In great shape for a 30yr old car. While ours up were 16valve 1.8’s, this one looks more like a 1.6 or a regular 1.8 (or a diesel) based on the smaller wheels. I don’t recall ever seeing one of these without black moldings instead of body color (until the refresh with the grille and VR6 option). Perhaps this one has been repainted but that periwinkle color looks like a correct VW color of the era. In any case, a good find, these seem pretty much extinct around here.
Ah, but they indeed were! There was a weird little interlude where a small handful of these turned up in perhaps 1990 or so. I know because my mate was a Passat tragic back when, and alerted my attentions – without invitation – to them. From (failing) memory, mostly 1.8’s, but handful of VR6’s too. There were definitely some defenestrated Golf Gti’s from about that time, so I’d presume it was either in the last gaspings of LNC or whoever bought the charred remains of VW Oz from them.
This generation was ubiquitous at one point in Portugal, mostly as cheap used imports from Germany.
Now it’s pretty much vanished from the roads. The successor B4 was never common in the first place.
Now it’s the B5 that is dangerously in beater territory, even though there are still some pampered examples.
The only late 80’s German cars that never seem to vanish are W201 Mercedes.
That’s the only generation not sold in Brazil, and how odd it looks if compared to its previous and following models. It really looks from a parallel universe, the whole body is more Volvo than VW, but that front end makes him funnier and even younger than the Jetta-Vento and Golf III. Curiously the next Passat return to basic VW identity, it’s rear end looks like an evolution of the rear end of the Brazilian Santana GLS and its front looks like an evolution of the VW Logus snout.
In great shape for a 30yr old car. While ours up were 16valve 1.8’s, this one looks more like a 1.6 or a regular 1.8 (or a diesel) based on the smaller wheels. I don’t recall ever seeing one of these without black moldings instead of body color (until the refresh with the grille and VR6 option). Perhaps this one has been repainted but that periwinkle color looks like a correct VW color of the era. In any case, a good find, these seem pretty much extinct around here.
Ours (North America) were 2.0 16Vs, a state of the art engine in its day. Owned a high-mileage ’91 wagon with 5-speed manual, which gave fine performance and fuel economy. Paul N covered these thoroughly: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1990-vw-passat-wagon-b3-practicality-uber-alles/
Always liked how the snub nose on these recalled the old air cooled, rear engined Veedubs. And a good looking sedan regardless.
This was the only generation of Passat that was not offered in Australia. I always liked the design of this model.
Ah, but they indeed were! There was a weird little interlude where a small handful of these turned up in perhaps 1990 or so. I know because my mate was a Passat tragic back when, and alerted my attentions – without invitation – to them. From (failing) memory, mostly 1.8’s, but handful of VR6’s too. There were definitely some defenestrated Golf Gti’s from about that time, so I’d presume it was either in the last gaspings of LNC or whoever bought the charred remains of VW Oz from them.
This generation was ubiquitous at one point in Portugal, mostly as cheap used imports from Germany.
Now it’s pretty much vanished from the roads. The successor B4 was never common in the first place.
Now it’s the B5 that is dangerously in beater territory, even though there are still some pampered examples.
The only late 80’s German cars that never seem to vanish are W201 Mercedes.
That’s the only generation not sold in Brazil, and how odd it looks if compared to its previous and following models. It really looks from a parallel universe, the whole body is more Volvo than VW, but that front end makes him funnier and even younger than the Jetta-Vento and Golf III. Curiously the next Passat return to basic VW identity, it’s rear end looks like an evolution of the rear end of the Brazilian Santana GLS and its front looks like an evolution of the VW Logus snout.