Rare Callaway Turbo Scirocco

Callaway modified much more than Corvettes in the past, with their Alfa Romeo GTV fairly well-known; but they also got into a few Volkswagens over the years.  Their “Stage I” Sciroccos boosted output from about 74HP to 117HP, which is a huge increase.  The seller claims this car is one if a few “Stage III” cars with a bigger turbo and intercooler, as well as water injection.  No dyno figures are available, but the interwebs claim north of 200HP.

200HP in this little sports car would be a blast, but the seller points out that a lot of work is needed to get it moving.  This is truly a “bring a trailer” find.  Mileage is in the neighborhood of 195K and the car hasn’t been on the road since 2003.  A quick internet search also reveals the seller was trying to figure out how to remove the head and replace the head gasket – it’s not clear whether that was completed.  Also, there are some areas with supposedly minor surface rust; so paint and body might eventually need to be part of the conversation.

This is a dream find for a Scirocco/Corrado fan or any Callaway collector.  We’ll just have to see where the bids land and how high the reserve is.

Here’s a link to a classic Car and Driver aricle on the Stage I: http://www.not2fast.com/vw/stuff/callaway_scirocco.jpg

Click for eBay ad
North Grafton, MA, USA
$1,500 with one bid, reserve not met and 5 days to go

These had little to differentiate the cosmetically from standard Sciroccos, which is fine.  We like the sleeper quality, and this was a great design in the first place.  TSW wheels are aftermarket and were put on by the previous owner.

Note the “Turbo Intercooler” badging on the right.  Supposedly, these also came with a rear window decal which is missing on this one.

Interior has some custom touches not done by Callaway.

One more angle.  Callaway did install the auxiliary gauges.

Here’s the groovy boost controller!

The previous owner installed the Recaro seats, but the originals are included in the sale.

Rear seat shows original leather.

As mentioned, original wheels are included in the sale.

Let’s have a look under the hood…

These have a unique cam cover, but there’s some debate over whether Callaway removed the head to put in a thicker head gasket for lower compression.

Ad text:

An Estate sale offers a true “Barn Find”, a 1983 Callaway Turbo Stage III VW Scirocco.

If you’ve never heard of a Callaway Scirocco, you can read what Car and Driver said about them from a 1983 article:

http://www.not2fast.com/vw/stuff/callaway_scirocco.jpg

On the Stage III cars, Callaway included a larger Turbo, intercooler and water injection, variable boost, heftier shock tower braces, stiffer shocks and bigger brakes with cross-drilled rotors.  It’s no wonder these cars were called the “Vette and Mustang killers” of their day.

This example has a storied past of mechanic/owners;  it was originally modified by Reeves Callaway of Old Lyme, CT, from a new VW Scirocco which was then bought by one of the leading Stock Car chassis builders in New England as a car for his wife.    It was later bought by my late brother whose business was building high performance racing engines for Snow Mobile racers.

This is the ultimate “Sleeper” – Minimal exterior badging to announce its heritage, but the heart and soul of a Cheetah.  While the Stage I cars, at around 117hp, were formidible street cars, the Stage III version almost doubled that with a hefty performance increase, surprising many a Corvette and Mustang owner left in its wake.

This unique Scirocco goes beyond the Stage III amenities with the addition of an adjustable Cam Timing gear, 5-spoke TSW 7″ wide rims, and, for creature comfort, a pair of Recarro front seats that look only minimally worn (no rips or tears).  In the cockpit, along with the prominent Callaway boost gauge mounted to the right of the instrument cluster, you’ll find an air/fuel mixture, cylinder head temp and oil pressure gauge, all tastefully mounted in the upper center of the mini-console.

This car is the original very dark brown (Paint code may be verified from the VIN) with black Recarro seats with gray inserts (seats installed by my brother).  The interior, while a bit dusty after more than a decade of being in a closed garage, looks like it just came in off the street.  The “Callaway Turbo” badging has been removed from the rear window.  There is a minimal amount of paint bubbling/surface rust just behind the wheels on the rocker panels (2″ diameter, Max) and only surface rust on the frame and undercarriage – no rot through.  Included in the sale are the original Callaway wheels, the original Scirocco steering wheel and the original, leather front bucket seats, the drivers seat having one minor scuff from seat belt wear.

The car currently has 195,563 miles on the odometer, was last on the road in 2003 and has been in closed storage since then with the usual accumulation of dust, making it a true “Barn Find”.  It will have to be trailered home by the buyer and thoroughly serviced before starting it.  It is in ZIP 01536 (central Massachusetts) with a long, flat loading area very suitable for a pickup/trailer or car hauler.  This car has ALWAYS been well taken care of and, to the best of my knowledge, never driven in Winter.  This is a rare find – as far as I know, Callaway only made 43 of them.  

If you’ve ever heard of the legendary Callaway Turbo Cars, this is your chance to own one.