1996 Volkswagen Corrado VR6 Storm

First registered at Northfield VW Tetbury in Gloucestershire on 2 January 1996, this 188bhp Volkswagen Corrado VR6 Storm with a 5-speed manual gearbox is in exceptional condition. Since new, it has been in the same family - in fact in the same household. Ownership legally had to be transferred between husband and wife in the mid-noughties after he passed away, so it could be reasonably thought of as a one owner car.

Having known of the car for some while in his local area, and being a stalwart Corrado Club member previously, our vendor wrote the owner a letter several years ago saying that if she ever wanted to sell it, he’d be happy to take it off her hands and continue to cherish it. By the time she made contact with him, some while later, he had established a small dealership called German Marques and, on discovering this, she refused to sell him her Corrado, such was her love for the car.

In 2017, the lady also passed away and when the family found his earlier letter, they got in touch and sold it to him. In his ownership, on his trade licence, our vendor has been careful to maintain the (very) full service history by getting it serviced by the local main dealer (see History Highlights). He’s also kept it running, but covered and garaged most of the time and hasn’t added a great many miles during the last four to five years.

He renewed the bonnet linings, replaced the BBS alloys with “new old stock” originals, refurbished the brakes and also went to the trouble of getting some new number plates for the car which recreated the originals from Northfield VW - the car’s supplying dealer.

To us this story demonstrates a level of care for a car beyond that of a dealer just wanting to make a quick buck. He knows this car and everything about it and things like the number plates were just that little extra on top of what was already a fantastically original car.

The Mystic Blue paint across the exterior is a pearl effect coating and looks remarkably strong for a 25 year old car. There are a handful of small stone chips on the nose as you might expect, there’s a small earlier repair in the front bumper below the near side indicator, and there is a light crease on the lower passenger door, but otherwise the paint and bodywork is very good.

Fittings and trims around the car look intact and in good order too, with the active boot-spoiler appearing to raise and lower as it should.

The car sits on original-specification 15-inch BBS “Solitude” alloy wheels which were replaced with genuine VW parts in 2017 along with new carbon centre caps. The car is fitted with matching Toyo Proxes high performance tyres, which date from 2016 onwards.

As you know, we consider matching tyres to be an indicator that a car has been well maintained by someone who understands the importance of such things and therefore doesn’t cut corners elsewhere. Of course, we don’t rely on it but our hunch is usually borne out by the history file - as indeed it is in this case.

The interior is the original black leather, with heated sports front seats and leather steering wheel. The driver’s seat is lightly creased and buttock-polished and there’s a little wear on the side bolster but elsewhere the seating, door trims and dash appear in excellent order with no discernible damage or wear.

In the centre of the dash is an original equipment Sony radio cassette player with removable fascia which is connected to the factory-fit passive 6 speaker system, integrated neatly into the trim around the cabin.

The electric tilt and slide sunroof is working as it should and although the rubber seal is damaged slightly on one side it doesn’t appear to affect its integrity. As far as we’ve been able to test all other electrical and interior equipment functions as it should.

The black carpeting is clean and undamaged throughout and is further protected by VW rubber floor mats front and rear. Up above the light-coloured headlining clean and taut.

VW being creative with their use of space and mindful that a fifth occupant was unlikely, the armrest and bolster between the rear seats neatly house a first aid kit and a warning triangle respectively.

Under the bonnet - which has recent looking insulating linings - the engine bay appears very honest looking. By which we mean that whilst it is tidy and well looked-after, it is not so pristine that it would make you suspicious of something being covered up. There is no corrosion of any significance but there are the beginnings of surface rust under the scuttle where leaves or other blockages had previously built up blocking the drainage channels - a common problem with the Corrado.

Underneath the car, the floor pans all appear solid with good underseal and the wheel arch linings also appear in good order. There is surface corrosion on many suspension components and linkages, subframes and engine sump but nothing to attract the pen of the MOT inspector. There is also evidence of maintenance recent renewal to components such as brakes, anti-roll bars and drive shaft gaiters.

The tailgate lifts and holds well and the original parcel shelf and its rubber stays are present and unmolested. Inside the boot, (under a piece of spare domestic carpet - the previous lady owner’s) the original carpet and linings are clean and in good order. Beneath that is the 15-inch space saver spare wheel, which has a Conti tyre fitted. Around it the foam inserts are still present and intact and there is also a tool roll. There are a couple of areas around the boot shut where the paint has become discoloured - but this is probably the liberal application of Waxoyl from VW.

The Storm has a current MOT valid until December 2021, which it passed without a single advisory; as it did also on the preceding test. The history file includes pretty much every annual testing certificate back to late 1998 (when first required) and validates the current low mileage of 45,375 miles.

The history file also includes numerous invoices for parts and maintenance from marque specialists and main dealers from 2006. It shows recent expenditure and work by the vendor on the overhaul of the brakes - disks, calipers, pads - and the replacement of the rear stub axles and wheel bearings.

The original documents pouch comes with a full set of owner’s manuals and the service booklet which is stamped - mostly by VW main dealers - all the way from pre-delivery inspection through to December 2020:

Dec 1995 - PDI and alarm fitted - Northfield VW Tetbury

Jan 1997 - 3,476 - Northfield VW

Jan 1998 - 6,436 - Northfield VW

Dec 1998 - 9,958 - Northfield VW

Dec 1999 - 13,216 - Bramall VW Cheltenham

Dec 2000 - 16,267 - Bramall VW

Dec 2001 - 19,839 - Bramall VW

Dec 2002 - 23,640 - Bramall VW

Dec 2003 - 26,723 - Bramall VW

Dec 2005 - 34,754 - Bramall VW

Dec 2006 - 36,928 - Cheltenham VW

Dec 2007 - 39,217 - Cheltenham VW

Dec 2008 - 39,818 - Cheltenham VW

Dec 2009 - 40,466 - Cheltenham VW

Nov 2010 - 41,234 - Challenge Motors (VAG Specialist) Cheltenham

Nov 2011 - 41,965 - Challenge Motors

Nov 2012 - 42,561 - Challenge Motors

Nov 2013 - 43,098 - Challenge Motors

Dec 2014 - 43,627 - Challenge Motors

Dec 2015 - 44,125 - Challenge Motors

Nov 2016 - 44,867 - Challenge Motors

Dec 2017 - 45,082 - Cheltenham VW

Dec 2018 - 45,272 - Cheltenham VW

Dec 2019 - 45,307 - Cheltenham VW

Dec 2020 - 45,365 - Cheltenham VW

The car also comes with two sets of keys and fobs.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

This Corrado VR6 Storm has to be among the best examples of its type. It is totally standard and unmolested - not lowered or chipped or otherwise modified - and therefore has originality by the bucket load. It is in a great condition and has one of the fullest of full service histories we’ve ever seen, also backing up the low mileage - very low for a 25 year old car and surely one of the lowest out there.

Everything works as it should and the car drives amazingly well. The acceleration is no less impressive now than it was in the nineties and even among today’s hot hatches it feels lightning quick.

According to our data, the Corrado VR6 hasn’t seen the steady climb in asking prices like the contemporary Golf VR6, but surely it is only a matter of time. For stand out examples, we have noticed some very ambitious pricing but we think this super Mystic Blue Storm will fetch between £18,000 and £26,000.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.