VW SCIROCCO MKII

Stylish and very usable, Golf MkI underpinnings mean there’s no shortage of effective mods

When the original Volkswagen Scirocco appeared in 1974, it was based on the Golf MkI floorpan and used that car’s running gear. When the Scirocco MkII arrived in 1981 it was still based on the Golf MkI, but now there was a more modern set of clothes without any loss of style or usability.

The Scirocco’s Golf running gear ensures that is easy to upgrade, and because this stylish hatch is more popular among younger classic car fans than older drivers, originality isn’t especially important. Indeed, a few upgrades – low-key or otherwise – are frequently viewed as being very desirable by most Scirocco MkII owners.

The Scirocco MkII made its European debut in spring 1981, but it would be another year before the car reached British showrooms. Early UK examples came with 1457cc or 1588cc engines, the latter in carburetted or injected form. A new range of power units was introduced during 1982/1983 – a more fuelefficient 1595cc carb-fed unit (in the CL, GL and GT) and, in time, a very torquey carburetted 1781cc (in the GL, GTL, GTS, early Scala and GTI).

The GTI was fitted with the 1781cc injected engine from late 1982; it also went into the GTX, Storm and later Scala. Most surviving Sciroccos have a 1.8-litre engine of either type; because the injected engine is the same unit as that in the late Golf GTI MkI and early MkII, there are plenty of ways to upgrade it.

Or, as the Scirocco Register’s Sean Fleetwood says: ‘The original engine can be replaced with something else altogether. A few cars have had 20vT engines from the Golf GTI MkIV and there are a few diesel conversions. Any number of four-cylinder VAG engines will go in, including units from the Golf MkIV or Audi TT MkI. Some fabrication might be required, but engine mount kits are readily

available.’