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The very first water-cooled Volkswagen sold in the United States, after a quarter-century of exclusively air-cooled vehicles shipped over from Wolfsburg, was the 1974 Dasher (the Rabbit aka Golf didn't show up here until the 1975 model year). Known as the Passat elsewhere in the world and sibling to the Audi Fox aka 80 (not to be confused with the later Volkswagen Fox aka Gol), Dasher sales continued in North America through the 1981 model year. Here's one of those final-year Dashers, featuring five doors and an oil-burning engine, found in a northeastern Colorado self-service yard last month.

Passat sales continued here for 1982, of course, but the B2 Passat received Quantum badging on our shores. I'm not sure what the add-on switches bolted above the dash nameplate do, but this car features plenty of Red Green-style keep-it-going-for-another-day kludges.

For example, the clever glue-and-tape-and-rope repair of the radiator hose.

The gasoline-powered Dasher had a 1.6-liter four-cylinder rated at 76 horsepower, which was about adequate for a 2,181-pound car of this era. This car has the 52-horsepower diesel, however, and I can tell you from bitter personal experience that the VW diesels of this period were pure misery on the road. Still, fuel economy for the Dasher Diesel was spectacularly good for the time, pushing 50 miles per gallon on the slow-motion highways of the Late Malaise Era.

The gold old four-on-the-floor manual transmission kept things simple. If you wanted a really simple floor-shifted manual in 1981, GM had you covered; Camaros and Malibus could still be purchased new that year with a three-on-the-floor manual tranmission.

This car made it to 156,184 final miles, which was a long life for a car of its time. Check out that big MotoMeter dash clock, a nice standard feature for such an affordable wagon.

The Dasher was available here as a two- or four-door hatchback and as a station wagon. List price on the 1981 Dasher Diesel Wagon started at $8,740 (about $27,555 today). Meanwhile, a new '81 Honda Civic wagon cost $5,749, while an '81 Datsun 510 wagon had a $6,689 price tag. If you wanted a sturdy Volvo 245 wagon that year, the cheapest one cost $10,210. The all-new 1981 Dodge Aries wagon started at a mere $6,471, but it lacked German engineering and styling.

That AM/FM radio probably cost big bucks back in 1981.

What are you buying with all the money you save on fuel? Food!

Don't miss the silver anniversary sale at your VW dealer.

Here's the official history.

Junkyard Gem: 1987 Volkswagen Quantum GL5 Syncro Wagon

It was almost 46 years ago when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree (PD) 1067, or The Water Code of the Philippines, which established the three-meter easement along waterways in urban areas.What that means is that no person is allowed to erect any structure along the entire length of banks of rivers, streams and the shores of seas and lakes and that these must be reserved for the use of public recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage.I have no idea what is

TRAVELERS and tourists going to northern Cebu will soon have a place to rest as the Department of Tourism (DOT) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two traveller's lounges called Tourist Rest Area (TRA) in the northern Cebu towns of Carmen and Medellin on Saturday morning, October 8, 2022.Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, together with Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu

OPERATION Smile is launching its new global initiative, Women in Medicine program, in the Asia region with an all-female international surgical and educational mission in Cebu City, from October 10 to 15, 2022, aimed at putting the spotlight on the critical role women play in the global healthcare system, and encouraging them to take on leadership roles in their professions."Women in Medicine" is central to our 10-year goal of increasing access to quality care for one million patients around the

GRAB Cebu public affairs manager Malou Tabar paid a courtesy visit to Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog in his office on Friday morning, October 7, 2022.The two officials discussed on how the Philippine National Police and Grab riders can help each other to curb criminality.Dalogdog thanked Tabar saying their help plays a great role in their fight against criminality.The police chief cited an example wherein a taxi driver parked his cab in front of the office of Crimin

JERWIN Ancajas failed to reclaim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight strap after a unanimous decision loss to Fernando Martinez in their rematch Sunday (PH time), Oct. 9, 2022, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.Just like in the first fight, the match was all-out action.The 30-year-old Ancajas had a strong start and fought technically, keeping the fight at a distance by using his jab.In the sixth round, Martinez started to heat up and landed some of his

NISSAN Philippines Inc. hosts its “Nissan Intelligent Mobility Tour 3.0” in Ayala Center Cebu. The showcase launched on Friday, Oct. 7 until Sunday, Oct. 9.The mall tour features the all-new Nissan Livina—the brand’s spacious seven-seater decked with the latest in advanced safety technology and build for an enjoyable drive; the Nissan Kicks e-Power—carrying a 100 percent electric motor-driven system with a gasoline engine that acts as a power generator to charge the battery of the electric motor

AROUND 1,500 public school teachers in Minglanilla town could start receiving monthly allowances from the Municipal Government starting next year.This is one of the promises made by Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad during his first State of the Town Address (Sota) on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, where he discussed his accomplishments during his first 100 days in office.Enad’s Sota also coincided with the town’s 160th founding anniversary and with National Teachers Day.Enad said the town officials decide

Cebu City residents can have their dogs and cats microchipped at an affordable rate with the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).Ivan Rey R. Tan reported in SunStar Cebu on Sept. 30, 2022, that the Cebu City Government provides a “perpetual registration” package for P600, which covers the microchip tagging, vaccines and vitamins.Microchipping does not only benefit humans but also animals. Embedded below the shoulder blade, the microchip is safe for the animal and all

NEARLY nine years after super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) pummelled northern Cebu in 2013, destroying homes in coastal and other areas, nearly 200 families in Tuburan town will now feel safer from the elements after they received new homes last month.The local government unit of Tuburan and the National Housing Authority in Central Visayas (NHA 7) turned over homes to 170 beneficiaries of the Yolanda Permanent Housing Project in Lantawan Homes, Barangay Antipolo in the northwestern Cebu town on Sep

A MAN was stabbed dead inside a waiting shed in Purok 5, Barangay Montana, Baclayon town, Bohol at past noon on Saturday, October 8, 2022.The victim was identified as 56-year-old Gaudioso Pamis, a resident of Purok 4, Barangay San Roque in the same town.The suspect was his drinking partner, 67-year-old Virgilo Talictic, a resident of Barangay Montana.According to Corporal Protacio Man-on, desk officer of the Baclayon Police Station, the two had been drinking since Friday night, October 7.Police

THE Provincial Government wants to recover two lots it donated to the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) in 1959 for violating the terms of donation.The two lots that became PC Hills are located in Barangay Apas, Cebu City. These were intended to be the site of the PC’s barracks and headquarters.With the PC gone and replaced by the Philippine National Police, PC Hills became the home of police officials and officers in the region.According to a report by Sugbo News, the official news arm of th

Engr. Rodney Orale and the rest of the board members of the Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA) didn’t expect much when they met with fellow engineer Abraham Lee to talk about a proposed football tournament. After all, Lee, the president of J.E. Abraham C. Lee Construction and & Development Corp., has already spent a lot in supporting CVFA’s Palarong Pambansa Football Bubble tournament earlier this year.But Orale and the rest of the board left the meeting smiling and in disbelief. They f

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA 7) issued an advisory to warn against a new scam on Friday, October 7, 2022.According to Leia Alcantara, PDEA 7 information officer, the family of a drug suspect recently arrested in Negros Oriental complained that a “Fiscal Angela delos Santos Reyes” had offered to drop the case against their relative if they paid her. When they did, the case was still filed.The agency learned that a “Fiscal Angela” had also victimized a family in

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 issued an advisory to warn against a new scam on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.According to Leia Alcantara, PDEA 7 information officer, the family of a drug suspect recently arrested in Negros Oriental complained that a “Fiscal Angela delos Santos Reyes” had offered to drop the case against their relative if they paid her. When they did, the case was still filed.The agency learned that a “Fiscal Angela” had also victimized a family in Region 12.“She would c

BUSINESS establishments in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu have initiated efforts to provide customers the option for digital transactions and cashless payments.In Mandaue City, around 60 stalls at the Mandaue City Public Market have started accepting payments through Gcash.In a report provided by the Mandaue City Public Information Office on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, the effort to require market stall owners at the city’s public market to go cashless began in August this year.This was in respon

RODNEY: Hi, Singlestalk. I saw you twice giving a talk. In both instances, you mentioned you’re an introvert. It’s hard to believe considering that you looked knowledgeable and confident on stage. I work in a bank. My hobbies include closing the elevator door before someone else gets in. Not much of my contribution in the branch is recognized. Perhaps not even noticeable. I was into social distancing before it became the rule. Is there a way for me to one day rise up the ranks and be like you?DJ

THE Cebu Provincial Government wants to recover two lots it donated to the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) in 1959 for violating the terms of donation.The two lots that became PC Hills are located in Barangay Apas, Cebu City. These were intended to be the sites of the PC’s barracks and headquarters.With the PC gone and replaced by the Philippine National Police, PC Hills became the home of police officials and officers in the region.According to a report by Sugbo News, the official news arm

SUROY-SUROY Sugbo, the Provincial Government’s tourism program, is back.According to the Provincial Tourism Office, the three-day Southern Heritage Trail will kick off on November 18, 2022.It will cover all towns and cities in the first, second and seventh districts.The trail will start with stops in Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy and Boljoon on the first day.On the second day, participants will visit the beaches in the towns of Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan,

THE Lapu-Lapu City Council approved during its regular session on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, a resolution urging five companies in the city that recently retrenched more than 4,000 workers to prioritize them once they recover and are able to hire workers.These are Mactan Apparels Inc., Metro Wear Inc., Globalwear Manufacturing Inc., Feeder Apparel Corp. and Vertex One Apparel Philippines Inc.The Sports City Inc., which owns the five companies at the Mactan Economic Zone, formerly known as the Mactan

CEBU FC made history by winning its first home match in the 2022 Philippines Football League (PFL) at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex with a 3-2 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo in front of a loud hometown crowd on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022.The Gentle Giants found themselves down early after a goal by Robert Lopez Mendy in the 18th minute.Mendy beat two defenders and struck past Cebu FC goalkeeper John Francis Zambrano.Kaya FC’s lead was short-lived after Mert Altinoz scored the equalizer in the 33rd