[Vwdiesel] Leaking front seal?

[Chance Vought]

A friend and I went and took a look at an 81 caddy.  The front engine
seal looks like it had a catastrophic failure.  Oil was just dumping
out while it ran.  The owner said it just let go on his way home from
work.  What would cause something like this?  Bad crank bearings?
Or, it just happens?  The engine sounds good.

Chance
85 VW Golf 1.6 NA
http://www.rhinocat.com/~cvaf4u