1995 Volkswagen Corrado

Dating from 1995, this Pearlescent Green Corrado VR6 is in a condition which shows that the car has been looked after but enjoyed. Not only does it have a modest odometer reading of 81000 miles on the clock, but it comes with a huge sheet of invoices and a fully stamped book. Having started life in Guernsey and after being imported from Jersey by the vendor in November 2020, this car has benefited from some investment with a new radiator, front grille and rear speakers, and the original fabric seats being replaced in favour of black leather to give the cabin a far superior aura. The vendor explains that the seats are in fact heated but the people who installed the interior didn’t wire them up. For a prospective buyer looking for a bit of a project, this is something that could be done to enhance the driving experience without too much trouble. 

This motor has had its shocks and coils raised to standard spec (because the springs and shocks had previously been lowered). The bodywork looks to be structurally sound but the paintwork shows signs of the odd dink, namely on the rear bumper. The only issues the vendor highlights is that the fog lights don’t work (though he thinks this could be due to faulty bulbs); he’s not sure that the ABS brakes work - he has never stood on the brakes hard enough to find out - and, whilst the sunroof tilts, it doesn’t fully slide open and the sunroof blind is missing in the cabin. The vendor explains that: “It might need another motor to make the roof retract; you could replace the roof with a Passat one”. He assures us that the spoiler works automatically and on the switch. 

The vendor purchased this car for his son because it looks great and he particularly loves the Momo-style wheels. It’s fair to say he is a reluctant seller and is only parting with it due to the introduction of ULEZ. He says: “I’ll shed a tear when this car sells - it’s perfect for B roads; the steering is tight, the clutch and the brakes are good. I had no idea how fast this thing is. It revs, it’s got so much torque and it only weighs 1100kg. It’s amazing seeing the looks on people’s faces as you drive past them. The holy grail is that it comes with its original first aid kit in the arm rest. I put in a warning triangle which goes in the arm rest, too. It’s got a new OEM steering wheel from Poland with red stitching to match the newer Sony CD player. The radio doesn’t have bluetooth because I didn’t want to make it too modern”. Over the past three years the car has been constantly driven (though it’s only ticked up circa 3k miles in that time) and it comes with a VW touch up stick should a prospective buyer want to attend to some of the blemishes on the bodywork. 

The body shape and design cues are deliciously 90s which goes some way in explaining why the VR6 has such a cult following. That chunky rear bumper with the centralised VW badge on the curvy rear end is complemented by the boxy tail-lights and the active spoiler (which automatically raises at 62mph and drops down at 15mph). As for the badging, look no further than above the rear bumper and the VR6 on the front grille. Aside from the parking scuffs, there is a bit of rust on the left hand corner of the rear window and there are a few blemishes on the boot lid. This motor sits on sporty and stylish Momo style wheels with gold centres with silver outers. The vendor explains that the driver’s door handle has been replaced, which is good news as they are notorious for becoming sticky with age. 

Though not original, the black leather upholstery complements the 90s body nicely. The driver’s seat has a patina and the rear seat on the driver’s side has a few impressions. The light beige cream carpet is marked in the rear. The vendor puts this down to wear and tear, so it might benefit from a shampoo. As for the passenger and driver’s foot-wells, there is evidence of discoloration, which could indicate there is a damp footwell. This could be for a variety of reasons, such as a broken heater mix, some worn door seals or a blocked scuttle drain. The door sills, dials, clock and odometer look to be in fine fettle and in working order. The headliner is firmly secured and not sagging, even if the sunroof blind is missing. The car has been installed with a modified Sony infotainment system and new rear speakers have been installed. Under the boot floor, you’ll fine a spare wheel and the original toolkit.

The VR6 delivers grunt at any revs and it is a joy to listen to. Like all Corrados, the shift action of the cable-operated, five-speed manual gearbox can be a little notchy. Still, it’s better than the automatic transmission that blunts performance. This car produces 188bhp and it has the ability to reach 62mph in under 7 seconds. It’s encouraging to see this car come with such a comprehensive service history as regular oil and filter changes are a must. The front chassis legs look to be intact and Corrados are good at resisting rot thanks to being galvinised when new. The vendor explains that all the coils and cables have been replaced under the hood and everything looks to be in its right and proper place.

The V5c shows that the car has had two former keepers, however this does not likely reflect the total number of owners. This is because the car started its life in Jersey before moving to Guernsey, and the V5c does not show a record of its life prior to landing in the UK. The vendor is the only UK owner, but at some point he registered his son as a keeper after acquiring this motor in 2020. As such, the two keepers shown on the V5c are within one family. 

In 2013, a fair amount of work was carried out to attend to oil and water leaks from the engine which required the seals for the oil cooler adapter to be replaced, a new thermostat housing to be fitted and the cooling system to be bled and refilled. The car comes with an active MoT, dating from January 2023, which highlighted two advisories as the axle swivel pins and bushes were slightly worn on the rear nearside and offside. The vendor reckons he’s shelled out the best part of £3500 on this car over the course of his ownership as he replaced the cloth interior in place of black leather (costing the best part of a grand); he’s installed a new radiator, new speakers in the rear as well as a retro but updated Sony radio/CD player. The vendor has gone to considerable effort to get the sunroof working which involved removing the headlining in part, so though it doesn’t retract, it does tilt. The car comes with its original instruction manual, the original First Aid kit (stored in the armrest), two sets of car keys and a comprehensive service history. 

It’s no surprise to learn the VR6 has become the most coveted Volkswagen Corrado model. The limited-edition Storm is strictly for die-hard Corrado collectors, so better to save a few bob and enjoy the standard version as they drive in exactly the same way. This motor has comparable power output to a BMW 325i but is far lighter and likely more fun to drive. The VR6 engine pulls strongly at all revs, and it’s not onerous when it comes to maintenance. This is the Corrado that came closest to fulfilling VW’s hopes of taking on BMW and Porsche, so it makes the best buy of its range. As such, we think a prospective buyer will have to part with somewhere between £8,000-£12,000 to take this car home. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.