This 1987 Volkswagen Scirocco is the desirable 16-valve spec model, which the seller is listing for sale on behalf of the longtime family owners. As he tells it, the car was bought ages ago by a deceased member of the family and when the timing belt went, the car was put on blocks, awaiting repair. That never happened until the family hired the seller to refresh the car and prepare it for sale; now, it’s listed here on eBay with an opening bid of $9,000 and no bids as of yet.
I have a love-hate relationship with the Scirocco. It was a fantasy car of mine for years (weird, I know) but I blame it on having a ripped-out magazine advertisement of one on my closet door as a kid. It was a car I always wanted to drive – until I got my hands on one. I figured out pretty quickly there’s a reason I don’t own much in the way of buzzy, four-cylinder cars. The Scirocco was certainly eager, but it also felt nervous, like it was about ready to have a panic attack every time you approached red line. Long story short, it didn’t strike me as the streetracer special the marketing hyped it up to be.
These days, finding a clean 16V in any condition is a challenge; finding one with no modifications and a spotless interior is akin to the proverbial needle in a haystack. The benefit to this car being off the road for so many years is that it didn’t fall into the hands of a teenage driver hell bent on modifying it into oblivion. Still, the seller had to address the aftermath of a failed timing belt on an interference engine, which involved rebuilding the head with new valves, seals, and gaskets, along with flushing the fuel system and updating the major cooling system components.
“Teardrop”-style alloy wheels were standard equipment on the 16 valve models, and while they left the factory with a polished (or machined) finish, most of them have gone flat. It’s still a good looking wheel, enhanced by the factory fender flares that came on the high performance model. Mileage is low at under 80,000 and there’s no obvious signs of rust or rot. The opening bid is reasonable enough with where these have been selling lately, but I didn’t make out all that well with mine when it came time to sell. It’s a narrow market that wants to spend real money on one of these, so you have to bank on yours being the best to make out.
I’m a VW guy but I’m not sure I see 9k here. I’m sure someone will set me straight though. Lol
Low mileage 16V Scirocco will bring good money. Another silver one sold on BaT a couple years back in the mid 20’s
Examples like this, that haven’t been completely destroyed by some hyperactive 20 year old who thinks he’s too sophisticated to just ruin an old Honda Civic like everybody else are becoming extremely rare. I think this one would clean up nicely.
Not sure I’d lay out nine bills on this either, but these were dandy little rides. I wasn’t racked by the eight-valve cars, but when VW put the hotter engine under the hood, it changed the Scirocco’s character completely.
I’m a bit confused, though. Every timing belt failure I’ve seen on interference engines resulted in piston damage as well as bent/broken valves. I’d want some reassurance on that score before I’d even talk to them about money.
Sodium filled valves usually don’t destroy piston tops on these (and I’ve seen em go at hiway speeds) they bend and deflect very quickly. New valves and seats maybe a surface and should be good
Yes I was wondering the same thing. I lost a timing belt on a 2002 Subaru Outback and I was left with a 3,500 pound paper weight. Hopefully, the incident didn’t leave any damage to the pistons!
Usually no damage to the bottom end and with the valve angle arrangement usually all 8 intake valves take the hit. I have a head sitting on my workbench.
If this website is to be believed the 16V petrol engine is not an interference engine.
http://yourcarangel.com/2014/07/interference-engines-complete-list/
I can guarantee that is incorrect. If the belt breaks usually all intake valves get bent. I can provide a picture to back this up.
@ alphasud:
No need to supply pictures. I take your word for it. I doubt if anyone would mis-remember such an experience.
That was a haaaaarrrrd 78k miles.
Guigiaro designed the Scirocco, as well as the 80’s Isuzu Impulse and a few other cars, they all look alike.Some in mint condition command a high price.
Giugiaro only designed the Mk1 Scirocco, and there’s some lore that his Asso di Fiori concept may have been conceived as a proposal for the Mk2, but VW already had their own design (this one) in the works, so he reworked it slightly to fit the GM T-platform (Chevette) used by Isuzu for their Gemini model, thereby becoming the first-gen Isuzu Piazza/Impulse.
Those US bumpers….
…are hideous indeed, but fortunately easier to change than in most cars. This was my teenage years car and it’s very user friendly, easy to work on. Cool body work but there are better hothatches imo.
“Bought be a deceased member of the family”. More likely a now—deceased member. Lol
I had a mk1 scirroco, loved that car, made lots of memories…but I was never a fan of the mk2. And I have a mk4 GTI that is a blast to drive around, and it only cost me 5k with 83k miles on it.
I would love to find a nice mk1 someday …….
Bought a silver 16V when I was 25 yo. from New Milford VW dealer. Best car I ever owned. Remember to change timing belt every 60K. Dealer did the first one to keep 100K warranty but I did all the rest till 240K miles. Had the new timing belt on hand when it snapped coming down an exit ramp. Had the head rebuilt and put on another 35K miles before selling it to a kid. I don’t know what the author is talking, about mine always pulled to redline and beyond super smooth. I would seriously consider this if it weren’t a sunroof car. Mine wasn’t which was rare. Would jump on a MK 1 Sirocco.
when I had my mk1, the “thing” was the Ottinger [spelling?] 16v conversion. I wanted one bad but I was young and had little discretionary funds. Then had a waterpump fail on my way to work one morning and unfortunately overheated it.
My brother and I pulled the head, I took it to a VW shop and had it cleaned up and a “Clauds Buggy’s” cam put in it, and put a header and a Monza [Pacesetter] exhaust on it. this was when the GTI’s just came out with the snowflake wheels, I tried to find a set but never did, so I just ran the oe 13’s with Pirelli 205/60/13 P6’s
man i loved that thing …..