Two and seven
OttOmobile continues to expand its coverage of Golf production history, and that of the Scirocco, as Stephen Paul Hardy discovers this month.
When Volkswagen’s new-generation water-cooled models were successively unveiled to the world in 1973-74, two distinct design influences were emerging. Whilst the Polo and Passat evolved out of Audi design influences,Volkswagen looked to Italdesign for the Golf and Scirocco. The resulting Giorgetto Giugiaro designs for both were crisp, fresh, and distinctive, and are still very much admired by many. Whilst the Golf is now into its eighth generation, the Scirocco has, despite a twenty-first century renaissance, now passed into automotive production history books.
By the late 1980s,Volkswagen started to hit what could perhaps be described as a ‘flabby’ era in terms of styling. Styling that had lost its edge in all respects. Whilst the second generation Golf was not as crisp as Giugiaro's original, it was, in all respects, an excellent follow-on act. Despite being voted European Car of the Year for 1992 (the first Volkswagen to win the award), the third-generation Golf was seen as disappointing by many. A reputation not regained until 1999 by the fourth-generation with its universal platform design. The Golf ’s ‘sports’ stablemate - the Scirocco - was smoothed down from Giugiaro's original into its second generation by VW in-house designers and launched in 1981. Its eleven year production run at Karmann amounted to just over 290,000, compared with 504,000 of first generation Scirocco.
So we had an era through the nineties where it seems VW’s taste in styling had gone rather mainstream. At the same time, two things were emerging - a lot of special edition models, with badging upgrades, and a lot of emphasis put into increasing engine sizes and power outputs. All of which have direct relevance to two of the latest Volkswagen models from OttOmobile.
VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO SCALA (OT845)
In 1987, six years after the start of second generation Scirocco production,Volkswagen introduced the Scala. It came at a time when the Scirocco range had been successively rebadged in line with trends across the whole VW passenger car range, and in the wake of quite a number of special edition models all promoted with brochures proclaiming “Die neueste Idee von Volkswagen”. Unlike many of those editions, however, the Scala lasted until 1991, just a year short of the end of Scirocco production.
OttOmobile’s model illustrates the car and its era superbly, finished in Alpine White, complete with colour-coordinated bodykit, mirrors, interior and inner spokes of the 14-inch Avus alloys. The white lining to the rear lamp clusters are fully authentic as well. Scala models had this detail in black or white, depending on paintwork colour. Initially the Scala was offered in two paint colours, Paprika Red or Alpine White, followed in 1988 with the addition of
Helios Blue Metallic or Sapphire Metallic, each with coordinated sports seat upholstery and interior trim.
Ottomobile’s choice of Alpine White is perfect, because white editions typified one of the reccurring VW Special Edition colour scheme themes - notably on the Scirocco White Cat edition and various Golf Cabrio models, also made at Karmann. The white paintwork also sets off the black trim detailing very well indeed.
Factory use of bodykits, primarily from Zender, was also very much a theme employed by VW in the 1980s on the Scirocco, both as here on the Scala and also on Ottomobile’s back-catalogue GTX 16v version (OT065). With its high quality finish and excellent detailing, the Scala is another superb model from OttOmobile - and another offering that sits very squarely in the 1980s essentials theme discussed in the December issue.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 7R (OT333)
Unquestionably, the 1976 Golf GTI set a whole new trend in the ‘hot hatch’ market, and was instrumental in other ways as well in setting trends and standards. The second generation Golf GTI continued the success and was developed into the G60 (OT027) and ultimately the Rallye (OT056) as the eighties rolled over into the nineties. It was at this point, and the introduction of the third generation Golf, that Volkswagen really started digging deeper to better the GTI with the 2.8l VR6 (OT046), then adding 4WD to make the VR6 Syncro (OT544). The pattern was set for the Golf R to upstage the GTI in terms of power and performance.
From the fourth generation onwards - for example the Golf 4R32 (OT086) or Golf 5R32 (OT192) - the Golf R has sat at the top of the range, with steadily increasing engine power output for subsequent generations. A trend exemplified by OttOmobile’s latest Golf R model - that of the seventh generation – that delivers over 300bhp from its 2-litre turbocharged engine. Whilst the GTI was about power with sporting image flair, the R series image is much more that of a sleeper. From a distance, you have to look carefully to spot the tell-tale large twin exhausts and particular style of radiator grille or alloy wheel sculpturing to differentiate it from ‘lesser’ Golf models in the range.
So you would be forgiven for thinking, at a cursory glance, that OttOmobile’s latest Golf is… another contemporary Golf. That is until closer inspection reveals the R badging on tailgate, seats etc. All these tell-tale traits of the R are included in customary OttOmobile style on this unassuming Lapiz Blue wolf in sheep’s clothing. The model is so outwardly low-key and unpretentious, it is difficult to explain just why it comes over so well, but maybe that is just the point. It does. Oh and those tinted windows are very good indeed. Just as I finished writing this, OttOmobile announced that this Golf 7R will also be released in white during February 2021.
KEEPING THEM THE WAY THEY WERE MADE
Volkswagen used to have a slogan that ran something along those lines. In my July 2020 issue Signing off column ( Acidic comments), I mentioned the model care kit available from Club Solido. I am very pleased indeed to say that the same kit is now available in the OttOmobile catalogue (OT999), and it is essential when doing these photoshoots.