On the day Volkswagen unveils the 8th generation of Golf, we decided to recall the most bizarre interpretation of the 1st generation of the popular German model. A creation that could only have the signature of the creative engineer Franco Sbarro. In the 80s, special projects were with him.
Born in Italy, Franco Sbarro, founded in 1971 a small car company that, to date, has been responsible for some of the most impressive creations in the car industry — not always for the best reasons, it's true.
But of all his designs, this Volkswagen Golf Turbo Sbarro is perhaps the most impressive.
It all started in 1982, when a customer with deep pockets and even more eager to spend money knocked at Sbarro's door. How much will? He wanted a Volkswagen Golf MK1 powered by an engine from the Porsche 911 Turbo.
He went to knock on the right door. Franco Sbarro didn't turn his back on the challenge and agreed to take the body of a 1975 Volkswagen Golf and fit inside — somehow... — an opposing six-cylinder engine with 3.3 liters of capacity and 300 hp.
Due to the lack of space at the front, the solution that Sbarro found was to place the engine in a central position in the rear, naturally abdicating the rear seats. But the mechanical work did not stop there. The four-speed transmission that fitted every Porsche 911 Turbo until 1988 has given way to a five-speed ZF DS25 gearbox (inherited from the BMW M1).
Thanks to these modifications, the Volkswagen Golf Turbo Sbarro achieved a top speed of 250 km/h and reached 0-100 km/h in less than six seconds.
To cool the engine, Franco Sbarro used two discreet air intakes on the side of the model. And nothing has been left to chance, nor has dynamic balance. Thanks to the central placement of the flat-six engine, and the passage of elements such as the fuel tank to the front axle, the final weight distribution was 50/50.
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Because accelerating is as important as stopping, the braking system has also been completely overhauled. The small Volkswagen Golf received a set of brakes with four ventilated discs, measuring 320 mm in diameter on the front axle. More than enough power to stop an «interesting» 1300 kg of weight.
Fitting the beautiful 15-inch BBS wheels, we found a Pirelli P7 tyre. But the most impressive detail was hidden...
Thanks to an ingenious hydraulic system, it was possible to lift the back of the Golf Sbarro into the air using a button on the inside. According to Sbarro, it was possible to disassemble the engine in just 15 minutes.
35 years after its appearance, the truth is that the Volkswagen Golf Sbarro continues to impress as much as it did on day one. Do you agree?
