WHAT IS IT?
True story, the Porsche 924 was supposed to be VW/Audi’s new sports car. They dumped it at the last minute in favor of this. The VW Scirocco was essentially the replacement for the Karmann-Ghia, and as such, it really did follow the precedent set by that car. Whereas the Karmann-Ghia was a Beetle in an Italian suit, the Scirocco was a MK 1 Golf in an Italian suit. Styled by the brilliant Giorgetto Giugiaro, the original Scirocco was one of the prettiest wedges of the 1970s. They were inexpensive, practical daily drivers, and their brilliance wasn’t fully appreciated when they were only “used cars,” so their attrition rate was nearly 100%.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
Like so many disposable cars of this era, it gets a leg up just by virtue of its survival. But it gets better than that–it’s an early car with chrome bumpers, and it appears to be a combination of nicely preserved, and sympathetic restoration. It looks splendid in its metallic gold (with steel wheels and a second set of OEM alloys), and a caramel interior. The underside looks very clean, and the car shows just 68,000 kilometers (around 40,000 miles). MK 1 Sciroccos of any stripe are rare, but to see one this beautifully presented, you’d have to go to Autostadt in Wolfsburg, and having seen their MK 1 Scirocco, I think this one is better.
Styled by the brilliant Giorgetto Giugiaro, the original Scirocco was one of the prettiest wedges of the 1970s.
THE VERDICT
(Delivered by Juror Lyn Woodward)
I’m normally a fan of the later gens when I was a teen in the 1980s and craving every car I could not afford. But the OG has a special place in the pantheon of cars little Lyn loved. Giugiaro designed this in his affordable wedge phase, and this one looks so clean it could be fresh off the factory floor today. Ranking this as the Best One on the Planet is a breeze. (Get it? Scirocco? Wind? Get it? Ugh.)
Best on the Planet April 20, 2025 – Present
I’m normally a fan of the later gens when I was a teen in the 1980s and craving every car I could not afford. But the OG has a special place in the pantheon of cars little Lyn loved. Giugiaro designed this in his affordable wedge phase and this one looks so clean it could be fresh off the factory floor today. Ranking this as the Best One On the Planet is a breeze. (Get it? Scirocco? Wind? Get it? Ugh.)
This is the best example of a first gen I have seen since they were new. It gets my vote
I think we have a winner here. BOOTP!
I actually think I saw this very car on display last September at Autostadt, the VW Group’s sprawling Wolfsbug complex. They were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Scirocco. It looks amazing in these colors and in Euro ride height. While the car was clearly restored, it is nonetheless spectacular. It has to be the best ’77 in this spec extant.
This is in wondrous condition, and the fact that there’s a cellphone holder suggests it’s still being driven! Love it.