Ratty Rescue: Mean Green Mystery Machine

When searching for Ratty Rescue candidates, I come across some interesting finds. Every once in a while one pops up that has me ready to jump on a plane to buy the car on-the-spot. This 1993 Passat GLX wagon is one of those cars. Like any really interesting older car, this one is a bit of a mystery. And it brings up many questions.

Question #1: Why is this a Ratty Rescue?
I dunno. It’s not at all ratty. It’s actually incredibly clean. It runs. It has all its parts. But best of all, it has quite a low price. Best of all, it can be kept bone stock, or it’s a blank canvas for any wagon enthusiast. If you liked this week’s Find Of The Day, here’s a perfect slammed-wagon starter-kit.

Question #2: What’s mysterious about this car?
Take a look at the photos. Looks pretty clean, right? Perhaps too clean? Read the ad to find out more while I call Scully and Mulder to investigate (Ha: 90s reference!). The story involves a car auction, a not-really-serious-but-kind-of-serious bid, a pilot, and a bunch of elbow grease.

[See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com]

Question #3: What’s under the hood?
Six narrow-angle cylinders of smooth torquey power.

Question #4: Transmission?
Yes, it has one. Specifically a 5-speed manual transmission.

Question #5: What’s wrong with it?
It’s not parked in my driveway. Thank goodness it’s essentially all the way across the country in Beaver, Oregon.

Question #6: How many miles?
282,000. Or less. Maybe way less. Read the ad! It’s a mystery!

Question #7: Is it modified?
Yes, but no. The seller, VWVortex member GreasySideDown, pulled the tan leather interior and replaced it with black leather from a 1997 wagon. He replaced everything; seats, plastics, door cards. A VCDS port has been added. That’s about it. The rest is all stock. Full disclosure: I wish the tan leather was still in place. It’s the perfect color for the 90s-perfection hunter green metallic paint.

Question #8: Ugh, it has those annoying power retracting seat belts, doesn’t it?
Nope! GreasySideDown swapped those out too.

Question #9: How much?
$3500 or best offer.

Last question: Anything else?
GreasySideDown also has an airlift suspension for the car.

Read the mysterious story in our classifieds. If you buy it, promise to let me take it for a spin.

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