Volkswagen Fox Facts
All Fox
  • Giorgetto Giugiaro had a hand in the design of the Fox. "The Volkswagen Buyer's Guide" implies that he was involved with the entire design. "Road and Track", in its first review of the Fox, credit him with only the design of the interior .
  • The Fox was available in North America from 1987 to 1993.
  • The Fox was not available in Europe.
  • All Foxes were built in Brazil.
  • The Fox Platform is BX. It is unique to the Fox.
  • The Fox is Front Wheel Drive.
  • All Foxes came with 8 valve, 1.8 litre SOHC gasoline engines.
  • The engine is mounted longitudinally (North/South) as opposed to transversely (East/West) in the Rabbit, Golf and Jetta.
  • There were a variety of Fox models. Fox, Fox GL, Fox Wolfsburg, Fox GL Sport, Fox GLS, Fox GTS. There was even a Fox Polo.
  • The GTS was available in Canada.
  • The Fox Wolfsburg was not built in Wolfsburg. It was the name of an option package.
  • All Foxes came with hydraulic lifters.
  • All Foxes came with manual transmissions.
  • The Fox was initially only offered with a 4 speed transmission.
  • 5 speeds became available on GL Sport models in late 1988.
  • An opening and removable tinted glass sunroof became a factory option in 1989.
  • A passive restraint system was used on US models from 1990. It consisted of door mounted shoulder belts that provide protection automatically (not motorized) when the doors are closed, separate lap belts and a knee bar. As well, the starter was equipped with an interlock relay that required the belts be buckled before the engine will start.
  • The cars built without the knee bar have a cavernous glove box. A foot deep at the bottom. About 16 inches deep at the middle.
  • Foxes were not equipped with Wide Open Throttle switches.
  • Knock sensors were not used on the low compression engines.
  • The exhaust system was fitted with a restrictive gasket between the downpipe and catalytic converter. Replacing this "donut" with the larger gasket frees up 4-5 HP.
  • There are three "parts bin" upgrades for the exhaust. A dual outlet manifold was used on the Audi Fox and VW Dasher. A second manifold was used on the early Audi 4000 (Available from Techtonics.). And a third was used on the Audi 80.  Downpipes for the Audi Fox/VW Dasher manifold and the Audi 4000 manifold are available from Techtonics. The Audi 80, which has the largest runners, would require a custom downpipe.
  • The Fox intake manifold flows quite well. It has longer runners than that used on other VW of the day. Often racers with A1 cars use a Fox manifold.
  • All Fox intake manifolds will accept the larger throttle body.
  • There seems to be no difference between the CIS intake manifolds and the Digifant intake manifolds other than an extra vacuum line.
  • The dipsticks are interchangeable between the late and early Foxes. The 91-93 dipstick  has a plastic handle.
  • The 3 point rear belts can be easily retrofitted into Foxes that were equipped with only rear lap belts.
  • There are real switches that can replace the blanks at the bottom on each side of the instrument cluster. For the left side there is a Fog Light Switch (307 941 535 3) and for the right there is a Rear Windscreen Heater Switch (not the electric defogger) (307 959 621 1).
  • VW made a cast aluminum oil pan that will fit the Fox. It is made of three pieces, has baffles and cooling fins. The part number is 049 103 603E. It was used on the B1 Passat GLi and the Audi 80 GTe.
  • Base models have a narrow side trim. The GL models have wide trim with a white stripe. Except 1990 GL cars, which have wide all black trim.
  • Lisa Kubo's first drag car was a Fox. She is one of the fastest sport compact drag racers.
  • In 1987, Albert Klein logged the 1,000,000th mile on his 1963 Beetle. He was given a brand new Fox.
Fox I (1987 to 1990)
  • Fox I was available as a Two Door Sedan, a Four Door Sedan and a Three Door Wagon.
  • Factory rated 81 HP @ 5500 RPM.
  • Factory rated 93 ft lbs @ 3250 RPM.
  • Fox I used CIS-E engine management system. 1987 and some 1988 Canadian Models were  equipped with CIS (No E).
  • Fox I's came with small valves in the head.
  • All the early Foxes came with a small throttle body. 36 mm Primary and 44 mm Secondary.
  • K&N makes a filter for the CIS-E Foxes.
  • The rev limiter is easily removed on the CIS-E Foxes by replacing the fuel pump relay with VW Part Number 321 906 059F. 
  • Brass Injectors from a Mercedes Benz 190E can be used.
  • The front turn signals on the 1987-1990 Fox are the same as those used on the VW Cabriolet with the small metal bumpers.
  • The GL and GL Sport came with a black panels between the tail lights. The base Fox did not.
Fox II (1991-1993)
  • When the Fox was re-designed in 1991 (Fox II), the Wagon was dropped from the line-up in North America.
  • Engine management was changed to Digifant II. In California, Digifant I was used.
  • Later Foxes came with a larger throttle body. 52 mm secondary.
  • Later Foxes had the large valve head.
  • Factory rated 81 HP @5500 RPM.
  • Factory rated 93 ft lbs @ 3250 RPM.
  • No drop in K&N Filter. Though an open element cone filter can be fitted.
  • Rev limiter is not removable.
Fox Wagon Trivia
  • The Wagon was  available in the US  for 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.
  • The Wagon was only available in Canada  for 1987, 1988 and 1989.
  • The Wagon was not sold in Canada in 1990.
  • The 1987 and some 1988 Wagons did not have a hatch (tonneau) cover. Some 1988 and all later wagons came with the hatch cover.
  • The hatch cover can be installed in early cars. All the necessary holes and bosses are present.
  • Some early Wagons (1987 & 88) came with armrests and built in speakers in the rear passenger area. Some did not.
  • The 1987 and 1988 models had only lap belts in the rear.
  • The 1989 and 1990 Wagons had three point seat belts for the rear passenger.
  • The 3-point rear seat belts from later Wagons can be fitted in earlier Wagons. All the needed mounting points are present in the vehicle.
  • The Wagon has 200mm (7.9 inches) rear brakes. The Sedan 180 mm (7.1 inches).
  • The rear springs on a wagon are about 5 1/4 inches in diameter.
  • The Wagon is .9 inches wider than the Sedan.
  • The Wagon is .8 inches taller than the Sedan.
  • The even though the Wagon is taller and wider it has the same wheelbase, track and overall length as the Sedan.
  • Practically all Wagons came with a 4 speed transmission. A few (perhaps 10) were available in Canada with a 5 speed.
  • No Wagons came with a factory installed tachometer.
  • Hardly a scientific measure, but the car tipped the scales at the transfer station at 1070 kg (2360 lbs.). That was with 5/8 of a tank of gas, the rear seat and the child seat in the car, and the driver. I would think getting the car down to one ton should not be too difficult.
  • In Brazil the Wagon was known as the Parati, and was in production for many years.

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