Vintage Views: Volkswagen Scirocco

Sporty versions of common Volkswagens aren’t anything new. Half a century ago, the Karmann Ghia delivered sleek lines atop the Beetle floorpan. More recently, the Audi TT has presented the Volkswagen Golf’s underpinnings in fancy dress.

Between 1974 and 1992, that task went to the Scirocco. It might have been a pedestrian-looking Rabbit inside, but the Scirocco offered low-cut styling to the masses.

That Giugiaro bodywork went to the track, too. An advertising campaign referred to the Scirocco as “the racing Volkswagen,” and that was more than just marketing-speak. Volkswagen and the SCCA introduced the Scirocco/Bilstein Cup for 1976. This professional spec series ran for two years, replaced by a similar program for Rabbits in 1978.

Volkswagen also took the Scirocco Trans Am racing, fielding a pair of cars in the series’ small-bore class during the 1976 season. One car was driven by Bill Scott, the 1970 Formula Vee world champ and, later, the owner of Summit Point Raceway. Longtime pro Milt Minter drove the other one, capturing the manufacturers championship for Volkswagen.

Underneath, yes, the Scirocco was standard Rabbit stuff–or, if you were overseas, standard Golf stuff. That meant struts up front with a twist beam rear axle. It sounds primitive by today’s standards, but it was good enough at the time.

Volkswagen introduced the Scirocco to Europe for 1974, just before the release of the Golf. The sporty VW came stateside starting with the 1975 model year. Those first-year cars made do with just a 1.5-liter inline-four. Volkswagen bumped displacement to 1.6 liters the following year, with engine size fluctuating between 1.5 and 1.7 liters through 1981.

The big news came for 1982 with updated, more angular bodywork. Square headlamps replaced the round ones. Horsepower still didn’t top 100, but that would finally change partway through 1986, when the lineup was expanded to include a 16-valve model. In addition to the 123-horsepower engine, the Scirocco 16V also received Recaro seats, fender flares, an aero kit, bigger brakes, a tighter suspension and those iconic teardrop alloy wheels. Only a five-speed transmission was offered along with the 16-valve engine. The Scirocco left American dealership after the 1988 model year.

The model’s appeal is compromise, says automotive media darling Jason Cammisa, himself a Scirocco owner for 20 years. “The Scirocco’s mechanical identical-twin Golf is a practical, upright hatchback made for daily use,” he adds. “If you throw caution to the wind and turn the gain up on the design/appeal/sexiness fader, you wind up with a Scirocco.”

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