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BenM

1996 Black Corrado VR6 - full leather, mechanically excellent

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With a very heavy heart I have to sell my Corrado. I’ve owned the car for the last 11 years and it has been faultless. It’s covered 142k miles, but don’t let that put you off because I’ve pretty much replaced everything mechanical and so it wants for nothing – all mechanical works were done by John Mitchell Racing, renowned Corrado specialist. John knows the car well. I had planned to keep the car and do a cosmetic restoration, but alas time and the need for something comfortable to do motorway miles has prevented this. There’s a bit of cosmetic tidying up to do, but this is a solid car and it drives incredibly well due to the significant mechanical work done – the engine is fantastic since the rebuild, the gearbox is one of the smoothest I’ve driven, the suspension and handling are taut and correct as a Corrado should be. I’ve always used OE parts, and minor upgrades have been made only where they improve on the originals. I’ll be heartbroken to see it go, but needs must. Apologies for the essay, but I like a lot of detail when I’m buying cars.

 

ENGINE

Standard spec, but rebuilt in 2014 (12000 miles ago) by JMR. I have pictures of the work done. Head removed, light skim and decoke. Head rebuilt with new OEM valve seals and tappets, valves reground, new Reinz steel gasket giving a slightly higher compression ratio. Engine rebuilt with new OEM timing chains, guides, sprockets and tensioners, new OEM water and oil pump and Sachs clutch. New manifold and sump gaskets. New starter motor, new engine mounts (OE front mount, 2 x Vibratechnics gearbox mounts). This work totalled ~£4500. Lambda sensor and MAF sensor replaced in my ownership. Oil changed every 3000 miles with Synta silver and OEM filters. Custom Longlife stainless exhaust fitted 2007, not loud!

 

DRIVETRAIN

Full suspension rebush just after I bought the car, and Koni SSK dampers with H&R springs fitted at the time. These were replaced this year with AP coilovers and Powerflex poly strut mounts front and rear.

OEM Mk4 Golf rear calipers, 288mm front brakes. ABS pump replaced, many sensor rings replaced. All solid brake lines replaced by JMR with new CuNiFer pipes. All flexible hoses replaced with Goodridge braided hoses.

Gearbox oil renewed every 2-3 years with Redline MT90

Currently running on 16” Montreal alloys, which I bought fully powder coated and are still in great condition with Hankook winter tyres – it’s still sitting on these (I know it’s Summer) but I do also have the original Speedlines which come with the sale. I have refurbed these some time ago but they need some fresh rubber.

 

INTERIOR

Full heated black leather seats, in excellent condition and regularly treated with Gliptone Liquid Leather. Some minor lower bolster sag on driver’s seat, but no rips scuffs or tears. Everything works on the dash including fan and heater on all speeds. Heater matrix replaced in 2014 with new OEM part – few dash rattles since then but nothing that a bit of trim tape wouldn’t fix.

Pure H260DBi DAB head unit (with Bluetooth calling and streaming) and windscreen mount aerial fitted in 2013 by Andy Bryant (Trimsport). At the same time Andy fitted a Cobra 4138 Cat1 alarm and immobiliser for which I have the certificate – it’s been faultless. The previous owner fitted 6x9 speakers in the parcel shelf and Alpine components in the rear door cards – I have an uncut parcel shelf which is also available.

Sunroof works fine on tilt and slide.

 

EXTERIOR

Paint is OK – some stonechips on the front as you’d expect with the age. There is a scuff and small dent on the passenger door and wing where my neighbour backed into the car and I’ve not yet sorted this. A few other dings but by no means terrible. The rear bumper is scuffed and deformed on the corner, but I have another bumper that needs painting but comes with the sale.

There are a few rust scabs – I have treated these when I found them with Bilt Hamber De-Ox and black Hammerite. Some minor jacking damage on the sills and some rust but nothing serious – the rest of the underside is fully solid.

This makes it sound like a rot box but it really isn’t – as you can see from the photos it cleans up lovely and I still get many compliments on the appearance – I’m just being honest. I had intended to respray the car and get all these issues sorted but don’t now have the time so selling as it is.

Fogs are cracked, but I have some replacement fogs which can be bought by separate negotiation. I also have a load of other parts I’ve been hoarding for the cosmetic refurb including seals, headlights, uncut parcel shelf, brand new OE wing mirrors, plus other stuff I’ve forgotten – this is all available separately.

Spoiler no longer rises automatically, at least not all the time. It still goes up and down fine on the button, and occasionally works automatically too. Again I’ve not had time to sort this. N/S window regulator changed, all windows work fine.

Lupo wiper upgrade, JMR upgraded headlight loom.

 

SERVICE HISTORY

Full history, including original bill of sale, full book pack, service book with 17 stamps in it. Dealer history to 2003, since then it has been mainly JMR. Original 1996 sales brochure. Massive folder of receipts for everything I’ve had done, plus everything from the previous owners. Spare keys and alarm fob present and correct, as well as instruction manuals and installation certificate for stereo and alarm. As you can probably tell by now I’m a bit anal so I’ve kept EVERYTHING.

 

PRICE

I’m looking for £5250. Other spares available separately, or a deal may be possible with the car.

Any questions, please ask. I can send photos by request and have an Excel summary file of all the works done in my ownership that I can email.

Edited by BenM

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