RAD RIDES: 1987 VW Scirocco 16V
Back to Basics
STORY | Evan Griffey
Photography | Cole McKnight
The Volkswagen Scirocco holds an important place in VW’s history as one of the brand’s earliest attempts to inject real style and driving excitement into its front-engine, water-cooled era. Introduced in 1974 and designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the original Scirocco arrived just ahead of the Golf and helped signal Volkswagen’s transition away from rear-engine air-cooled cars like the Beetle. It proved that VW could build a sporty, modern coupe on a practical platform, effectively laying the groundwork for the hot hatch movement that the Golf GTI would soon define. In many ways, the Scirocco acted as both a design and engineering bridge, showing customers and VW itself that performance and everyday usability could coexist in a compact, affordable package.
GIANCARLO LUCIA’S 1987 VW SCIROCCO 16V
When he was 16, Giancarlo Lucia (@porsche_panda) bought his first car, a 1986 Scirocco. The year was 1999, and while the VW was a “cool” car when it was released, his was in terrible shape and didn’t come close to reaching the cool retro status the marque enjoys today.
For Giancarlo, the VW Scirocco wasn’t just another car — it was his first. He loved the way it looked, even in its rough-around-the-edges condition. At the time, he was earning $4.90 an hour working at Taco Del Mar and Regal Cinemas, and the $1,600 price tag seemed astronomical. Still, after a year of hard work and saving, he finally bought it, and it was all his. Two years later, he made what seemed like the “smart” decision at the time, trading it in for a 2001 Hyundai Accent. Looking back, it’s a decision he still regrets, but that 10-year warranty was hard to ignore as a broke college student.
Born in 1983, the Scirocco always held a deeper pull for Giancarlo—a nostalgic connection to his past. That attachment never really faded. Over the years, he kept an eye on Bring a Trailer and other listings, waiting for the right example to appear. Every so often, a promising one would surface, but nothing quite matched what he was looking for. Then, finally, in November 2025, he found it. The moment he saw this particular car, he knew he had to have it—and this time, he made sure it didn’t slip away.
There are more than just fond memories here. “Back in the day, the Scirocco had a flashy design, a relatively affordable price, and when the Mk2 16v engine came out in 1986, it was quite groundbreaking technology. While by today’s standards that engine lacks power, it was darn impressive when it was released, and since the car was so lightweight, it provided a great driving experience. One cool tie-in into my current car lineup is that I also own a Porsche GT4 RS. The Scirocco and GT4 RS were both built in the same factory in Osnabrück, Germany.”
THE SCIROCCO DRIVING EXPERIENCE
When asked about the experience behind the wheel, Giancarlo jumps in with both feet. “As someone who is 42, I have grown up in the modern car era where 0-60 times, ¼-mile times, Nürburgring times, and social media flex have unfortunately ruined a lot of car culture and the idea of what a driving experience really is about. Not too long ago, I would question why someone would want to spend a ton of money on an old air-cooled 911 when you could easily buy a 991 for that type of cash. I just didn’t really get the old-school driving experience. In my GT4 RS, I can be doing 100 mph, and it feels like 30. In my Scirocco, I am doing 30 mph, and it feels like 100 mph. I now truly get it. It is just so analog, connected, and fun to drive. And rowing your own gears always makes me grin. #savethemanuals”
Giancarlo says cars are meant to be driven, and that’s exactly what he plans to do with the VW. His plans include taking it to an Avants autocross day, driving out to the Olympic Peninsula to open it up on some backroads, and continuing to use it for his grocery runs. He says, “you will be seeing her around Seattle plenty!” We’ll be on the lookout.
