Although it is assumed by many to be a Golf coupé, the Volkswagen Scirocco actually predated the compact hatchback by almost a year. 

Known internally at VW as the Type 53, it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1974 and was manufactured exclusively at the Karmann factory in Osnabrück on VW’s behalf, with sleek Giugiaro styling. 

It remained in production for 15 years, going through two facelifts before being replaced by the Corrado in late 1989. 

The last of the original Sciroccos were the ‘Scala’ special editions, introduced in 1987. Originally with a 1.8-litre carburettor engine, later models from mid-1988 had the 112bhp fuel-injected engine from the Golf GTI. 

Colour coding was key. Bodykit, seats, mirrors, bumpers, wheels and even the Scala logo matched the body colour and the tail lights were either black or white trimmed.

Colour choices were Alpine white with Lasky white seats, Helios blue with Mauritius blue seats, Paprika red with Carmine red seats or Sapphire metallic with Dove grey seats. That latter combination is what we have here – and it’s a really nice one, recently restored by a well-known Volkswagen specialist in Scotland. 

Supplied new by Oddington Garage, a rural VW dealer in Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds, the Scirocco remained with its original owner for 28 years before being sold as a restoration project to the owner before its present keeper. 

The next owner was based in Cheshire, but had the car transported to Retro Restorations in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, for a comprehensive body restoration that was carried out in 2018. The car has covered a low mileage since, but in 2021 it was treated to some pretty comprehensive mechanical work to keep it in tip-top condition, including a full cambelt service. It has covered less than 500 miles since. 

The Scirocco comes with a comprehensive folder full of bills and receipts including the original owners’ wallet, containing the handbook and service booklet, which is stamped all the way through to 118,904 miles.

There are also some more recent bills including one for over £500 of mechanical work in 2021, along with a welcome letter from the VW Scirocco Register and selection of old MOT certificates. The car will be sold with a brand new MOT.

As you’d expect from a car that has been recently restored, the Scirocco looks absolutely terrific in its pale, almost grey-like Sapphire Blue paint. 

The panels are all dent and ripple free and the body kit and bumpers are in good condition, with only one minor paint chip on the nearside edge of the front bumper. 

The alloy wheels and complex polyurethane rear spoiler are all excellent and it has good quality recent tyres all round. 

The Dove Grey seats work very neatly with the Sapphire Blue exterior and are in excellent order. They’re the original items and haven’t been retrimmed, which is testimony to both VW’s excellent original build quality and a life time of careful ownership.

The seat fabric is clean, excellent and barely worn other than a tiny amount to the driver’s side seat squab, whilst the dash, door cards and carpets are in comparably good order, while it’s all fresh, clean and very smartly presented. 

The boot is also excellent and the parcel shelf operates as it should, while a full-sized spare wheel and tool kit are stowed in the spare wheel well. 

With a recent service and new cambelt, there should be nothing here to concern any future owner.

It starts on the button and  runs smoothly, while a short test drive sowed noting of concern with effective brakes and no strange noises from the steering or suspension. The vendor reports that it drives very well with no apparent issues. 

This is a really nice and well-restored example of a classic 1980s VW, in excellent overall condition and with a superb paint finish and smart interior. 

Couple that with a comprehensive service history and lots of bills and receipts to back up the work carried out recently, and you have a very nice example of a likeable and very useable car that will only appreciate in value if you look after it. 

It’s in show condition as it is, and could very easily be made concours with a little bit of careful detailing. A lovely example of a rare and appreciating car.