Car Lust--Volkswagen Scirocco Mk. I
I've discussed the 1970s "Super Coupes" phenomenon in this space before in my Ford Capri Car Lust post, but to quickly recap, the "Super Coupes" were the first, vestigial evolution of inexpensive sport coupes from their humble economy car origins. Cars like the Ford Probe, Mazda MX-6, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Acura Integra, and Acura RSX are the spiritual successors to the original Super Coupes of the early 1970s.
The very first Super Coupes were a pretty motley bunch. The class was initially made up of lightly made-over Ford Pintos and Chevrolet Vegas, in addition to the very first Toyota Celicas and relative thoroughbreds such as the Capri, the Opel Manta, and Mazda RX-3. There are times, though, when a car enters a class and instantly raises the bar, making its competitors look thoroughly antiquated and raising customer expectations for the whole class.
Such was the case when the first Volkswagen Scirocco joined the party. With elegant, crisp lines penned by Italian master stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro and better-composed hardware than that offered by the half-hearted semi-economy cars in the class the Scirocco was an instant classic upon its debut.
The Scirocco weighed less than 2,000 pounds; for context, a 2008 Toyota Corolla weighs 2,800 pounds. Because of that, the Scirocco was still moderately fast for the time despite having only a 1.6-liter, 76-horsepower engine for motivation. The Scirocco's lifespan corresponded with the highly entertaining era between 1975 and 1985 when manufacturers routinely advertised 0-50 times because the lower numbers sounded better. But even during this time, the Scirocco's 10.5 0-60 time was nothing to sneeze at.
No, the Scirocco didn't have much power--an oversight not rectified until the Mk. II Scirocco received a 16-valve head a decade later--but its sweet handling, light weight, and style to die for gave it the visceral edge missing from its competitors.
The Scirocco, its eponymous successor, and the Corrado all lived on and helped define the sports coupe market, but the line has always been undermined by the appearance of its class-defining sibling and mechanical cousin, the hot-hatchback Volkswagen GTI. The GTI lives on today; the Scirocco/Corrado died nearly a decade ago. Unfortunately, there's no sign yet that the brand new European-market Scirocco will make it to the US.
The original Scirocco was a truly revolutionary car when it debuted and is still the purest, lightest, and, in my opinion, best-looking of the Super Coupes bunch. If given a choice between a mint-condition Scirocco or Capri at an equal price, I would have a tough decision on my hands. At the end of the day, though, I think I'd have to go with the Scirocco.
I love the two commercials below, one from 1979 and one from 1980. The video quality is a bit dodgy, but you can definitely feel Volkswagen trying to emphasize the fact that the Scirocco isn't just another Volkswagen economy car. I don't remember the "Volkswagen Does It Again" ad tag line, but I'm sure there are some around here who do.
The two photos of the gorgeous yellow Scirocco came from Scirocco.org; the print ad came from AdClassix.com.
--Chris H.
Chris Hafner on April 04, 2008 at 01:58 PM
A few notes and questions raised by the commericals:
- the driver in the 1980 commercial looks a bit like the late, great engineer and race car driver Mark Donohue. And the sports-racer in the foreground at the beginning looks vaguely Lola-ish. Not quite a T70.
- The punch line of the 1979 commercial confuses me.
"I'd have thought you would have a Ferrari or a Maserati!"
"I do."
That sounds vaguely clever, but what does it mean? Does that mean that she also owns a Ferrari or a Maserati, but prefers to drive the Scirocco? Or that she thinks her Scirocco is like a Ferrari or a Maserati and she's really making a complex metaphorical point? Or that she either didn't understand the question or is a pathological liar?
- Exactly who or what sort of entity does the cheesy announcer voice represent? Is it meant to be the voice of the viewer? The words, if not the voice, seem to indicate a child to me.
For one thing, the voice learned in 1979 that the car was a Scirocco, yet only one year later it was asking, "What's that little beauty?" For another, the voice has that earnest, easily rattled and excited quality of a young child, say 4-7 years old.
"On a RACETRACK?!?!"
"Is it quick? It's quick!"
"Watch the wall!"
"Wha ... wha ... what are you doing?"
Then, slightly rattled, as if intimidated, "It ... it's a sports car. It's a sports car!"
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on April 04, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Looking at these pictures reminded me of a car I haven't thought of in just about two decades. It was in 1988 that my Ford Courier (earlier entry) was totaled. My dad and I embarked on a quest for a car. One object of our search was a Plymouth Arrow.
I test drove it and really enjoyed it, but my dad nixed the purchase and ended up buying me a decent 1984 Ford Escort station wagon that did well for me for a number of years.
But reading the ad, I wish I could have had the Arrow for a few years first. Maybe not as practical as the Escort wagon, but it would have been fun...
It wasn't a bad looker. And I don't think I've seen a single Arrow since that test drive in Cisco, TX almost exactly 20 years ago.
link added here in case html doesn't work:
http://jalopnik.com/cars/retro/straight-arrow-or-fancy-arrow-plymouthsubishi-225927.php
Mochi Mochi on April 04, 2008 at 06:40 PM
I would buy a Scirocco tomorrow if:
1) I could find one in good shape... it was an amazingly simple and easy car to work on.
2) If I could fit in it. I loved this car - I dreamed about this car - I sat in the Scirocco and my head was hitting the roof.
This is a German car. Big tall Germans are supposed to fit in it. No headroom. I was so frustrated. I put the seat so far back and down - even so I could not fit. Alas - no Scirocco for me.
So nice to think about cars that weigh less than 2000lbs. This car does really bring back wonderful memories.
Brian on April 04, 2008 at 08:18 PM
It's cute. Now I finally know it's pronounced "shee-rock-oh." Those ads are vvay cheese, gotta try one. But is it a Maserati? No, it's a prototype for a Golf GTI, sort of. I'd have to wager that the 1.1 L would get astronomical gas mileage.
Mochi Mochi on April 04, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Ok - so now I have looked in a number of online locations and have not been able to locate a gen 1 Scirocco. I did find a few gen2 cars with the rounded body - and ya know... I don't like the 2nd gen any more. The original - lower power - scirocco is a much nicer looking car. These things are looking really rare.
Jim Gerrish on April 04, 2008 at 09:23 PM
While I was still single, I owned two successive Mk 1 Sciroccos, the later one with a dealer-installed turbo kit. Without a doubt, it was the sweetest little pocket rocket I've ever driven. Despite the diminutive dimensions, the hatchback and removable rear seat made it a very practical gear hauler as well. I spent several years driving to and from band gigs with three keyboards (in the days when they were big heavy tolex-covered plywood instruments), a couple of 15" stage monitors, mixer and amps and still had room for a passenger. Even moved a refrigerator in it once, sticking out the back with the hatch up.
The little car happily put up with such abuse and still brought a smile to my face through thousands of miles of late night romps thru the back roads of northern New Mexico. It also consistently won its class (E modified, due to the turbo kit) in dozens of weekend autocrosses.
Alas, with marriage and a move to South Texas, I couldn't take a non air-conditioned car anymore and it stayed behind. But I keep hoping that one day the right Mk 1 will appear again and I'll be ready to take it back. Thanks for reawakening some great memories.
Rob the SVX guy on April 04, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Thanks Chris. I was waiting for this one.
Mochi Mochi: Mk2s are actually boxier than the Mk1s, not curvier. They're extremely 80s, which is cool. I'd really take either, if done up right both are amazing cars, and either version will probably be my next car, after my 89 hondas and my SVX. I love weird, quirky cars, and I love ital design, so ... it's natural.
Anthony Cagle on April 05, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I really like the looks of that for some odd reason. I never gave them much thought before, but I like that. That would be a totally great project car to restore, tune up, and get about 150hp out of. That would totally rock.
Anthony Cagle on April 05, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Oh, and I always took that line to mean that she did have those cars, but preferred to drive the Scirocco.
Diggs on April 05, 2008 at 12:40 PM
You mean at one time in the distant past, Volkswagen make cars for male drivers?
Bryan Frymire on April 05, 2008 at 01:42 PM
I love the 1979 commercial with its "It's Raining Men" disco vamp.
I agree that the announcer's voice in the '80 commercial sounds like he just got off the short bus. Weird.
I don't know anyone who ever owned a Scirocco. My homeboy had a GTI though. We drove to Florida and back in it. Electronic ignition module fried on the way there. We pushed it into a parking lot and got a tow from a friend who lived about an hour away. Stayed overnight, put new module in the next day and were on our way. This was back when I was young. The GTI was a nice car, no doubt.
Rich V on April 05, 2008 at 01:59 PM
I had a 79, bought it used...I LOVED THAT CAR!!!! alas, it didn't survive my (then) wife's pregnancy...as the "family" car, we couldn't easily put a child seat in it...traded for Isuzu Trooper II in 1989...I still miss it
Rich V on April 05, 2008 at 01:59 PM
I had a 79, bought it used...I LOVED THAT CAR!!!! alas, it didn't survive my (then) wife's pregnancy...as the "family" car, we couldn't easily put a child seat in it...traded for Isuzu Trooper II in 1989...I still miss it
Steaming Pile on April 05, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Shave and a haircut...six bits!
MadDoug on April 05, 2008 at 02:32 PM
My first car after grad school was a '79 Sirocco, which a mechanic friend of mine outfitted with an aftermarket Calloway Turbo, an oil cooler, and a beefed up suspension, and this was one fantastic sports car. It got the 0-60 time under 7 seconds, and the handling was improved to the point of fantastic. It was a great car!
Craig on April 05, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Ah, memories. I had a 1977 Scirroco. Wrecked it in a spin-out, had it rebuilt and painted Corvette white. It was a sweet little ride. I replaced it with a 1983 VW GTI. That was a fun car, too.
PersonFromPorlock on April 05, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Never had a Sirrocco but did have two rabbits with about the same working bits. Fun to drive but the gas mileage was a bit disappointing - 25-27 mpg in suburban driving - and the plastic parts, some of them important, began to fail at around 100,000 miles. It's very disconcerting to have the shift lever suddenly sink into the floor up to the knob!
djl4570 on April 05, 2008 at 03:50 PM
A college friend had a 1976 Scirocco with the 1.6L Fuel Injected engine. I spent a lot of time driving that car on some of our excursions including one trip from Sacramento to Disneyland and back on a weekend. One of my lingering memories was how exceptionally well the brakes would stop the car from seventy plus MPH. My experience with this car figured strongly. The first new car I bought was a 1984 Rabbit GTI.
Jeff Weimer on April 05, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Guigario designed a prototype 2nd gen Scirocco that was striking on the outside and quite radical in the interior. It had adjustable pods on wither side of the gauge cluster and the whole cluster would adjust with the tilt of the steering wheel. Unfortunately, VW wanted to begin designing their cars in house and nixed the idea. The 2nd gen Scirocco is what they ultimately developed.
A shortsighted mistake on VW's part? Wouldn't you have liked to have all that high tech, high style instead? Not to worry - you can buy all of that today. A small Japanese automaker was looking for the right vehicle with which to enter the US market. They saw the prototype at a car show and offered to purchase the design outright - including the interior. The only change they made was to change the wheelbase to fit their existing rear-wheel drive chassis (Scirocco was front-wheel drive and the rear wheels were placed further aft) - a derivative of the Chevy Chevette (I'm not kidding). Powered by either a 2.3 liter 4 or 2.0 liter turbo 4 engine, it made quite a splash for the company and put it solidly in the second tier of Japanese automakers almost immediately. Perhaps you remember their commercials.
Have you figured out what car that was yet? Is the suspense killing you?
The car is ........
(drumroll please)
The 1984-88 Isuzu Impulse.
Isuzu did almost nothing to alter the design - it even has the one single windshield wiper, just the the 1G Scirocco.
somehistorian on April 05, 2008 at 08:04 PM
From Wikipedia article on Volkswagen:
"Adolf Hitler had a keen interest in cars even though he did not drive. In 1933, shortly after taking over as leader of Germany, he asked Ferdinand Porsche to make changes to his original 1931 design to make it more suited for the working man. Hans Ledwinka discussed his ideas with Ferdinand Porsche who used many Tatra design features in the 1938 Kdf-Wagen, later known as the VW Käfer - or Beetle. On 22 June 1934, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche agreed to design the "People's Car" for Hitler."
When not designing Volkswagen vehicles, Hitler was busy killing people.
"One of the foundations of Hitler's social policies was the concept of racial hygiene. It was based on the ideas of Arthur de Gobineau, a French count, a pseudo-science called eugenics which sought to breed humans as if they were farm animals[citation needed], and a misuse[citation needed] of Charles Darwin's ideas called social Darwinism. Applied to human beings, "survival of the fittest" was interpreted as requiring racial purity and killing off "life unworthy of life." The first victims were children with physical and developmental disabilities; those killings occurred in a program dubbed Action T4.[45] After a public outcry, Hitler made a show of ending this program, but the killings in fact continued (see Nazi eugenics).
"Between 1939 and 1945, the SS, assisted by collaborationist governments and recruits from occupied countries, systematically killed somewhere between 11 and 14 million people, including about six million Jews,[46] in concentration camps, ghettos and mass executions, or through less systematic methods elsewhere. Besides being gassed to death, many also died as a result of starvation and disease while working as slave labourers (sometimes benefiting private German companies). Along with Jews, non-Jewish Poles (over three million casualties), alleged communists or political opposition, members of resistance groups, Catholic and Protestant opponents, homosexuals, Roma, the physically handicapped and mentally retarded, Soviet prisoners of war (possibly as many as three million), Jehovah's Witnesses, anti-Nazi clergy, trade unionists, and psychiatric patients were killed. One of the biggest centres of mass-killing was the extermination camp complex of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Hitler never visited the concentration camps and did not speak publicly about the killing in precise terms."
Those who are ignorant of history are, of course, doomed to fall in lust with the cars made by the manufacturers who propped up the Third Reich.
Congrats, Amazon, on a great review! 14 million executed innocents just turned over in their graves.
wngknut on April 05, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Best car I EVER owned. 78 Scirocco, looked identical to the one in the print ad. Lots of good memories growing up with that car. Every so often I'll get the idea of trying to recapture my youth by searching for a decent used one to restore. Alas, we haven't found each other yet. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I'm off to see if there are any available.
Chris Hafner on April 05, 2008 at 09:15 PM
somehistorian: "Those who are ignorant of history are, of course, doomed to fall in lust with the cars made by the manufacturers who propped up the Third Reich."
Whoa, wait, hold on a second--Germany was in World War II?
"Congrats, Amazon, on a great review! 14 million executed innocents just turned over in their graves."
Yep. My appreciation of a Volkswagen Scirocco made in the mid-1970s--a period when West Germany was a firm ally of ours, by the way--is a pretty solid indicator of my pro-Nazi tendencies. Happily, my Car Lust from the previous day, the Anglo-American hybrid super-sedan Lotus Carlton, could be interpreted as being enough pro-RAF and USAAC that it cancels out. Though it was also sold in Germany as the Lotus Omega, so maybe not.
So, when do we send out the mass mail letting all owners of Japanese cars know that they're responsible for the Bataan Death March, all Ford owners that they're anti-Semites, and anybody who has drooled over pictures of a Pontiac GTO or DeLorean DMC-12 that they're (accused) drug traffickers?
Chris Hafner on April 05, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Jeff Weimer: "Have you figured out what car that was yet? Is the suspense killing you?"
Ooh! Ooh!
http://www.carlustblog.com/2008/03/car-lust--isuzu.html
Alexander D. Mitchell IV on April 06, 2008 at 08:51 AM
I had a friend who had a 1987 Audi 5000CS Quattro Turbo refitted with a Porsche turbo, and for all practical purposes it was the Audi "Ur-Quattro" with a big sedan body stuck on top of the chassis. So, my question is, was the Audi's styling lines patterened after the Audi Quattro, or was the Quattro stealing design styles from the Scirocco?
Cookie the Dog's Owner on April 06, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Our friend "somehistorian" isn't much of an historian. The Beetle was designed before the war as a "people's car" to be sold through the "Kraft durch Freude" ("Strength through Joy") organization, which provided "goodies" such as sports clubs and subsidized cruise vacations to working-class people in prewar Germany. The car was announced as forthcoming around 1938 or so, and there issued little savings booklets. You went to the post office and put down 5 marks per week toward the purchase price, and got your booklet stamped. Once you had the requisite number of stamps, you were promised a "People's Car" once they went into production. In 1939, the Germans invaded Poland, and oops! too bad, no cars for the civilian market for the duration of hostilities . . . in effect, the "People's Car" project ended up being a way that the Nazi government scammed its own citizens to finance the war!
In 1945, after the surrender, British army officer Major Ivan Hirst, commanded the unit occupying the town where the "People's Car" factory (which built military vehicles and airplane parts during the war) was located. Major Hirst reopened the plant and had it start building Beetles from the prewar plans as a way to provide employment for the Germans and personal transportation for British officers in the occupation army. The modern Volkswagen corporation was formed in 1948 to operate the factory by the West German government, and spun off into fully private ownership in the 1960s.
(If you can find it, Issue 12 of the British history magazine After the Battle has a long and very detailed article on this subject called "The Volkswagen Story.")
So, you see, "somehistorian," the VW that we all know today never propped up the Third Reich because it didn't exist until after the Third Reich was put out of business. It was, however, a major part of the transformation of postwar Germany into a free, democratic society.
And the Sirocco was a sweet little ride, too.