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VWVortex.com AUTObiography Want to see your car featured in an AUTObiography? Just click HERE. We can't promise you that we'll feature every car that gets submitted, but we encourage you to be creative with your answers, as that's always a good way to score some brownie points with us. Quality photos won't hurt your chances any, either, so please include up to five with your submission.
Q: How long have you owned this car? A: Since 2000, but it's been in the family since new (Aug 1977). Q: Is there anything unique about the history of this car? A: Not really. Q: Why did you choose this car to purchase? A: It was my Mom’s from new. She gave it to me to restore. Q: What other cars did you consider? A: None. Q: What was your objective with this car? A: Try to get it as close to showroom stock as possible and surprise my mom with it. Q: What tuning style would you describe this car as? A: Bone stock, except for Monza exhaust. Q: Who helped you build this car? A: Doug Baum of Baum’s Service Center (specialist in VW), New Cumberland PA; Mike Cramer (paint and bodywork) Lewistown, PA. Q: What makes your car special? A: It’s my mom’s favorite, it was the only car she owned exclusively and it was specially ordered with an auto trans and no air. Q: What is your favorite part/feature/function? A: It is very light on its feet.
Q: Who or what inspired the direction of modifications on this car? A: My mom. She was very ill a few years ago and not expected to live so I just did whatever I could to get the car restored so she could see it while she was still alive. The look on her face when I drove it to her house to show her was priceless. I’ll never forget it. Q: What don't you like about this car? A: Because it’s an automatic, the starter is located under the exhaust – when the starter gets hot you have to wait for an hour after shutting it off before it will crank again. Also, because it’s an automatic, it is pretty slow. Q: What was your biggest obstacle in building this car? A: Finding parts. Q: How did you overcome the issue? A: Ebay, Vwvortex and Scirocco.org parts boards. I still need a lot of interior bits. Q: What would you change if you could? A: I’d like to keep it original for as long as possible, but I’d really like to drop in a 1.8 GTI engine and a GTI 5-speed trans. Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the outcome of this project? A: 7. Q: What would you do to the car if money were no object? A: Strip the paint and repaint with Glasurit 22 line single stage paint. Find a mint original interior or have one created.
Q: Who has been your biggest critic of this project? A: My sons. They think the car is weird and don’t see my attraction to it. Q: What do your family and friends say about this car? A: My folks love to look at it (but won’t drive it because they’re afraid it will break down!). My friends and neighbors can’t believe it looks so nice now compared to what it looked like when I first pushed it into my garage. Q: What is your most memorable/humorous/embarrassing moment with this car? A: At the Carlisle Import show in May 2005, the car was getting a lot of attention because it was the only Mk1 Scirocco there. Autoweek magazine interviewed me for their ‘Escape Roads’ weekly feature. They asked me to move the car to another area of the fairgrounds to photograph it and it promptly blew out the oil filter when I started it due to a bad oil pump check valve. Dumped oil all over the ground. We pushed it so Autoweek could take the pics, but I was mortified and people were getting pissed walking through my oil. To make matters worse, since I didn’t know the cause of the problem at the time I installed another oil filter and a couple quarts of oil. I started it up and it didn’t leak right away so I thought the problem was fixed. It was running a little rough so I was under the hood working the throttle. After about 45 seconds of running, the new oil filter exploded and all the oil in the sump soaked me from my chest upward to the top of my head. We left the show in shame on the back of a flatbed! Q: Paul Grimes - Mk1 Scirocco savior or selfish bastard-hoarder? A: Huh? Q: Has this car competed in any events? A: No. Q: What is your favorite place to drive this car? A: Route 333 in Mifflin County, PA. Q: What is your ideal day with this car? A: Driving it to a VW meet and seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they reminisce about their Scirocco days. Q: Who gets to drive this car? A: Me.
Q: If your car had a motto, what would it be? A: “Just add Money.” Q: If you had to name your car, what would you name it? A: “The Silver Slug.” Q: What was your previous project? A: Porsche 911SC Coupe. Q: What is your next project? A: 1991 A2 Jetta ECOdiesel. Q: What one word best describes your car? A: Survivor. Q: Other info you’d like to share? A: I remember when the car was brand new. I was a junior in high school with a penchant for aggressive driving and demolishing vehicles. I was driving a ’71 TR-6 at the time and I was strictly forbidden to even touch the new Scirocco. One weekend, the TR-6 was in its favorite place, the shop, and my mom must have had a weak moment. She let me drive her car on a date! The feeling of the firm German seats, the smell of the new upholstery and the performance and handling of the Scirocco were just amazing to me. That was the only time I got to drive the car until 25 years later! Owner Information: Name- Ed Cain Address- Camp Hill, PA E-mail- ECAIN3600@AOL.COM Username in VWvortex Forums- A1Scirocco77 Occupation- Systems Programmer Club Affiliations- PCA, BMWCCA, MBCA, Appalachian Sports Car Club, Rennlist Vehicle Information: Year- 1977 Make- Volkswagen Model- Scirocco Mileage- 70,760 Original Color- Diamond Silver Metallic Current Color- Same Engine- 1.6L I4 Engine Modifications- None Exhaust Modifications- Monza cat-back Transmission Modifications- None Suspension Modifications- Boge sport shocks rear Brake Modifications- None Wheels and Tires- Stock 5Jx13 175/70R13 Yokohama AVID Touring Exterior/Body Modifications- None Interior Modifications- None Audio/Video/I.C.E.- Stock Thanks/Props- Mary Cain (my mom) for giving me the car, Doug Baum for getting it road worthy again, Mike Cramer for the excellent paint work
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