What bumper's were on the 1979? Did they have the 5 mph bumper "shock absorber" type assemblies like the 1981 units? I had a 1975 Scirocco that didn't have those bumpers. When did they change that?

The chassis is the same, but some of the external parts are different Brake light assemblies or round vs square headlights are a difference, but the only real potential issues are "carb vs F.I."