1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6

‘K1 DHS’ is a remarkable car – and not just because the V6 version of the VW Corrado was the hatchback the well-heeled bought in the mid-nineties.

No, what makes it special is the fact the seller’s father bought it when it was only a few months old back in 1995 and then used it only lightly (“it was always there throughout my childhood,” the seller told us) before consigning it to the garage to await the time it turned into the collectors’ car he knew it deserved to be.

And he had a good eye because the Classic Green Pearl Corrado looks utterly sensational, even after the passage of thirty years – and it’s worth noting that it’s covered fewer than 5,000 miles in that time.

Freshly recommissioned but still in need of a little more mechanical work, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get your hands on a like-new example of a car we all lusted after when we were too poor to either buy or insure one.

The factory-fitted metal sunroof fits the aperture well – but then VW and Karmann were bywords for quality back in the day, so that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Nor should the shutlines, which could’ve been drawn on with a marker pen. Or the fact the three-piece side trim aligns so accurately. Nowhere is Germanic quality control better displayed than here.

And it doesn’t end there because the Classic Green Pearl (colour code LC6U) is nothing short of magnificent. Riffing on the earlier VW colour Lhasa Green that enthusiasts still prize, its shine and condition has to be seen to be properly appreciated.

(All we can see is a small scratch on the offside front corner of the bonnet, and a stone chip that has been coloured in.)

It’s also a suitable unobtrusive colour for a car whose sporting accoutrements are so subtle they extend to little more than an retractable boot spoiler and a small front valence; like nuclear negotiators, the Corrado talked softy but carried a big stick.

And that subtlety extends to the wheels and tyres because the 15-inch, five-spoke Speedline alloy wheels look tiny compared to the monstrosities manufacturers fit today. However, the pay-off, apart from period-perfect looks, is a surprisingly supple ride and utterly predictable handling.

Free of scrapes, scratches and the sort of damage you’d expect to see on wheels of this age, they’re fitted with a matching set of 205/50R15 Michelin Pilot HX tyres too.
We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The lamp lenses, window glass, and badges are all still excellent and in need of nothing other than continued love and careful curation.

There is, therefore, very little for the new owner to do beyond the odd polish, now and then.

The ruched beige leather seats and door cards couldn’t be more 1990s if they were singing Back For Good, the Take That song that was number one in the charts the day the Corrado was registered.

Utterly gorgeous, their condition is every bit as impressive as their design; comfortable and yet capable of gripping you hard enough for you to be able to fully exploit that sublime chassis, they perfectly meld form and function.

The individual rear seats offer a cocoonlike environment your children or grandchildren are going to love and, again, their condition reflects the fact the car’s barely been used since it was new.

All the seats really are in a remarkable condition.

The cabin also reflects a time when cars like this had luxury baked in, not bolted on. So, while the toy count might be minimal – heated seats and electric windows are about your lot – what there is inside is all of a high quality.

What can we say about the rest, the door cards, carpets, dashboard, and headlining other than all are pretty much as good now as they were when the car rolled off the production line back in 1995.

The boot is as well-trimmed and preserved as the rest of the interior, and even the parcel shelf is free of extraneous holes and age-related deterioration.

The boot even still contains the factory tool kit and space-saver spare wheel as well as the paper stickers that time invariably degrades and detaches.

It isn’t completely standard though as a Panasonic headunit has been fitted. However, the Corrado comes with the original blanking plate should you want to return it to its original specification.

There’s also a laser/radar speed detector in it. We haven’t tested it but it’s a lovely piece of period memorabilia that probably came in very handy back in the day…

The VW was lightly recommissioned by Classic Restorations (Scotland) Ltd in April of this year. The thousand-pound bill was largely run up by cleaning the fuel system, although it was also treated to an oil and filter change.

The garage reported that it started and ran, and it was even taken for a short test drive.

As you can see in the video, it starts, idles and revs nicely. You’d want to give it a thorough going over too, especially the braking system, before driving it on the road or submitting it for an MoT.

As for its cosmetic condition, the engine bay is as stunning as the rest of the vehicle. Heck, it’s even retained the battery cover and underbonnet sound-deadening.

Other details stack up too: The windscreen washer fluid reservoir is still clear and bright instead of the more usual opaque yellow, and the fasteners are bright and free of corrosion.

The underside is as good as you’ve probably guessed. Almost unmarked and perfectly preserved, even the plastic undertray is free of scratches and scrapes. The exhaust looks like it’s probably the one the factory installed too, which is remarkable.

If you’re looking for a job, then some of the smaller fasteners have corroded but replacing them with new/old stock from VW would be a joy.

The Corrado doesn’t have a current MoT certificate but then it seems to have been off the road since the last one expired in 2013.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for not having an MoT, and the change in ownership in 2021 reflects the moment she inherited it.

The history file includes a couple of invoices, some expired MoT certificates that confirm the Corrado’s recorded mileage, and the VW book pack and wallet. There is no service booklet, that has been lost sadly however, the seller has pledged to forward it on should she find it amongst the papers of her father's estate.

The VW Golf VR6 moved the hot-hatchback market from being merely quick to being bloomin’ fast – and its big brother brought the segment upmarket as well, making the Corrado VR6 something of a landmark car.

And they still thrill, even three decades later.

There’s also plenty of support, so you can leave ‘em stock and enjoy some of the most diligent engineering in the car parc or fettle and modify to your heart’s content, after which you’ll have a classic-looking coupé that’ll keep up with anything this side of a six-figure price tag.

As for this stock example, with a guide price of between £20,000 and £30,000, there are cheaper examples out there, that’s for sure...

However, we’d wager there are none better though, and certainly not with such a low mileage and so few owners, making this example ideal for the canny enthusiast with an eye to the future as well as the present.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.