LPiA-24 Nov. 22

[dukealien]

Wolf and Castle


Volkswagen Rabbit two-door
1977, Bali Green,
Tobacco interior
(the color, not the herb).

39 miles to the gallon
on long trips, regular gas,
when such performance was
exceptional. 1790 pounds
curb weight, which helped.

Screw-off asterisk external gas cap
fully removable and could be stolen
(mine was, in Alabama)
and those other little features like
a cruise control which worked
just great until you stepped
on the brake and meant it
which stopped the Rabbit
but also blew an inline fuse
under the hood (I kept
a few replacements in
the glove compartment).

Plus, did you know the horn
did not sound unless the engine
was running?  One could just hear
the Doktor-Ingenieur at Wolfsburg
loftily intoning, „But mein Herr,
why should you require the horn
if you are not at that time driving?”
as a pickup truck backed slowly
into my bumper while I sat parked
in Denver, unable to make it sound.

Ah, well.  Classic, it was -
a body shape not carved
out of a bar of soap
but profile-bandsawed from
block lumber.  With on
its steering wheel no weak
“VW” monogram (which could
have been assembled anywhere)
but Wolf and Fortress proving
this Rabbit came from
the Tiger place.