While you’re no doubt familiar with the great lament of the de-tuned E36 M3 and the inflated price of the very limited Lightweight model, Europe enjoyed a full spectrum of Motorsport performance. One of the potent additions to the lineup was that of the M3 GT. Intended to homologate racing bits and aerodynamic tweaks for the E36, 350 limited BF99 examples were produced in early 1995. The motor was turned up to 295 horsepower with hotter cams, special oil pumps and Motorsport oil pan and revised computer controls. They also had stiffened and lowered suspension, a strut brace and a 3.23 final drive. Outside new spoilers front and rear increased downforce, and like the Lightweight the GT wore the M forged double spoke staggered wheels. Harder to spot were the aluminum doors the car wore to help keep weight down. All were painted 312 British Racing Green and featured Mexico Green Nappa leather interior with Amaretta bolsters, special Motorsports badging, and carbon-fiber trim.
They’re a very special and rarely seen variant of the E36 M3, and increasingly in this collector market that means a higher asking price:
After B5 production ended, Audi continued to widen the pool for its small chassis. Joining the lineup for the B6 model was a new Cabriolet, and of course returning were the dynamic duo of the sedan and Avant models. Power now came from the BBK 4.2-liter 4-cam 40 valve all-aluminum V8. Fitting the motor into the small chassis necessitated dropping the belt drive in favor of the infamous rear-mounted chain. Still, though, with 340 horsepower on tap and weighing the same as the outgoing 250 horsepower V6 twin-turbo but now with instant torque, the S4 seemed top of the heap. But it was still playing catch-up with the outgoing E46 M3, so when it came to the B7, Audi offered even more spunk, bringing for the first time after three generations their first top-tier offering in the small chassis: the second-generation RS4.
At the heart of the new addition to the fleet was, of course, a special motor. Dubbed the BNS, Audi ditched the 5-valve heads but added FSI direct fuel injection. In reality, little was shared or untouched between the seemingly similar 4.2 V8s in the S4 and RS4, but the result of the fiddling was impressive. The engineers at Ingolstadt managed to crank a 420 horsepower screamer out, and coupled with the revised, more rear-biased quattro drivetrain in the B7, a completely different beast was born.
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.
If you haven’t yet seen this internet sensation, you probably will have no idea what the headline or name is associated with; the image likely won’t help. Sure, it’s got Gullwing doors and the rough profile of a C124, but what’s going on here? Well, in an effort to make the C124 even cooler, Hartmut Boschert threw the Mercedes-Benz parts bin and some trick components at one. This was the result; an R129-borrowed front and and seats grafted on to the 300CE, a relocated C-pillar, and…oh yeah, those doors. Not done, Boschert added two turbochargers to the motor. The result is one of the craziest – and coolest – period modded Mercedes-Benz models not sporting an AMG badge.
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!
