are affectionately known as "Snowflakes" within the VW enthusiast community.
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The GTI's red-lined grille has become a well-known styling flourish repeated throughout the car's generations.
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A new Golf-based GTI has already been revealed, but the Mk 8 isn't due in US showrooms until the 2022 model year.
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Keep clicking or scrolling for more images of the altogether wonderful 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI.
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