Majorette Volkswagen K70 sedan and Siku 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup






These are two Volkswagen models that were sold here briefly and seem to get lost during the times thanks to a brief run and not to many followers, but they are vastly unique and from these two brands offer a unique VW other than the typical Beetle and Bus of the time.








Majorette VW K70 Sedan

In the 1960’s Volkswagen was well-known for their reliable air-cooled models all based on the same platform, yet you can only go so far on a platform with an engine that was restricted on power.  At the same time NSU was an automaker that was running out of money despite the futuristic RO 80 and was planning to introduce a new K70 sedan to compliment it, but then Volkswagen bought the company and with the need for a new, common four-door sedan platform the NSU brand had one ready to go.  The VW K70 was born in 1970 as a new front-wheel drive, four-door sedan with the engine mounted longitudinally up front, yet unlike the Audi design the engine sits on top of the front differential instead of ahead of it, creating a taller hoodline than usual.  The setup also created a roomier interior and vast luggage space with a familiar European dashboard layout.  The engine is a water-cooled 1.6L I-4 that produced 89 horsepower through a four-speed manual transmission.  Despite the needed sedan the purchase of NSU created controversy with the relative Audi brand as it was too close to the Audi 100 model, but by 1973 the NSU platform was abandoned for the Audi-shared one known as the VW Passat.








Like the real car this Majorette casting came in two versions: one with square headlights and the other with four round headlights (the former is a rare variation).  The front seems to have a slimmer hoodline than what the real car would otherwise suggest that flows into the lower grille with horizontal center bar and VW logo, four round headlights, and a lower bumper with signal lights and foglights mounted just below the bumper.  The sides show a slimmer greenhouse with tall roofline that has plenty of windows for better visibility, large door handles, and three-spoke Majorette wheels that look good on this casting.  The rear has rectangular taillights, K70 badge to the right of the license plate, and a trailer hitch for towing, while the metal base has a working suspension to give some play value to this casting.  The doors open to an interior in crème color with seating for five, front bucket seats with shifter in the middle, and 3-spoke steering wheel with sparse dashboard layout.  This may seem like a contemporary sedan of the time period, but once you get to know the car more you start to appreciate the casting, especially in this metallic blue color.









Siku 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup

On the other side is Volkswagen’s foray into making VW Golf or Rabbit spin-offs and one that was a brief shot was the pickup truck.  Unlike other pickup trucks this one is a uni-body design that uses the front clip of a Volkswagen Golf, but at the back there is a pickup bed and a tailgate with VOLKSWAGEN going across it.  Problem was this car was not suited for typical heavy loads that a normal pickup would endure so this was not a sales success in the U.S., while in other countries the pickup, also called the VW Caddy, moved to a tall panel van profile that better suited the use of the model.  Engines include a 1.5L SOHC gas I-4 or a 1.7L SOHC diesel I-4 that produces an estimated range of 65-95 horsepower through a four-speed manual or five-speed on the diesel motor.









For a time Siku was the only brand to make the Rabbit pickup and had great success and secondary models are not easy to come by on the cheap.  Use was limited to a few colors, a Coke version, and even one with a camper top over the bed.  The front has a bold grille with VW logo, large flush headlights, and lower bumper with center license plate that is part of the metal base.  The sides show a rather tall greenhouse and a smooth, flush look to the bed and cab while sitting on multi-spoke Siku wheels, while the rear has tri-taillights, VOLKSWAGEN stamped in red on the tailgate, and a trailer hitch for towing; or you can use the spacious cargo bed where the bed floor is part of the interior piece.  The base does not show much except for the usual Siku vehicle specifications, while the interior has two bucket seats, a floor shifter, and steering wheel with paper thin dashboard in white.  It’s a basic casting, yet being the only one of its kind in this scale range for years has the advantage and even with the Hot Wheels version this Siku keeps the stock look with the mid-cycle front-end update.





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