WHAT IS IT?
The Scirocco was the successor to the Karmann-Ghia and it followed the same formula. Whereas the K-G was a Beetle in a fancy Italian suite, the MK 1 Scirocco was a Golf in a Giugiaro-designed wedgy Italian suit. The MK 2 Scirocco was styled in-house, and many actually prefer it to the Ital Design-styled MK 1. The MK 2 had a relatively long production run with tons of sub-models, but this is a first-year, 1600 cc model that in European trim, made a healthy 110 horsepower.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
These were relatively inexpensive, disposable sport coupes. Nobody saved them and outside of the occasional example popping up at RADwood, they’re almost extinct in the U.S. The metallic silver paint on this example looks gorgeous as do the engine compartment and underside. This one has clearly never seen rain, or even a dirt road, but the thing that makes this one absolutely irresistible is the GREEN interior. As in green dash, green houndstooth seats and great carpets, something clearly never offered in the U.S. And, it’s just perfect. With just over 11,000 miles on the odo, this one appears unrepeatable. At around $25,000 U.S., it ain’t cheap, but as we’re fond of saying, find another.
This one has clearly never seen rain, or a even a dirt road, but the thing that makes this one absolutely irresistible is the GREEN interior. As in green dash, green houndstooth seats and great carpets
THE VERDICT (Delivered by Jurors Bryan Joslin and Alan Galbraith)
“This one is absolutely a museum quality specimen. Good luck finding a better one.”- Bryan Joslin
“These were all used up and thrown away. So to see one in this condition, at any price, is rare. I can’t imagine a better one anywhere on the planet.”- Alan Galbraith
Rob is on the money with this one. Super-low mileage like that (<11,000 miles) is unheard of on these cars, and the condition is as minty as the carpet. That whole green get-up on the inside of this Euro-spec example is fantastic. In fact, it’s low-key giving Porsche 928 vibes. It’s certainly far more expressive than any of the boring black or tan options VWoA offered. It’s only too bad they’re the standard seats an not the nicer, form-fitting sport buckets.
Although basic by comparison to the later, more aggressively styled Scirocco16V most enthusiasts know and prefer, the purity of the design really shows through on this stripped-down early model. There’s not even a passenger-side mirror – it looks almost like a concept car.
The 1.6L 8-valve powertrain, likewise, seems lackluster compared to the later 1.8 16V, but it’s essentially the same engine that made the first-gen Golf GTI an icon. The “4+E” 5-speed gearbox is efficient if not lively. This would still be a great car to drive, if it weren’t such a museum-quality specimen. Good luck finding a better one.
Bryan, you’re spot on with the concept car comparison, it’s amazing how elegant this little car is with the RoW bumpers and headlights and the lack of a passenger side mirror. I love this car. It almost reminds me of a 1/3 the price German Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato.
How would you like your job to have been getting the plastic, carpet and upholstery suppliers to make juuuuuust the right shade of green to match each other? Because someone had to do that, and they did a pretty good job. With only 11K miles and what looks like not a lot of sun fading, those colors are still true today. So kudos.
These were all used up and thrown away. So to see one in this condition, at any price, is rare. I can’t imagine a better one anywhere on the planet.
This car is just stunning. Just the best on the planet? Solar system? Galaxy?
I’m in full agreement with Bryan’s expert commentary here, and dyin’ over Alan’s observation as to the degree of difficulty in getting all of the different interiors to match the same lurid shade of green.