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Category: Volkswagen

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November 2023 Scirocco Roundup

Update 11.28.2023: The white Scala is now on BaT at no reserve. Will be interesting to follow compared to the $40k buy-it-now it’s been showing on eBay. -dc

First up is this pristine 1988 Scirocco Scala in white on white! From what I’ve found, the Scala replaced the top end GTX model in some markets. This example shows 72k kilometers (~45k miles) and in really remarkable condition with the color matched snow flake rims, period correct Blaupunkt cassette player, Euro headlights, and of course the 16v engine. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this Scirocco is listed at $39,900 with a make offer option on eBay. Unfortunately no seller description is provided on eBay or the dealer website.


Next up is one you may have seen already on social media, this 1978 Scirocco custom build with an R32 engine modified to a reported 400hp output! Personally I find that to be overkill and have my suspicions about the balance. I’m also not a big fan of the dash screen, extra long shifter, and numerous other out of period choices. Nonetheless it’s incredibly clean and someone spent a fortune to make it their own with legitimate performance improvements. I’m not sure that the $42k asking price translates for the rest of us who grew up with these in the 80’s, but take a closer look on eBay and decide for yourself.

From the seller:

Stunning Scirocco R32 custom. Prior to a complete restoration, this car was stripped to bare metal and retains all the original sheet metal. Exterior modifications include a custom front bumper, Kamei front lip, shaved rear hatch, shaved bumper and shaved marker lights. The car was painted HEMI Orange Pearl, which is absolutely stunning. The paint is show-quality. It was treated with Volkswagen Motorsport and R32 emblems. It has tinted glass and custom lights. The car has 16 Enkei wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires. The beautiful black interior has many new items, including a Tech-53 headliner, dash, door sills and carpet. It’s equipped with OEM gauges and rear seats. Some interior upgrades include a half roll cage, Edge CTS2 onboard computer manager, Corrado G60 seats, G-Force racing harness, billet window cranks and TR Motoring race shifter. The trunk area is nicely sorted with a painted rear Neuspeed strut tower brace, simulated wood floor, ATL fuel cell, black box surge tank and battery box. The engine compartment was shaved and painted, which looks amazing. Its home to the modified 3.2-liter R32 6-cylinder engine that has an estimated 400hp. The engine has TT260/264 cams, port and polished head, titanium valves and springs, MK5 oil pump, Bosh 044 fuel pump, painted intake, polished air intake, K&N filter and steel oil pan. It’s equipped with a custom fender brace and VW billet strut covers. The engine is cooled by an S&P aluminum radiator with dual electric fans and billet overfill canister. The engine breathes through a custom 3 stainless exhaust system with Borla muffler. The engine is coupled to a modified MK3 5-speed manual transmission. Some features include APR gears and hardware, Quaife ISD, BFI Stage 4 competition clutch, Wilwood hydraulic clutch master and slave cylinder, and DSS Stage 2 axles. The undercarriage is nicely detailed. It’s equipped with Girling Corrado G60 4-wheel power disc brakes. It’s also equipped with all-new suspension, including Neuspeed sway bars and Vogtland coilovers. This G-machine is truly a one-of-a-kind build.


Last of the roundup today is an affordable driver that looks like it could be fun to enjoy as-is and return to stock or restore in your spare time. This 1985 Scirocco available on eBay has the standard 8v motor and most of the car looks pretty original. The steering wheel, shifter, and stereo upgrades are easily reversible. From there addressing the advertised rust would be next on my list. But for $10k, what more can you ask for these days from a nearly 40 year old classic car?

From the seller:

Brand new clutch, new front and rear Bilstein suspension, new brakes, new braking system all 4 wheels, new carpet, new steering wheel and shifter, new shift linkage, new fan motor(if you know that is a big deal), full JL audio with 12” sub, Sony head unit. Drives perfect. Will not find another in this condition around. Has rust spot on drivers fender, comes with a brand new fender, marker lights, black headliner.

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2.0 16V-Swapped 1986 Volkswagen GTI

It’s always neat to see an early GTI pop up, and today’s car is like a “greatest hits” combination. The ’85 and ’86 GTIs were unique in that they had a different grille and windows than the ’87-up model, and there was obviously no 16V version. The later 16V got a deeper front lip, and the 2.0-powered cars from ’90 up got the four-headlight grille and Recaro seats. They’ve all appeared together here because this particular car is powered by the later 9A motor. For good measure, it’s also got Team Dynamics wheels, coilover suspension, Corrado brakes, and an aftermarket exhaust system. Neat!

1986 Volkswagen GTI on eBay

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1991 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 16V

Volkswagen of America’s new “Fahrvergnügen” sales campaign in the early 1990s was, while a marketing ploy and a totally made up neologism, underscoring sporty changes at Volkswagen. The more serious 2.0 16V GTI I’ve already covered recently, but the same motor was available in the more fun-to-drive Passat here, too. Then there was the Corrado, which while it only had 8 valves sported a supercharger. You could get that G60 in the Passat in Europe and even Canada, too.

Volkswagen’s popular smaller sedan had a healthy dose of upgrades though, too. In ’89, the Jetta GLI 16V had a special Wolfsburg Edition which had added the deeply bolstered Recaro Trophy seats and BBS RA alloys. These were color-matched to the Helios Blue Metallic paint outside. The seats and BBS wheels would carry over for the 1990 model year, but like the GTI the Jetta received the new 9A 2.0 16V and revised bumper/trim of all the A2s. Brakes were updated to 10.1? and dual tailpipes emerged from the new ‘big bumper’ A2 refresh. Central locking and a cassette player were standard, while you could opt for many power options including windows, mirror, anti-lock brakes, trip computer, cruise control, and of course a sunroof.

Although the package was essentially quite similar to the GTI, I’ve never quite taken to the 2.0 GLI 16V in the same way. But it’s still very nice to see a clean example hit the market:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 16V on eBay

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2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDi Cup

Long before “Dieselgate”, Volkswagen teased us with a performance version of their super-economy car; the short lived 2010 Jetta TDi Cup Edition. What you got for your hard-earned bucks was a basically a Jetta GLi with its heart yanked out and replaced by the thrifty and torque-laden turbodiesel, and for good measure they popped on VW “Thunderbunny” body kit. But this wasn’t just a styling exercise for Volkswagen – they had actively engaged in racing the Jetta TDi in the TDi Cup to help promote the TDi brand, so this car has some racing heritage as well. Only 1,500 were produced in black, red, blue, or today’s white:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDi Cup on eBay

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Spring Project: 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco S

I’m going to get a bit gushy for a moment, if you’ll allow me. I love the original Scirocco. Considering I’m a huge fan of the similarly Giugiaro-designed Audi Coupe, that should come as no surprise. Both the GT and the Scirocco have some odd angles, and there is no argument here that they aren’t the prettiest designs ever to be penned by the Italians. However, it’s that awkwardness that adds to their appeal for me – they stand out not because they’re perfect, but because simply they stand out and not in a bad way. It’s something that the second-generation Scirocco wasn’t able to pull off, in my mind. The short and squat original model, though it lacked the performance of many of the top-tier Volkswagen products, has to go down as one of the prettiest Volkswagens ever made. While they were a popular coupe and in many ways helped to spawn the sedan-based 2-door market that was the rage in the 1980s and early 1990s, not many of the original Sciroccos remain thanks mostly to rust and electrical issues. To me, the best looking of the original models are the infrequently seen “S” models, such as the 1980 which popped up this week for sale. The S was mostly an appearance package but featured a front spoiler, some cool stripes, a 5-speed manual, and Recaro seats; it was also only available in three colors in 1980 – black, Alpine White, or today’s Mars Red:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco S on eBay

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