Introducing new purchase...1976 Mk1 Scirocco

[poprocco]

Browsing through Unique Cars magazine just before Christmas, like a beacon in the night, there she was, '1976 Mk1 Scirocco, one owner, private import'.
I've gotta see this!! Timing was bad, I was running out of space and money a little tight, but what a rare opportunity.
After a quick chat with the 90yo owner who had loved this car immensely but had handed in his licence 12 months ago, I fell in love.
The wonderful gentleman gave me a month to sort stuff out upon receipt of deposit and the beautiful girl would be mine. Time to rekindle VW love.
Fast forward to now....and I havent sold my Corvair to make room but where there is a will there is a way.
Sat down with the owner as he shed a small tear as he handed over the keys to end a 35 year relationship. He shared stories of adventures in the car through Spain and Portugal and how he couldn't leave the car behind when emmigrating here in 1978 from the UK.
The car is in great condition, with a couple minor issues. Interior has been tastefully retrimmed some time ago as the yellow tartan wore through but looks amazing!
Mechanically she is great and her paint gleams with only a couple blemishes including a spot of rust in the lower front r/h guard.
I am unsure of what to do with her...she does not deserve to be messed with much. Have ordered some 60mm low springs and do not know what to do about wheels. Anything I do will need to be easily reversable so as not to spoil any history.
She is the third VW in my life having previously owned a 1996 B4 Passat VR6 and a '67 'Rat Look' Beetle.
The 'Rocco currently shares garage space with a 1963 Chev Corvair (for sale), 1969 BMW 2002 (wife's weekender), 1959 Mercedes 190 and my daily 1972 Mercedes 230.6.
Looking forward to learning lots from other owners on here...this is a rad forum!!

[OEM G60]

Wow what a find!! How many miles on the clock? Looks mint

[h100vw]

That's a fantastic looking piece of automotive art.

It's going to look great, lowered with some big wheels!

Gavin

[roccodingo]

Fantastic looking specimen Poprocco, the previous owner would have felt like he was giving a child away

Keep it as original as possible ( reversable mods ) I would suggest you have a look at the scirocco pages on VWVortex.com and also http://sciroccoregisterforum.co.uk/carforum/ All a good bunch of people with access to some hard to find stuff for the early cars .

[Jarred]

Wow, looks great! More photos!!!

I think it'll look great lowered with some timeless classic wheels on it, ie BBS RS001.

[poprocco]

Thanks for the props and advice guys. She's got 228,000 kms on her, she is well used. Scirocco register is great too, thanks!
Think I do need wheels, was thinking a 'minilite/superlite/watanabe' style but first things first.

She has a leak from the Rocker cover gasket I think which is creating plumes of white smelly smoke as oil drips on the manifold, I imagine a pretty easy fix.
Also, and a little more concerning was during a 80-90kmh run on our expressway she would intermittently start surging a little at speed then kicking out lots of blue smoke, then it would stop. Anyone else had this problem, I know she needs a tune but have never encountered anything like this before???
Cheers

[mooka]

I saw this in Unique Cars as well; called up and was told it was sold... glad it went to a good home!

[Hydro]

Mine had the rocker cover gaskit issue too. Seems that when they sit for a while the gaskit shrinks.
New gaskit $18 from supa cheap [ they order it in ]. You will probably notice that the rocker cover gaskit nuts are loose too. It is an easy
fix.[ I used aviation form a gaskit to stick it to the rocker cover , & bolt it back on. ]
This may fix the surge problem as well - do the gaskit first and road test.

I reckon our Scirocco's are Brothers. I must see when the build date on my 1976 TS Rocco is.

[roccodingo]

As said to Poprocco, ditch the cork 3 piece one for the one piece rubber unit. Loon should have them.

[poprocco]

Well, got rocker cover gasket fixed but it seems that this is the least of my problems. Lots of oil in the air filter box and still bellowing out smoke under load. Most likely needs rings.....may be time for an engine rebuild.
Looks like the 'rocco will be a garage ornament for a while, not quite the plan but stuff happens.

[roccodingo]

Do a compression test as the valve stem seals could be the culprit. With the mileage you posted the rings could well be gone. Dunno how you will go for O/S pistons if it needs a rebore tho, maybe a better option to step up to 1.8 power !!!

[poprocco]

Thanks Grant. Diagnosis seems to be rings. Gonna whack in a catch can to nulify blow back in the interim, see how that goes.
That will buy me some time to consider my options.

[roccodingo]

Take the hose that comes from the top of the rocker cover and plumb straight into a plastic 600mL coke bottle with small holes drilled around the neck near the top. been using these for years... Will get a pic if you need one k

[poprocco]

Awesome!! Will give that a whirl.

[poprocco]

Solved the blowback problem, running well, have done about 500kms in the past week......then more frustration! Grrrrrrr! Now seems to be some crap in carby as it keeps stalling on take off unless I rev the bejeebuz out of her. Oh the joys of buying a car that has been driven minimally for the last 18 months.
Makes me think that the Weber kits on ebay may be a good investment while I'm at it. Hmmmmm