Taking a quick break from cars— when alternative music was actually… alternative.
Cars we love: the Volkswagen Scirocco
•October 15, 2010 • 13 CommentsNo, not the all new, completely redesigned MkIII that never came to the States (although that’s cool, too), but rather, the MkII 16V and the Giugiaro-designed MkI that preceded it. So without further ado, let’s take a quick break from spendy cars (911s, M3s, et al.) to have a long overdue look at the eminently affordable Scirocco, which remains no less desirable for its reasonable cost of entry, and also seems to carry less emotional baggage than its tantalizing (but complex and frequently anguish-inducing) successor, the VW Corrado.
We could use one of these.
The Scirocco name derives from the Italian word for the ‘Sirocco’ wind — and the period in its history when Volkswagen named vehicles after prominent winds, including also ‘Passat’ (after the German word for Trade wind), ‘Golf’ (after Gulf Stream), ‘Bora’ (after Bora) and ‘Jetta’ (after Jet stream).
Volkswagen began work on the car during the early 1970s as the replacement for the aging Karmann Ghia coupe, and designated it the Type 53 internally. The platform of the Golf/Rabbit and Jetta was used to underpin the new Scirocco, although almost every part of the car was re-engineered in favour of a sportier drive, and the model’s all-new styling, penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, was sleeker and sportier than that of either the Golf or Jetta. Launched six months before the Golf, in order to resolve any teething troubles before production of the high volume hatchback started, the Scirocco went on sale in Europe in 1974 and in North America in 1975.
A heavily re-designed “Mark II” variant went on sale in 1982, although it remained on the A1 platform. Like the first generation Scirocco, the car was assembled on behalf of Volkswagen by Karmann of Osnabrück. Scirocco sales continued until 1988 in the United States, 1989 in Canada, and 1992 in Europe. The Scirocco was replaced by the Corrado in the VW line-up (source).
Großer ("large") Mercedes and Rolls-Royce Corniche
•October 14, 2010 • Comments Off on Großer ("large") Mercedes and Rolls-Royce CornichePoor cars. They sure look good, though— even when suffering the indignities of a Top Gear challenge.
We feel deeply conflicted about this
•October 14, 2010 • 3 CommentsSo wrong, and yet so right. What would we do if we ever met the owner? Shake his hand and mumble a few words of admiration, probably.
What we have on the brain now
•October 13, 2010 • 1 CommentGT3 and RS, Mk.. I. They may no longer be the latest and greatest out of Zuffenhausen, but they’re still probably worth giving up a kidney for. And though it’s a matter of personal preference, we find the Mk I RS cars – in any of the colors they were offered in – to be more visually enticing than the Mk IIs.
Someday..
RS4 Avant eye candy p0rn
•October 13, 2010 • 2 CommentsSweet mother! The wide track. The bulging fenders. The steroidal tailpipes (even if they’re mainly for show). If boss wagons are your thing, then you just felt your pulse quicken a little. This must surely be the automotive equivalent of, say, Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High climbing out of a pool in gratuitous slow-mo.
We’ll take an E90 M3 over a B7 RS4 sedan. But we’re pretty damn sure we’d take an RS4 Avant over all other liftgated comers. Notwithstanding Audis of a certain age (ones that typically start with the prefix Ur-), we are of the belief that Avants are what make Audis, Audis.
(via)
RAC TT Celebration at the 2010 Goodwood Revival
•October 12, 2010 • 2 CommentsNow here’s some exciting footage. Watching these legendary racers driving the wheels off of their rare, six- and seven-figure vintage GT cars (no lowly five-figure machinery here) is nothing short of amazing— these guys aren’t holding back. How on earth could they? Our personal favorite is the lightweight E-Type driven by team Rahal-Newey before it sadly bites the dust, but there’s plenty of eye (and ear) candy to go around here.
Hat tip to Axis’ AC for providing the great video!
Motoring Con Brio 