1994 Volkswagen Corrado VR6

Highlights

• Desirable Dragon Green paintwork

• Full engine rebuild less than 10,000 miles ago

• Uprated brakes

• Custom stainless steel exhaust

• Updated LED headlights

Overview

Volkswagen don’t often make coupes, but when they do they tend to get them right. And whenever they teamed up with the legendary contract manufacturer Karmann, extremely good things were usually the result. Such VW legends as the Karmann Ghia, Scirocco (Mk1 and 2), Beetle cabriolet and Golf cabriolet were all put together by the Osnabrück firm.

However, our absolute favourite VW/Karmann collaboration has to be the Corrado. Marketed as a more performance oriented and upscale alternative to the Scirocco, which it sold alongside, the Corrado certainly looked full of intent and purpose. That wedge-like profile and chunky 90s styling hinted at muscular performance and superb build quality. And the quality was definitely there – this was VW’s golden period, with their output rivalling that from any manufacturer you care to mention.

Sadly, the Corrado didn’t have the oomph to match its wonderful aesthetic. The naturally-aspirated 16-valve was a tad underpowered, and the supercharged G60 was a mite fragile.

Thankfully, VW came up with the wonderful ploy of inserting a VR6. Thanks to the narrow-angle 15-degree V6, only a single head was needed, so the packaging worked perfectly for the Corrado, which had been designed with a four-cylinder in mind. The result? 190 bhp, 0-60 mph in just under 7 seconds, and one of the most charismatic and tuneful engines ever built. Problem solved, and then some.

Nowadays they are highly collectable and increasingly rare. Sadly, many have been badly modified or simply given in to the ravages of time. But thankfully, this example has been very well preserved and is presented here in largely original condition, with a few light and unobtrusive modifications. Even better than that, it’s finished in Dragon Green – one of the most desirable colours.

One of the highlights is that the beating heart of the car, that brilliantly unusual engine, was fully and professionally rebuilt less than 10,000 miles ago following a timing chain failure. For all intents and purposes, it’s as close as you’ll get to experiencing a brand new VR6. For anyone who loves modern classics, and particularly anyone who’s into their VWs, that’s pretty much the holy grail.

History and documentation

• Registered 17 August 1994

• Current owner since December 2023, nine previous owners

• Collection of invoices for servicing and maintenance and some old MOT certificates

• Two keys with alarm/immobiliser fobs

• The car has been SORN since December 2024, but will come with a fresh MOT

• 116,171 miles on the clock

• Full engine rebuild in April 2014 at 107,990 miles (invoice included)

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

Interior

• Original grey fabric upholstery throughout, overall presents well

• The seats appear to be in good order for their age, with a little sagging to the front seat squabs and a patched tear to the outer bolster of the driver’s seat

• Dark grey carpets and over mats, all of which look to be in good condition

• Electrically operated sunroof, side windows and door mirrors

• The sunroof operates as it should but the headlining has dropped away a little

• The wide dashboard is in good condition and looks to be free from any warping, cracking or fading

• There is a little wear to the steering wheel, commensurate with the car’s age and mileage

• All of the internal trim and switchgear looks to be original and in fine fettle, with no notable wear or damage we could see

• The instruments and gauges are clear and in good order, with no damage or issues we could identify

• There is a Kenwood CD/DAB+ system with USB, aux port, and phone connectivity which the seller would like to keep if possible; he has another Kenwood unit with usb, cd player and aux to replace it and the buyer can choose which they prefer

• We’re told by the vendor that the cabin heater only works on setting ‘4’

• Otherwise, the vendor tells us that everything in the cabin works as it should, with no other faults or issues noted

• The generous boot space is trimmed with dark grey carpet that all looks to be in nice condition

• Under the boot carpet, there's no spare wheel but the floor pan and spare wheel well look to be in excellent condition, with no evidence of corrosion or damage we could see

Exterior

• Dragon Green metallic paintwork

• The paintwork shows well, with a few minor blemishes and marks, but nothing that would cause us concern

• We noted some stone chips to the front bumper, a scuff and a little bubbling to the off-side front wheel arch and a very small dent on the rear panel under the boot lid

• All of the bodywork looks clean and straight, with no signs of damage or significant corrosion apparent, panels are well aligned and all of the gaps look to be consistent

• Electrically operated rear wing, deployed automatically at 45mph or via a button in the cabin

• Wind deflectors fitted to the front side windows

• Uprated LED headlights and daytime running lights have been fitted, although the original units are also included in the sale

• All of the external trim and badges appears to be present and correct, with some light wear consistent with the car’s age

• The glass elements all appear to be clean and free from cracks, chips or delamination

• Underneath, everything is nice and solid, with the floor pans and sills looking straight and solid, with no significant corrosion on show

• Aftermarket 5-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels, finished in metallic gunmetal – all show well without kerb damage or lacquer peel

• The tyres are 195/45 all round, and other than a couple of chips in the sidewall of one tyre, look to be in good condition with plenty of tread

Mechanical

• 2,861cc VR6 DOHC

• Front-wheel drive

• 5-speed manual transmission

• ABS and PAS

• Factory performance figures: 190bhp, 180lb-ft, 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds and 145mph top speed

• The engine bay looks very clean and tidy, with no damage or leaks on display, and a colour-coded engine cover

• Engine rebuild and new clutch fitted by Stealth Racing in April 2014 at 107,990 miles

• The current owner has fitted an aluminium radiator and a low temperature thermostat

• New fuel pump and lines

• New oil sensors

• New battery

• New rear discs and bearings

• Uprated front discs with Mintex pads

• The vendor notes that occasionally the ABS light comes on, but they believe this is due to the larger front discs that have been fitted

• Custom 2.5-inch stainless steel exhaust system

• Cold air intake with cone filter

• A number of spares are included, included a variety of engine hoses

• We’re assured that the car starts, runs and drives extremely well, with no mechanical issues reported by the vendor

Summary

This handsomely styled coupe was once a common sight on our roads, but is now a much sought-after and highly collectible modern classic. It’s easy to see why too – the styling is reason enough to want to put one on your driveway, but the fact that they drive so well and the VR6 powertrain is so characterful really does put the Corrado on another level.

While many examples have been mistreated or badly modified, this example has clearly been well cared for and carefully updated in key areas, making it a fine prospect for any collector or enthusiast. 

We’ve always thought the Corrado is one of VW’s greatest hits, and this cracker is only making us fall deeper in love. If you’ve ever dreamt of getting your hands on a VR6 “one day”, we’d recommend not letting this one pass you by.