Boy, does this bring me back. This 1985 Volkswagen Scirocco hasn’t been driven in 8 years and yet appears to have been a well-loved example prior to being parked. I owned a 1988 16V – briefly – before moving on quickly (more on that later), but it seems I was the exception as most everyone who owns or has owned one of these German hot hatches truly loved the low-slung coupe. This one supposedly had its engine rebuilt prior to being parked and sports some other nice details that make it more compelling as a project. Find it here on craigslist for $4,500 in San Diego.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony P. for the find. The Scirocco was an interesting ying to the GTI’s yang, and it’s understandable if it makes you yearn for the day when an automotive manufacturer had more than one sporty car in its lineup. In fact, throw in the 16 valve-powered Jetta GLI, and you can see why so many VW enthusiasts cite the MK2 era as one of the best. The Scirocco was a front-driver with a few different four-cylinder powerplant options and striking styling (for an entry-level car, anyway) by none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro. In what a very period-correct choice, this Scirocco rides on minty Fittipaldi wheels and a lowered Eibach suspension.
The Scirocco I owned had the more powerful 16 valve engine, but for some reason, it just didn’t match my expectations of the car. The powerplant felt coarse and the car felt very tinny, with no redeeming qualities in either the speed or handling categories. However, I appeared to be in the minority, as plenty of other drivers seemed to love wringing the car out. It did come with very supportive bucket seats, as shown here, and the seller of this car has also sourced (likely back in the 90s, when still available) some OEM Scirocco floor mats, which will surely make VW enthusiasts happy (as someone who adored this brand back in the 90s, OEM accessories are very sought-after). That’s the best part about buying a car taken off the road several years ago: it can sometimes remains in a state of preservation, if properly stored.
Given this isn’t a 16 valve, I believe this engine produces just under 100 horsepower, and just about the same number for torque. Though not particularly quick, the Scirocco was much like the MK1 GTI in that it felt much faster than it was, owing to its limited form factor and eager driving dynamics. The seller has smartly removed the battery for long-term storage, so the battery tray appears to be in mint condition. He credits a well-known local shop for rebuilding the engine before it went into storage, but you’ll still need to do the requisite fuel system clean-out and other tune-up work associated with reviving a long-dormant car. Did you own a Scirocco back in the day?
If this actually runs as good as it looks it’d be another good one and for a 45 year old commuter it looks pretty decent!
Lose the bumpers, though-the Eurospec version was much better looking.
Up to just recently I’ve been coming in 2nd to a very fast Scirocco on the race track. He moved up to the next level class so now I only have a Cabriolet left that I know I can beat. Those engines are really strong and I’ve never seen one come apart. Nice car here.
Didn’t see many Sciroccos, a Rabbit/Golf on steroids, in Beer City. I remember the early ones with one wiper, I thought was cool, and correct me, that motor looks awful similar to the early K car motors? In fact,I think my Plymouth 4 cyl. turbo mini van had a “VW” on the cylinder head. Oddly, the VW motor here is an interference motor, while the Chrysler was not. That alone would keep me away, but I bet a blast to drive.
This was not an interference motor, only the 16 valve was.
I had 2 16 valves (one swapped 2.0 block) and loved them both. Just needs euro bumpers to make it look much better.
Giugiaro only designed the Mk1 Scirocco, not these Mk2s.
Lore has it he was working up a proposal to offer for a Mk2 Scirocco when he found out VW already had their own design in the works, so he pivoted his work-in-progress on that to a contract with Isuzu to design a successor for their 117 Coupe (which he’d also designed), coming to fruition as the first-gen Isuzu Piazza (rebadged as the Impulse for the American market).
Had a mk1 ’78 scirocco back when it and I were much younger. Was an absolute scream to drive and the epitome of the idiom, “it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow”. Rarely have I driven to this day a car that felt as much like a living thing. Still miss it.
I too had a 78 Mk1, man I loved that car
I lost it to a construction site electrical distribution box that came off the back of a semi trailer as I was on an interstate entrance ramp in 1987. :-(
That box was as big as the Scirocco
i had an ’81 Mk I S which was a blast to drive, so much fun, and like others have commented, miss it to this day.
Before I bought my 78 4speed, I test drove a red 81 S 5speed. The guy had it all fat tired up, but told me when I looked at it that the tires were going to his buddy, so I passed on that one, another one I regret not buying
Nice VW! I had a 1985 GTI that I regretted selling 1 minute after the guy drove away. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! If I was closer, I would definitely take a look.
Get it running first so’s a buyer can drive it away. Buyers are expected to overpay for the risk they’re taking.
I’ve worked on and owned both, and thought the K-car engine was, more or less, a copy of the V.W. Rabbit engine.