£49 '82 VW Scirocco
Discussion
Yes, this 1982(registered 1/1/83), VW Scirocco 'Limited Edition' set me back the princely sum of £49. To be pedantic I paid £150 for it, however, as I'd been helping my friend clear out his Dad's yard full of rotten old cars and stuff, he gave me some very old sheets of roofing copper which I duly weighed in for £101 which nets me a £49 Mk2 Scirocco.
As found in my friend's Dad's yard where it has resided since 1990.
My friend's Dad bought the car from Chesterfield car auctions back in 90, where it was driven about 10 miles and never turned a wheel since until a few months ago.
Long story short the car was going to be scrapped along with all of the other rotten cars on his land. There must have been about 15 Citroën Bx's, 15 or so VW LT's, a dozen or so other more recent stuff and an Austin Gypsy which was more iron oxide than Austin. But the scrap men had become a little dishonest(shocker), so he told em to sling their hook before the Scirocco left.
I couldn't think of anything worse it being weighed in. His dad can be a funny sort, so was wasn't expecting to be able to buy it. But I tried the old cash in my hand and he was happy to see 150 quid.
Got the car back, made difficult with perished tyres, no key and a very sezied rear brake.
The previous owner was very proud of his automobile. 'Stuart' had put assorted adornments which were immediately removed. Extra badges, sunstrip, mudflaps and a very ancient Feu Orange!
Broken glass courtesy of the scrap men. Thank you.
I've since discovered the red interior was a rare option even when these were new. And apparently dashboards are prone to cracking which thankfully this is not.
I'm guessing 'Limited Edition' was a dealer sales trick? The car appears to have originally come from Gordon Lamb whom were located in Sheffield/ Chesterfield. Which is local to me, so it's nice to have been a South Yorkshire/ Derbyshire car all it's life. Maybe I'm just sad. But I'm happy it retains the original number plates.
I've not attempted to try and start the 1.6 carb'd engine. For one, I wasn't going to spend a penny on the car until I received a log book which I had to apply for. Thankfully it has. I've allowed diesel to soak in the cylinders for numerous weeks to try and aide lubrication of the bores. I'm sure it'll need some engine intervention somehow but damage limitations...
Other than that, hoovering out the broken glass and a strategic pressure washing I've not done anything else.
I'm worried about parts procurement for the Scirocco specific items in particular body panels, so if there's anyone that knows of any I would be grateful as there's slim pickings on ebay unfortunately. Thankfully the mechanicals are mostly shared with the Golf.
As found in my friend's Dad's yard where it has resided since 1990.
My friend's Dad bought the car from Chesterfield car auctions back in 90, where it was driven about 10 miles and never turned a wheel since until a few months ago.
Long story short the car was going to be scrapped along with all of the other rotten cars on his land. There must have been about 15 Citroën Bx's, 15 or so VW LT's, a dozen or so other more recent stuff and an Austin Gypsy which was more iron oxide than Austin. But the scrap men had become a little dishonest(shocker), so he told em to sling their hook before the Scirocco left.
I couldn't think of anything worse it being weighed in. His dad can be a funny sort, so was wasn't expecting to be able to buy it. But I tried the old cash in my hand and he was happy to see 150 quid.
Got the car back, made difficult with perished tyres, no key and a very sezied rear brake.
The previous owner was very proud of his automobile. 'Stuart' had put assorted adornments which were immediately removed. Extra badges, sunstrip, mudflaps and a very ancient Feu Orange!
Broken glass courtesy of the scrap men. Thank you.
I've since discovered the red interior was a rare option even when these were new. And apparently dashboards are prone to cracking which thankfully this is not.
I'm guessing 'Limited Edition' was a dealer sales trick? The car appears to have originally come from Gordon Lamb whom were located in Sheffield/ Chesterfield. Which is local to me, so it's nice to have been a South Yorkshire/ Derbyshire car all it's life. Maybe I'm just sad. But I'm happy it retains the original number plates.
I've not attempted to try and start the 1.6 carb'd engine. For one, I wasn't going to spend a penny on the car until I received a log book which I had to apply for. Thankfully it has. I've allowed diesel to soak in the cylinders for numerous weeks to try and aide lubrication of the bores. I'm sure it'll need some engine intervention somehow but damage limitations...
Other than that, hoovering out the broken glass and a strategic pressure washing I've not done anything else.
I'm worried about parts procurement for the Scirocco specific items in particular body panels, so if there's anyone that knows of any I would be grateful as there's slim pickings on ebay unfortunately. Thankfully the mechanicals are mostly shared with the Golf.
Nice find, definitely worth saving.
VW Heritage have lots of parts, some genuine VW panels but very pricy.
https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/volkswagen/...
VW Heritage have lots of parts, some genuine VW panels but very pricy.
https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/volkswagen/...
I’m against the grain, I’d weigh that in. It’s a very low spec and a wheezy 1.6 that will only ever run right with a Weber conversion. Parts are painful too, particularly panels. The 1.8 GTi was only 115 bhp (bar the 16v). Tis a turd with a weird angle on the top of the gear lever 
Please post underside pics when you get that far.
Please post underside pics when you get that far.
Having had one of these in the distant past I'd have to agree with the scrap it comments, perhaps some pervert will pay you the £49 back for the non cracked dash but the rest of it is not worth saving.
That Pierburg carb will be knackered, probably that which laid it up in 1990, but even with a replacement Weber the 1.6 is woeful. Structurally it will be as solid as toasted cheese.
Of course that's just my opinion and that counts for nothing, if you like the car go for it but it's going to be a lot of hassle for a fairly sparse reward.
That Pierburg carb will be knackered, probably that which laid it up in 1990, but even with a replacement Weber the 1.6 is woeful. Structurally it will be as solid as toasted cheese.
Of course that's just my opinion and that counts for nothing, if you like the car go for it but it's going to be a lot of hassle for a fairly sparse reward.
I'm going to go against the 'weigh it in' grain - that's a lovely, original, single wiper 'rocco that hasn't been messed around with and could be a very rare survivor of an 'ordinary' spec model, when most have been turned into Storm/GTi replicas.
You'll never get your money back but, provided it's not too rotten, that could be a lovely thing to have.
Ps, what's the scoop with the W201 MB in the background of one of the pics?
You'll never get your money back but, provided it's not too rotten, that could be a lovely thing to have.
Ps, what's the scoop with the W201 MB in the background of one of the pics?
PositronicRay said:
I don't think it's "worth" restoring most old cars, you do it cause you want to. Much kudos and respect to those that do.
Agree with that. Modern cars are so much better in (nearly) every way, but that really isn't the point.
These old cars are restored because you want to, its a hobby, and I'm glad people do this.
I love a good classic car display, and the odd ride in one.
Many classic cars look so much cooler and prettier than the average bloated modern offering.
Thanks to all so far!
I appreciate some will like it and some won't. I've scrapped far too much stuff over the years for one reason or another. So I thought it was best I would save something for a change. Cost prohibitive most definitely, but it was never going to get a full hit, nut and bolt restoration that I usually like to do.
It's an early car with an unusual spec and they can't be more than a handful left, which encourages me the get it back to a roadworthy condition and rarity alone. I don't believe it was put away for any other reason than my friend's Dad liked buying stuff to proceed with little interest afterwards.
The 1.6 is most undesirable I know. But I've come to appreciate the experience of driving a car irrespective of how quick, or pin-sharp in the handling department the car is. I adore the Mercedes 190E, but people scoff because it doesn't handle as well as an E30. Yet the 190E is superior in every other way but not as coveted.
I never bought to the car to keep, but to try and preserve it for someone that had that very same car years ago that must have one again.
I appreciate some will like it and some won't. I've scrapped far too much stuff over the years for one reason or another. So I thought it was best I would save something for a change. Cost prohibitive most definitely, but it was never going to get a full hit, nut and bolt restoration that I usually like to do.
It's an early car with an unusual spec and they can't be more than a handful left, which encourages me the get it back to a roadworthy condition and rarity alone. I don't believe it was put away for any other reason than my friend's Dad liked buying stuff to proceed with little interest afterwards.
The 1.6 is most undesirable I know. But I've come to appreciate the experience of driving a car irrespective of how quick, or pin-sharp in the handling department the car is. I adore the Mercedes 190E, but people scoff because it doesn't handle as well as an E30. Yet the 190E is superior in every other way but not as coveted.
I never bought to the car to keep, but to try and preserve it for someone that had that very same car years ago that must have one again.
Adibum said:
I'm not sure if you're into naming your cars, but with that number plate I'd have to call it Twiggy
Good one - I was going to say 'Stuart' but that is better!I really like these, but as others have said perhaps an underside inspection before throwing too much time and money at it... and that's coming from someone who is a patron of lost causes.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff