• The Mk1 Scirocco was introduced in 1974 as the replacement for VW’s beloved Karmann Ghia.
• Only 500 thousand Mk1 Sciroccos were sold, compared to the Mk1 Golf’s 6.9 million.
• Jay’s Scirocco is the result of nearly three decades of refinement and modification, featuring some of the rarest and most desirable parts in the VW community.

The VW Scirocco seems to have always lived in the shadow of the VW Golf, or Rabbit as you may know it. I suspect that comes down to the fact that the Golf is one of the most popular cars ever made, and as a result, everyone has a connection to a Golf in one form or another. The Scirocco, meanwhile, was “just another sporty coupé” to most people.

Modified examples of early Sciroccos follow the same lead, but Jay McToldridge’s 1978 VW Scirocco GL stands out from the VW crowd. Not only because of its rarity but because it’s dripping in some of the hottest parts known to VW-kind.

15 YEARS OF PATIENCE

If some of you recognize the name ‘Jay McToldridge’ that comes as no surprise. The man has been a big part of the VW scene in Europe for over two decades and is one of the men behind Players Classic in the UK and Players Select in California.

These two shows are a pretty big deal, so much so that the Pit+Paddock x Bilstein E91 GTS Tribute was on display at Players Classic this year. It’s only right to expect the team behind it to have some pretty high-quality metal in their own collections.

Jay isn’t the first owner to have put his touch on this Scirocco; it belonged to an ex-engineer friend of his for 25 years before Jay’s ownership. In that time, the car underwent transformation after transformation—different engines, parts—until it eventually became a hardcore backroad stormer with a 2.0-liter G60 supercharged engine under the hood.

It was always an object of desire in Jay’s eyes—being an inspiration for his own long-standing Mk1 Golf build—so when the opportunity came up to buy it, he simply couldn’t resist.

PERIOD CORRECT

The engine is a real David amongst Goliaths. It’s easy to throw an ABF or VR6 motor into an old-school chassis these days for reliable power, but they’re far from the most characterful units out there. VR6 exhaust note aside, they lack charm. Whilst Jay ran the G60 supercharged engine for a while, the compressor blowing a hole out of its housing put an end to that. I suppose that’s what several years running 368 horsepower will do, eh?

Today, you’ll find a Mk2 GTI 1.9 PB engine in the Scirocco’s smoothed engine bay, albeit with no standard components left on it; the 1.9 PB block is paired up to a KWL VW Group H ‘VW Motorsport’ head, whilst every part inside is upgraded. JE 9.8:1 compression pistons on 144mm H-beam forged rods are connected to a forged crankshaft. In the KWL head, you’ll find solid valve lifters and Schrick springs with titanium retainers and Arrow Precision cam followers. This is all to compliment the PE Motorsport 333º camshaft providing 13.5mm of lift, of course.

The intake side is addressed with quad Jenvey 45mm throttle bodies on a Jenvey manifold, whilst Techtonics 4-1 ‘race’ headers flow into a custom exhaust with a single rear silencer. Mk4 Golf Bosch coil pack and Bosch 440cc sequential injectors help sort out fuel and ignition while Megasquirt M2 engine management controls the lot. Jay’s Scirocco is currently running a very conservative tune to 216 horsepower.

MODIFY AND ADD LIGHTNESS

Whilst Jay stresses the engine’s potential to run much more power, it’s important to remember that the Mk1 Scirocco weighed around 1800lbs (816kg) when it left the factory in 1978. Decades of refinement have turned this Scirocco into a real featherweight, dropping as many pounds as possible whilst still keeping it original where it counts. It may still have steel doors, hood, and trunk lid but the side and rear glass has been replaced with the best fitting Lexan pieces I’ve ever seen.

There may not have been too much to begin with either, but the interior is about as stripped out as you can get without it being an unpleasant place to sit. The OEM dashboard has been retained, trimmed in suede, and with a prominent gear shift indicator on display. Cobra Nogaro seats, custom trimmed with leather outers and black/blue/silver plaid inners stand out in the cabin – a nod to the original Golf GTI. Luke harnesses hold the occupants whilst a body color six-point Safety Devices roll cage brings the 46-year-old car’s safety up to scratch. A detail that is often overlooked on a race/track build is the carpets, but Jay’s Scirocco has a molded set fitted thanks to Newton Commercial—a classic car specialist in the UK. My favorite touch is the carbon fiber steering wheel column, which coordinates well with the carbon fiber door cards. If you look through the Personal steering wheel, you’ll find gauges from a 16v VW Corrado, redlining at 8000rpm with a CANbus OLED display for information.

Power is transmitted through a very special piece indeed: a Eurospeed VW Motorsport 6-speed close ratio gearbox with a semi-helical gear set. An AP Racing VR6 clutch handles the power whilst a Quaife LSD ensures proper power distribution across the front wheels. There’s no messing around with shifter cables here, as Jay’s Scirocco has been converted to run a direct shifter rod instead.

The fun touches inside the car elevate it for me, like the OMP knurled pedals and various stickers dotted around.

KEEP IT SIMPLE (STUPID)

I don’t think there’s much you can do to improve on the body lines of the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed coupé. It’s such a pretty and well-proportioned car, from the bluff, muscle car-esque nose to the little kick-up at the top of its Kamm-tail.

Jay’s kept his simple, with the Porsche Laguna Blue doing most putting in the work to make the lines pop in the sun. Base model Scirocco L headlights, affectionately known as ‘TV’ lights, make the front end look much wider and neater than the four round lights the Scirocco came with.

A carbon fiber front duckbill adds some aggression to the little coupé, but the real show-stoppers are the magnesium Ronal Racing wheels, measuring in at 17×7 and 17×8 inches.

I adore the patina you see on old magnesium racing wheels, and the bright silver finish shows it all off beautifully. The painted Ronal markings are the cherry on the cake, whilst the secret touches are the custom 5×114.3 hubs to run these rare wheels.

STOP, TURN, AND GO

Behind the Ronals you’ll find Corrado VR6 brakes front and rear, plenty powerful to stop the featherweight Scirocco without breaking a sweat. Jay controls these through a GRP adjustable-bias pedal box with a Wilwood master cylinder. KW V3 coilover suspension gives Jay’s Scirocco its significant drop whilst transforming its handling too.

It’s easy to see the dedication that’s gone into this car. Not only from the meticulous approach that went into making it a little back road weapon, but from the quality of the work, parts, and personal touches that Jay has undertaken to transform the VW into his own. It looks great, sounds fantastic and I can tell you now…it leaves bigger, more powerful cars in its rearview mirror. What a build.

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