Oldest Rabbit Diesel Found
in Cali
Volkswagen has located the oldest living
Volkswagen diesel. No surprise it was found in California, near
Bakersfield, where it wasn't forced to undergo the perfect storm of
corrosive forces: road salt, humidity and Amherst students on a
mescaline binge. The winning model is from the Rabbit's first model year
in the US, 1977. It sports a 1.5-liter oil burner producing an achingly
low 50 horsepower, though its curb weight was around that of a new
Touareg's spare tire.
WORLDS OLDEST WORKING VEHICLE
On August 19th, at Pebble Beach California,their was an unprecedented automobile auction. The oldest
functioning car in the world was auctioned off by Gooding &
Company. Built in 1884 in France,
the four-wheel steam-powered De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux (aka La
Marquis) was driven by the co-founder of the company, Count De Dion.
The vehicle is fueled by coal, wood and bits of paper and can reach a top speed of 38 miles per hour. The car had two previous owners since it was built with quite the lengthy resume. It covered a 19 mile course with an average speed of 26 miles per hour and was the winner of the first car race in 1888.
At
an estimated value of somewhere between $1.5 - 2 million USD, our tip to the next owner: keep history where it belongs, in the past!
