(first posted 2/3/2014) Volkswagen has endlessly tried (and still is) to replicate the brilliant success of the gen1 Scirocco. Ironic too, since they can’t really take full credit for its existence. Success has many fathers, but VW’s paternity is limited to lending its new Golf’s genes; a sperm donor of sorts. It took a bit more to actually develop and put the Scirocco into production, some major risk taking on the part of its progenitors. The result was well worth it.
The Scirocco is one of the most compelling examples of how the world was very different then: while Detroit was padding vinyl for landau roofs and Broughams, the Europeans were folding steel into some of the most brilliant designs ever. At least some of them made it here, thankfully. In the case of the Scirocco, it was a close call.
We covered VW’s protracted labors that finally birthed the Golf here. What is often lost in that story is how the Scirocco came to be, or almost didn’t. Giorgetto Giugiaro had the contract to design the original Golf, and approached VW’s board about a sporty coupe version. Given that he already had a very similarly sized coupe on the drawing boards for Alfa, the Alfasud Sprint, that certainly made sense. And as timeless a beauty the Karman Ghia was, Karman certainly saw the light at the end of that tunnel.
According to this (German language) source, the VW board turned down the sporty coupe proposal, given the company’s very precarious state at the time. And accordingly, Karmann fully took on the risk and investment of the Scirocco’s development costs. Karmann did need to keep their factory humming, which was always a challenge that finally overtook the firm in 2009. Since its bankruptcy, it’s a de-facto protectorate of VW. And now VW owns Giugiaro’s Ital Design. The days of the small independents is waning. But in 1974, the results were brilliant.
Another little detail that’s often overlooked too is that the original European Scirocco had large rectangular headlights (except the top-level TS model), perhaps to distinguish it a bit from the very similar Alfasud Sprint? Or too replicate the Passat’s look? But the most significant of the Scirocco’s milestones is that it appeared some six months before its donor Golf, in Europe anyway.
I remember vividly reading auto motor und sport’s excited review of the new Scirocco, not so much for what it was on its own terms, but in that it was the ultimate sneak preview of the upcoming Golf, itself the most anticipated car of the times. And the press was most encouraging indeed: the Scirocco’s superb handling qualities were there from day one, even if its full performance potential was still a couple of years off. Although for the times, it was already brisk.
I don’t remember ams using the Das Skateboard to describe the Scirocco’s love of carving, but it seems that everyone ever since has. Is there another competitor to having that analogy used so consistently? It does it justice, especially from the perspective of the times. The whole “hot-hatch” segment hadn’t really been properly birthed yet, and except for the original Mini’s inadvertent handling prowess and perhaps the Fiat 128, most FWD small cars up to that point were more about practicality, function and even comfort, like the Simca 1204. Of course there were exceptions, like the Saab Sonnet, but that was hardly mainstream.
The Scirocco previewed the Golf formula, that would soon be replicated endlessly across the globe: struts in front, a twist-beam semi-independent rear suspension with coils, and of course the transverse engine-transmission layout. Lower the body (and center of gravity) a bit, stir in a dash of suspension firmness, and you have a skateboard. Just supply a bit of extra kick, unless you had the right engine available. In Europe, there were always choices. In the US, not so much so.
If you had strong (European) legs, you could get a Scirocco with the 50 hp 1.1 L EA111 four from Audi 50. The EA827 was available in 70 and 85 hp 1.5 L trims, the top version being reserved for the TS model, which also carried the tell-tale round headlights. The 85 hp was pretty zingy for the times (0-60 in 11.0 sec) , and a nice preview of coming (GTI) attractions. In the US, only the 70 hp version made the EPA cut, with its problematic carburetor. That makes the ’75 versions less than ideal. Road & Track’s ’75 took 12.7 seconds for the zero to sixty. But help was just a phone call to Robert Bosch away.
A larger 1588 cc engine fitted with the injection not only upped the rating ti 76 hp, but made a world of difference in its driveability. The Scirocco had arrived, and it arrived at sixty in 10.5 seconds (Road Test). Pretty heady stuff for the times, considering that while German cars were improving their performance in the mid-late seventies, American cars were totally losing theirs.
Unfortunately, the brilliant 110 hp European GTI version of the 1.6 motor, that appeared in the Scirocco for the 1977 MY (over there), never made it stateside. It has to be the ultimate VW of that whole era. We paid quite a price for our clean air, and when the Federalized 1.8 L GTI finally appeared with all of 90 hp, it was too late for the gen 1 Scirocco, which ended its career with the 1981 MY.
Of course, that’s all largely irrelevant now, since EA827 swaps of every possible permutation have been SOP for VW enthusiasts for decades. This particular Scirocco (the bronze one) has a 1.8 SOHC, and with a few mods to give it a nice snarl but its a totally tractable daily driver. The enthusiasm for these cars is still high, but its low roof makes it something I’m now more inclined to enjoy mentally from the outside. That gives quite a bit of scope, as I never get tired of letting my eyes glide over the lines of that superb folded-origami style that Giugiario perfected. That’s hardly the the case for its less-loved successor Mk2 (designed by VW itself). Some things are just irreplaceable.
This was an abolutely beautiful car. So simple and done so well. The only thing I would have changed if I could would be the amount of front overhang.
One of my roommates in Colorado had one his parents bought him back in 1978. It seemed to me at the time to be an expensive car he had some problems with regarding it’s transmission. My other roommate at the time had a Saab sedan, so considering my old Valiant roots, both cars were heads and shoulders above what I experienced on the road. Both the Scirocco and the Saab were outstanding vehicles, especially for racing around the back roads of the Rockies.
I was especially shocked at how roomy and breezy the little VW was. With the huge sun roof, racing around on a sunny day was “geil”.
A beautiful car that VW wasn’t had much success replicating.
If I had a minor quibble about the styling, it would be the rear hatch lip & tail light design. In comparison to the real fluidity/gracefulness/lightness of the overall design, the rear always looked a little rectangular and heavy to me.
In the same vein, I think the round double headlights in the North American version look better than the rectangular European units.
My college roommate had one in the early 80’s (probably a 79′ or so). It was one sexy ride and a kick to drive.
Road Test Magazine’s first test (1975) of the Rabbit and Scirocco concluded that the Rabbit offered better handling. Their Rabbit had higher cornering limits and was more controllable due to a better driving position. The Scirocco, ironically, got better gas mileage, if I recall correctly.
I miss Road Test magazine. They had the courage to call the Mercedes Benz 450SLC a “Mercedes Thunderbird”, or to compare a Rolls Royce, unfavourably, to a Pontiac, during the same period that Road and Track was getting all dizzy and breathless in its praise for the Chevy Monza
Someone here in Tawas has one almost identical to this one. It shows up around town every summer. It’s a sharp little ride…
My first car was a 1980 Scirocco. God I loved that car. I want to find another one someday, but put in a proper modern engine and transmission.
When I was about 9 or 10 there were no Sciroccos anywhere to be seen. But there where rumors. Us boys being fans of German cars were sure to spot out every Bug and Rabbit around. One day we saw a Scirocco in a parking lot. We nearly bowed before it in auto-adoration.
Much later in life I finally owned a Scirocco. I did all sorts of mods and upgrades to it. It was a great car and most of my most frightening driving moments happened in it.
I will never forget rounding a 90 degree, 25mph corner at about 60mph and the look I saw on my friend’s face. I was showing off as usual and came into the corner far to fast. By the time I realized that fact it was far to late. As we started to plow strait toward the curb I looked over and saw my friend in the passenger seat. he was holding onto the dash with white knuckles and his face was the color of this webpage. I knew I was going to strike the curb but decided to try and power out anyways. I pointed the front wheels the direction I wanted to go and planted the gas pedal. To our shock we missed the curb, must have been by an inch. The tail swung around and kissed the curb and then swung back, I counter steered, pedal still floored and we came out strait and alive.
I drove that car until it began to smoke like a Siberian chimney and then I traded it strait across for a rusty 1968 IH Scout. I still love that car, but I would never buy another.
I always wanted a ’79 Scirocco, never got one, but I did buy a new 1987 16v Scirocco. A really great driving experience, IMHO the last great VW.
I sold the Scirocco because our family was growing and we needed a 4 door, so I bought the first US Passat, then 2 more Passat GLXs, wagon and sedan, and a 2001 Jetta. All progressively crappier.
I always wanted one of those. Sigh….
My first girlfriend had one of these… in fact it was this very ugly brown colour — how 70s to use crap brown paint on a sporty/performance, right?
IIRC, it was a go-cart, but I can vouch for the cranky or lacklustre carb — but boy oh boy….I think I can actually thankful for that crappy carb as I believe I learned alot more when we were standing still 🙂
C’mon VW, get on with it & put together a new one !!!
For what it’s worth, here it is:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/scirocco-2008/
Bloat Much?
Forbidden fruit to Americans.
However, they don’t sell very well, to the point of withdrawal from several markets. Its agressive styling, a stark contrast to the original Scirocco, is apparently a bit too vulgar for its relatively high price.
It looks too much like a GTI – a stubby, boxy hatchback shape.
Not that the GTI is ugly, but to me the appeal of the original Scirocco was its sleeker design, it looked very little like the Golf that shared its underpinnings.
My favorite Scirocco print ad from the 70s:
“Maserati? Ferrari? Lamborghini? Scirocco!”
http://www.adclassix.com/images/80volkswagenscirocco.jpg
Several of my friends had these back in the day. My one buddy got one after his Fiat X1/9 gave out. He got whatever year was the first for fuel injection. It was generally a pretty nice little car, but the FI wasn’t too great and it made an immigrant Iranian mechanic a pretty nice living keeping it running. However, it was a much better runner than another friend’s Scirocco, that one had the carb and unending drivability issues. Just like my uncles and cousins contemporary Audis, I always liked the styling and overall handling of these cars. I just never wanted to own one. I was waiting for something called a GTI. But, by then, gasoline was cheap and I went right for the V8’s.
My roommate had a green one 78-79 i believe. It was so different from my ride 79 Cutlass Supreme Brougham we would swap rides if he wanted to impress a girl, 1st gear would stick and I’d take off in 2nd. It was very fun to drive. My Olds was black over silver with pinstripe black n grey seats,smooth gilded and cool it attracted attention everywhere. The VDub was sporty in every since, Racing green with tan pleather,5 speed,quick. European car drivers would nod approvingly at stoplights.Detroit in the early 80s was beginning to change…
I had a silver gen. 1 scirrocco. I wish I still had it!
The first new car I ever bought was a 1981 Scirocco in Brazil Brown Metallic – just like the one at the top of this article. God how I loved that car – I would often just stand and stare at it for 10 minutes after parking it in the garage :). Sad but true. It was simply an incredibly beautiful object.
It wasn’t the most trouble free car of course, and over the years I spent a small fortune in maintenance and repairs – electrical system, fuel system, CV joints, head gasket. I never sold it, but sadly it disappeared from in front of the house one night in September 1998, and never reappeared. With no rust and only about 160 000 km on the clock, I often wonder if it got chopped or exported (not uncommon in those days in Vancouver BC).
Wolfi, come home!
I owned ’78 and ’81 Sciroccos, the latter was a five-speed with slightly uprated power. Loved those cars, pure style and tossable fun, yet practical, with a hatch and the fuel injection that started it like a shot in the grim depths of a Northern Alberta (Canada) winter. I drove a tuner version in Germany also, even better. The only problem I ever had were those durn CV joints. The Sciroccos actually withstood our nasty rough roads better than the Audi 90 I drove for years afterwards.
Those cars, the original Golf and Scirocco, won the world for VW. After that, the bloat and world-car-itis set in, I suppose it was inevitable: you could just hear the North American dealers: “just make it a little bigger, a little cheaper”, a little whatever, and then it was gone. The Corrado was very nice, but a bit too expensive for the original Scirocco crowd. The only recent VW to recapture that old black magic was the Jetta IV, my son has one.
You all are forgetting the Scirocco’s finest hour: Ripping through a shopping mall full of zombies in George Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead.
Maybe not as iconic as the Mustang in Bullitt, but it’s a start.
Forgot about that one…! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y548HsgOznY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I’m sure there’s a story about how that VW ended up in the movie. Romero did everything on the cheap (the whole movie cost a half a million dollars, or about what Tom Cruise makes in a long afternoon) so it was probably his mother-in-law’s car or something. Maybe a local VW dealer lent it to him in the belief that people would see the film and automatically associate Volkswagens with a speedy way to outwit the undead.
Well, it was filmed in a mall very near VW’s US factory, so it probably just fell into place. Had he shot it in Wisconsin, they’d have been in Gremlins and Hornets.
Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, PA – which is the US22 exit from the Pennsylvania Turnpike into Pittsburgh. Although you’re better off taking I-376, aka Parkway West.
New Stanton (the site of the Volkswagen plant) is 23 miles away and two exits east on the PA Turnpike.
I had a grey 1979 Scirocco in high school. Wrecked it my senior year in 1990. Still heart broken over that loss. I’ve looked and looked for one to no avail. If anyone knows of one for sale anywhere please email me. Cwobarnes@yahoo.com.
Here’s my wrecked baby 🙁
Poor baby! I’ve seen a few clean ones on Bringatrailer.com for under $10 or 12 K. A semi beat runner might cost around 4 or 5. Good luck!
http://bringatrailer.com/2013/03/01/bat-exclusive-all-original-1980-volkswagon-scirocco/
This one made me do a double take. Identical to my ’81, also bought at Clarkdale VW in Vancouver, and stolen in ’98. Some faint hope for a second, but mine didn’t have the factory pin striping. Damn.
My brother’s 1987 gold metallic version got smashed in the back by the idiot in his Ford Mustang one rainy night. He knew about the notorious stretch of highway notorious for sudden occurrence of traffic jam and slowed down in anticipation. However, the Ford driver didn’t and braked too late and too hard, losing the control of his Mustang.
It hurt to see his car being taken away to the pasture on the back of tow truck one afternoon.
The heartache didn’t last because he found another replacement: a special edition 1980 Alpine White S with five-speed gearbox and red-black accent. I recalled it was more spirited to drive than his first two Scirocco (1975 and 1978).
Owned one of the special edition five speeds that came out in mid 1979. Mine was Alpine White with red and black accents, an outstanding and unique looking car that drew comments wherever I went. It remains the only car I have ever been totally comfortable in. The seats were outstanding. Drove for 18 hours once and enjoyed every minute. Found out why the side gussets were so deep a couple of years later when I put in the sway bars. Flattest turning car I ever drove and the most fun. It was a pure joy on the back roads of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Took it back to Germany in 1984. Taking it to a German dealer for maintenance was a much better experience than any I had in the states, where few really understood the car. The family outgrew it while we were there and I sold it to a kid who wrapped it around a guard rail three weeks later. Unfortunately, he did not have the decency to die in the the wreck. Had the car 11 years and regret getting rid of it to this day.
Classic design…. still works today, even with the US bumpers.
A classic Guigiaro design.
The most perfectly shaped rear end this side of Alana Blanchard.
Very nice,yet another example of right first time and subsequent models not looking as good
Say that camo Blazer is pretty cool!
OK haters, on your mark, get set, go: I like both the Mk1 and Mk 2 Sciroccos
Me too. Similar appeal.
There must be something genetically contrarian about me. The Golf, being one of the best designs ever made, is better looking than the Scirocco. The Sprint is a finer-featured version of the same idea…
I can’t do this. I like them too.
Very interesting about Karmann’s effort in this car’s history, it sounds like they were against the wall in a similar way to Bertone before they lucked onto Wacky Arnolt. Thanks Paul.
I’m not so sure Volkswagen is necessarily trying to replicate the Scirocco. They’re focused on luxury in a way they weren’t when this car was conceived.
It seems like they’re still replicating the original idea, which was a sportier/coupe version of the Golf, in the current Scirocco. Obviously, that’s in the idiom of today, meaning larger and more comfortable. But then so is everything else.
And “luxury” is a relative term, inasmuch as the original Scirocco was well trimmed and no less “luxurious” than the current one, again in the standards of their respective times.
Nobody really wants to go back to the spartan standards of those time, eh?
I do!! 🙂
I’ve been saying for a while I could go for a modern car that is spartan/simple mechanically, yet with a nicely trimmed and quiet interior. I guess the closest thing to that today is a Camry or something.
As do I. Lately I’ve been bombing around in a base 03 civic coupe with only the optional in dash CD player as it’s only luxury item. The car is light and responsive and mostly a blast to drive, but it is dwarfed by a harks in terms of size and a new civic looks huge in comparison. Bring back stripped out light run-abouts.
Dwarfed by a Toyota yaris. Damn auto correct.
I loved these things! In the early 80s, right after I got my license, I learned how to drive a stick in one of these, I think a ’76. It was my brother’s girlfriend’s car. My parents always had big American cars, and a craptastic ’75 Mustang. All I wanted was a car with a stick; I learned in no time. I still very clearly remember the great feel of the VW, and would love a car just like it today.
When we got married my ex-wife had a very early ’75 Scirocco, apparently the second one to arrive in Canada. After she got pregnant, she preferred the upright driving position of my Golf so I “inherited” the Scirocco.
I actually preferred my Golf because it was new and the Scirocco was 7 years old by that time. But the Scirocco was definitely fun to drive and looked great in its Silver paint and black & white tartan seats.
I drove it until the shocks were bouncy, the Pirellis were down below the wear bars and the clutch was slipping badly, then sold it cheap to a young guy who was going to take care of all the deferred maintenance.
The only problems we ever had were with the carb and emissions system, as it was a pre-injection car. Driveability improved greatly with the injection in 1977.
Paul,
Did you ever own or drive a Mk I or MK II VW GTI? I always liked the Mk II versions the best.
I’ve driven a number of Mk1s, including a GTI, which was a ball to drive. Oddly, I’ve had very little seat time in Mk2s, and have never driven a Mk2 GTI. Based on the changes in general, I’d assume the Mk2 GTI was what everyone seemed to say it was: more refined, if not quite as edgy.
My mom bought, on my recommendation, a gold ’78 to replace her ’71 Pontiac Firebird (when the Illinois road salt started to produce rust). Her’s was a manual; she liked it and replaced it with an ’84 or so Audi 80 when she decided she wanted to carry friends in a proper four door sedan.
I bought a dark green ’79 in December of 1978. It was a fine car but when by the following fall I was in a better financial position and was able to move up to what I really wanted I traded the VW on a rose red metallic ’79 MB 280CE. The VW was more fun for sure but the MB was where I wanted to be at the time.
At the time, this VW was on my wish list of 70s cars I wanted to own. To me, it made cars like the Mustang II, seem dated at the time. I was so impressed how they could create such an attractive car, while maintaining a close family resemblance to the highly functional (but unglamorous) Rabbit.
I had a silver 1975 like the one pictured. It had the same wheel stop. It was lowered and handled like a slot car when it wasn’t bottoming out. I put the seat all the way back and tilted so I could fit. I’m 6′-5″. It was great first car up to a point. It had bad valve guides and would burn 3 quarts of oil a week. The electrical system was a nightmare and the gauge cluster would turn on and off at random intervals and the idiot lights would burn brightly no matter what. Black electrical tape took care of that. I sold it and bought a first gen Jetta which was nice but had the same electrical issue and went through wheel cylinders by the truckload.
I think there was a recall on the valve guide problem…I had it done on mine and it was OK with respect to oil consumption thereafter.
I had a ’78 “Champagne Edition”…otherwise pretty basic, no AC. I loved that car, it is still the car I wish I’d kept (though in my old age, I admit my current Golf is a better car for me as a non-scrambler). It had a 4 speed that the previous owner had added a walnut shift knob (remember those?) and a nice Jenson stereo…I added a cassette player, thought that was just the ticket in 1981 when I got it. Mine had steel rather than alloy wheels though it had the admittedly very nice looking “Golf” style wheelcovers…and nice brown interior with vinyl seats (many people thought they were leather, but I don’t think leather was even an option back then)..maybe that’s what constituted the “Champagne Edition”. I remember having lots of brake issues (one time I even burst a brake line which was rusted and routed inside the passenger compartment, under the carpet, which probably caused it to rust when snow melted on your feet and left the carpet damp …and one time ruining a new pair of shoes when the master cylinder went and dumped brake fluid onto my right shoe….rebuilt alternator when diode pack shorted (had to disconnect battery cable when car was off to avoid draining the battery).
When I had it moved along with all my other earthly possessions (didn’t have much then, but lots of books) the total weight including the Scirocco was about 3400 lbs…I doubt the Scirocco was anything over 2000 of that.
I was considering a Dodge Omni when I bought the Scirocco, but am glad that I went with the Scirocco… it started my now 33 year ownership stint with VW…the Scirocco was replaced by an ’86 GTI, I tried to give the Scirocco to my youngest sister (since deceased) but she never learned how to drive the standard transmission. Though I liked the GTI (it had AC, but still no power steering), I recall the Scirocco even more fondly (maybe it just fit well at that time in my life, but as they say, it is hard to go back again).
February 1 was the 40th anniversary of the first production Scirocco…My first new car was a 1980 alpine white Scirocco with red leatherette interior, 1588cc engine putting out 76 hp…No power steering, windows, locks, A/C at under 2000 lbs it was peppy…I then owned a MK II GTI, GTI 16V and a Corrado.
Three years ago I bought a 1981 Scirocco S, the last of the MK 1 and restored it…Love the car
Wow! Compliments and congratulations!
You have accomplished something very rare here… vastly improving upon the looks of what the VW designers envisioned.
Amazing work!
Love your restored car
If you ever wish to sell it… i’ll buy it !!!!!!!!!
Was my first car
Bought it and couldn’t drive a standard so a friend would drive it and take us to school… be benefited a but more than me.,…
I loved it
Would like to have one again
Alan
The rectangular headlights were featured in Europe on the low- and mid-level trim Models at launch. Models like the Scirocco L and LS had the rectangular units, while the top trim sport Scirocco TS received the double round. This was the case with the Passat as well, the top trim Passat TS received double rounds in the early years.
Thanks for reminding me of that. I’ll amend the text,
The rectangular headlamps must be very rare (and probably non-existent as an unicorn) as I have seen just ONE Scirocco fitted with them. That was in Karlsruhe.
I recalled that it was popular in the 1970s to modify and upgrade the cars to the owners’ fancy. Many Scirocco owners replaced them with quad round headlamps as to ‘upgrade’ their cars to the higher trim level.
I’ve had the pleasure of owning and driving many fine cars but the one that rises to the top for the things that count most — looks, fun to drive and reliability — was the ’78 Scirocco I owned in my early 20s. It wins with me on the points score and also as my all-time favorite.
What a personality that car had. Like an eager puppy it always wanted to play. It was my partner in crime and never, ever let me down. The early carbed versions were as notoriously unreliable as the early Dashers and Rabbits but by ’78 VW had the car perfectly sorted right down to the one-year only short stroke engine and faired in bumpers.
That engine was so sweet with that distinctive lumpy idle and silky smooth rev. The shifter was noisy but direct. The seats were amazing. The handling was better than any sports car at the time.
All of this at an affordable price and with fuel economy in the 30s. People love dumping on the 70s and 80s as an automotive era but those were my favorite decades because of cars like the Scirocco. It was the poster child for how to thrive under adversity and shows what a company looks like at the top of its game. Bravo!
I had a factory poster of the early Gen I on my dorm room in college. The big single wiper, the inner headlights set slightly ahead of the outers, the perfect looking steering wheel…. exotic at the time, and still looks great!
Great details you note here, the solo wiper didn’t work so great but looked cool… loved the staggered lights. Good call!
Ahhhh, the mk1 Scirocco, high on the list of my favorite waterpumping Volkswagens.
It’s just such a pretty little car.
I loved the looks of the Scirocco, just not enough headroom for me. In 1974 I worked at a VW dealership, that summer we got the first Rabbit delivered. Everybody that worked there got to take it home for a night. I was amazed it could go 110 mph (downhill) with 3 of my friends. Compared to the air-cooled cars, it was amazing. I finally got a used 75 around 1980. Red Deluxe with AC, 4 speed and white interior. It took a lot of updating, Holly-Weber carb, valve seals, factory AC bracket and shifter mod’s to get this very early “prototype” working correctly. But it was finally a great car, I wish I still had it, but it was totaled a few years later. If only I fit a Scirocco….
Oh, happy memories. My first, very tentative driving-a-stick lessons were in a first-generation Scirocco with a four-speed. The girl who served as my teacher borrowed her father’s beloved toy, failing to tell him why she needed the Scirocco. Believe it or not, there was no double-entendre intended there. I am merely reminiscing about learning how to drive a car with three pedals. But oh, I could have married that car…
Let’s face it, this and the AlfaSud Sprint (which was the better car) were grandchildren of the American Pony-Car idea, the Scirocco based on the Golf Mk1 and the Alfa Sud sprint on the Alfa Sud.
Renault joined the party with the Mk2 Renault 15 and 17 series, cars that never got to reach the American shores, the Mk 1 did so.
The Alfa Sud Sprint 1500 was a great little driver, the low positioned 4 cylinder watercooled Boxer engine gave it a nice sound and they were THE drivers car back then, neutral handling for a FWD car, alfa had shown the world how to build a small hatchback with Fwd that handled neutrally.
Scirocco’s were far better made then the Alfa Sud’s were, especially in the corrosion department, but that Sprint shape still looks very desirable today for me.
I love the Sprint. My father has owned his 1987 model since 1988. Even with the plastic bumpers, that is such a good shape. Still runs cleans, but bubbling has rendered it intrinsically worthless.
I have a 1981 MKI in Mars Red, fully restored, as well as a 1988 MKII. Last year of manufacture for both cars.
The 81 will beat 5L Mustangs at the light and handles like its on rails.
I LOVE these cars!
Great coverage of one of my alltime faves, largely because in 1993 when I was a broke 19yo college kid who had never owned his own car, my brother gave me his 83 mk2 (identical to pictured), easily the coolest thing anyone has ever given me, despite the fact that I had never driven a stick before (and had to get it home from Philly to Boston solo with only minor instruction), the car already had a few miles (around 185k) and it came with a few interesting design quirks that had already been.. uh, improved by various mechanics (had a 4 speed from a Golf or Rabbit vs the original 5 speed).
Really appreciate the detailed coverage of the Italian ancestry. As you may or may not know, at least in the case of my ’83, the cars actually wore a “KARMANN’ badge just aft of the driver’s side door; I’d read a few things hear and there about the coachworks design and manu, but this story nicely ties it together.
This was a really fun car to own even in its advanced stage of life. I put easily another 50k on it (will never know for sure as odo was broken when I got it). It broke a lot and parts were expensive (my poor mom limped it along for me all through school, finally had to say goodbye after graduation and rapid approach of multiple massive failures) but it was a great car when going down the road. I had about a 3.5 hour drive from Boston to VT going back and forth from school for breaks etc. and about 1.5 hours into the trip something would come over that little car and it would really start to get its legs back, handle great, just buzz along in all it’s little glory, manual windows rolled down, broken sunroof stuffed open and aftermarket 80s tape deck at full wail (barely audible over the engine etc.).
The writer absolutely encompasses the most important stat for this car was not on the performance data sheet, it was its blocky 80s euro charm (which really does wear well 30 years later) and the fact that it was so damn fun to drive and had so much character, especially compared what everyone else was making in those days, and especially for the price!
My subsequent GTis and Bims were far more reliable and practically designed, but honestly nothing else has ever felt so immediately capable of putting a huge smile on my face… ok so maybe it was VT-fueled permagrin (and yes mine was resplendent with Bob Marley, Beastie Boys and standard issue “Fukengroovin” bumper sticker purchased at a Dead Show)… but it was just a great idea and design in every way and testament to the balls and vision of its designers and the businessmen who bought in.
Someday when my ship comes in… I want a mk3 16-valver mechanically modded to the gills AND a factory original perfect replication of my ’83 Mk2.
Here’s to generous older brothers, college days and fun, yet practical little German cars produced during the industry’s low point era. Thanks for the write up.
The Mk1 is obviously a classic, but I think you are being a bit harsh on the Mk2. I had an ’87 16V version, and while not as timeless a design as the original, it did look really good when new and still looks decent today, which is more than can be said for many other cars of the period.
That car was a blast to drive, but oh the reliability (or lack thereof). Everything broke. Everything. Culminating with a leaking gas tank which took numerous trips to diagnose. A few years after I got rid of it, I got a recall notice from VW stating that there was a slight chance that my car might have developed a hairline crack in the gas tank. Oh really, you don’t say?
Took me a bit to notice this was a repost! None-the-less, I still feel inclined to comment on the wheels. The silver one appears to have the much desired BBS basketweaves, likely from a MK2 GTi/GLi. Aftermarket wheels on the orange one too, albeit a much less traditional design.
My brother mentioned about the Oettinger 16V aftermarket kit with 16-valve head for the first generation Golf and Scirocco.
Oettinger was for Volkswagen what AMG did for Mercedes-Benz with 32-valve head for 5-litre V8 motors in the early 1980s.
Good article profiling Oettinger kit:
http://www.clubvw.org.au/oldart020#gol09
My new baby! And its a Calloway Turbo.
I have mostly fond memories of my 2 Sciroccos from my college days in the 80s. I actually had one of the earlier swaps, an 81 Scirocco S powered by an 87 16V engine. Everything fit but the underhood area was a bit messy with the redundant A/C compressor.
Comparison to the Alfa sud is perhaps tenuous. The ‘sod’ was a very different car especially in 1300cc form. Not surprisingly much more in the Italian model. A better comparison might be the Lancia Beta coupe (did they make it to the US?) which was derived from the Beta saloon. An early and rather underdeveloped FWD venture.
My best friend had a new ’79 four speed special edition – gun metallic gray with neon orange and yellow pinstripes! – I fell in love with so bad I bought the first Scirocco I could find, a ’81 silver metallic automatic. My girlfriend at the time totaled it or I would still have it today 30 years later. Waaaaaaaa Waaaaaaa
Scrolling through the comments, I’m not sure that anyone mentioned the Corrado as the spiritual successor to the Scirocco. The compact, supercharged Corrado was a blast to drive and offered the same sort of “truncated” hot-hatch design idiom. I have no knowledge as to their overall reliability, as I only drove, but never owned one. Styling-wise, I would say the Gen 1 Scirocco is a much purer and simpler design. I had a ’79 that was as true a sports car as my later Miata, though much more practical.
Had a 76 Mk1 limited issue Scirocco (also called Super Scirocco). It was in metallic brown with buckskin interior, gold letter name on doors, full injection, vent windows that opened, a quick car indeed. It had a problematic fuel distribution, soft metal chassis, a host of minor issues that were likely sorted out in later models. Only kept it 2yrs, sold to fund my doctorate studies, but later tried to find another with no success. But then found a G60 Corrado that provided similar driving thrills, and thirst for careful attention too. The Mk1 was a nimble standout in its time, the heavier but much more powerful G60 has proved more to my liking. Driving the G60 comes closest to fun I recall having with the Mk1, too few other fwd vehicles can surpass. Keeping the G60.
Looking for a first generation scirocco windshield. Any help would be great. Thanks!
Had a MKI, a limited production mid-year release in 1976. It was dark metallic brown with bold gold lettering SCIROCCO and gold striping in lower bodywork’s, saddle coloured vinyl interior. It also sported the early issue of fuel injection, pivoting vent windows, one windshield wiper.
A cheeky car, bit fragile, not all the quirks had bee ironed out in the earliest releases. Had the fuel distributor replaced a few times in first year of ownership.
But, how it handled, a superior handling car for its time. Wish I still has it, it’s a classic now.
This was my car! Out front of my house in Eugene Oregon while I was going to colllege. The car’s name was “Otis” we had a lot of good times. It had a 2.0l ABA swap and a close ratio trans with a .73 5th gear for freeway flying! Loved that car, it is a show car now in Pennsylvania, hope it is still on the road.
“Ein weiteres kleines Detail, das oft übersehen wird, ist, dass der ursprüngliche europäische Scirocco große rechteckige Scheinwerfer hatte (mit Ausnahme des Topmodells TS),…”
That’s true. But almost no one chose such a basemodel – called “Scirocco LS”. As far as I remember, approx. nine out of ten (I didn’t really count them) were badged “TS”. At least until they launched the “GTI” version.
My father bought a limited edition ’76 in dark metallic brown/ tan interior. It was an automatic trans and had a crank sunroof. He traded it for a limited edition ’79 in dark silver with the medium red leather seats and single wiper in front, pop up moon roof and manual trans. What a blast to drive. I learned to drive stick on this car. Unfortunately, the car had an accident in the summer of 1982 or 83 and that was the end of the ’79. We had a temporary replacement, a 1980 VW Rabbit diesel for a while until my father trade it for a SAAB 900.
I’ve written about my short and painful ownership of a 1977 Scirocco, so I’ll leave it at that. I am pleased to see here a confirmation of my memory that the Scirocco pre-dated the Golf. It was shown at the Geneva Show in March of 1973 and made it into an issue of Road &Track that I picked up just after my high school graduation in June. I still remember reading it on a memorable trip with a friend’s family to Southern California just after graduation, and being amazed that VW would introduce something not just modern (and yes, I knew about the K70) but also truly sporting. Which the KG was not.
I’ve gone on at length several times about my infatuation with this car, but there were downsides.
Maintenance of course – even by standards of the time it was a money pit. Also, front seats that may have ruined my back for life. A disappointing sound system. And the exhaustion inherent in driving a non-ac car on summer road trips. Overall it could be a tiring car for long distance drives, at any time of year.
But for zipping around town, or afternoon two-lane blacktop excursions, it was a joy. I remember several occasions when it was new, strangers coming up to say what a beautiful car it was.
“Yeah, it really is, isn’t it!” Maintenance fades from memory when a car looks like this.
One of the most iconic designs of the 1970s. I never get tired of this classic.
I’ve never really warmed to the ’70s Giugiaro aesthetic, and so always come away from the Scirocco feeling like the Golf/Rabbit GTI hatch made vastly more sense. The Mk1 GTI had the same attributes as the Scirocco (peppy performance, sporty handling, reasonable economy, maddening unreliability, money-pit tendencies) in a more sensible package. While I don’t love the looks of the Golf either, it’s at least a practical box, which the Scirocco really isn’t.
Giugiaro kept doing variations on this shape (Alfasud, Scirocco, Isuzu Piazza), and my reaction to them is always about the same: They seem tailored just deliberately enough that you can tell they made it look that way on purpose, begging the question of why they didn’t make it attractive or interesting in the process. They’re not ugly cars, really, just calculatedly underwhelming to look at in a way I find vaguely perplexing.
+1
These cars are just not beautiful or special enough, and never were. I remember school mates loving these cars, not me.
I really liked the looks of these when they came out and I like the looks of them now. I don’t think of myself as overly tall at 6′ 0″, but these cars were cramped. When I test drove one I had to tilt the backrest so my head did not scrape the ceiling. I think that VW probably lost a lot of sales just because tall people didn’t fit in them very well. These were popular with women (who tend to be shorter than men) and I back in the day I recall seeing several articles about various celebrity actresses (Erin Moran, Betsy Palmer) owning them. The Rabbit and the GTI offered much the same handling and performance in a more comfortable and practical package.
The second and third generation Sciroccos were disappointing style-wise. The Corrado had a lot of first-gen Scirocco influence, but even it didn’t quite capture the best of the first-gen Scirocco.
I agree with you on all accounts. These were sexy and the best looking of all the generations. Nice and simple and squared off tastefully with the round headlights. A ball to drive. They were a bit cramped for larger Americans. It was a sleeker body on the Rabbit chassis. Miss them.
I’d forgotten about that “one big windshield wiper”. Remember a lot of them being that “bronze” color.
I remember one from college days; always got the impression that the windshield defrosters didn’t do well in wstrn PA winters. It oten had frost on the inside. Recall the back window, where the electric wires were, was clearer.
It was “yellow”.” Had “NJ” plates.
My best friend bought one of the first Rabbits in Denver in ’75, bright yellow, and my brother had a silver ’76 Scirocco. Both brilliant in their own way but fragile, no surprise. Their secret performance ingredient, which can’t be duplicated today, was their lightness and simplicity. With all the gimcracks and complexity of modern cars, there’s no chance you’ll ever see their like again.
Owned in 1976
Being 5’6” the Mk1 was a perfect fit.
Sold it too quickly then in later years looked for another one without much luck.
Finally found a low kilometres Corrado G60 that brought back memories of my Mk1 Super Scirocco, some of the quirks too.
The Corrado now has only 52k kilometres, it’s my keeper.