A great looking, fully restored example ready for a busy show season
Fully restored in 2017 to include paintwork, interior and mechanicals
Offering the prospect of a highly unique but cheap to run classic car
The Appeal
Which came first, the VW Polo or the Audi 50? Well, it was the Audi…..just. The Audi 50 was a Europe only model which was launched in mid-1974 as a riposte to the new breed of “super minis” appearing across Europe like Fiat’s 127 and Renault’s 5. Within 6 weeks of its launch, a badge engineered VW model named the Polo also appeared. The two cars went on to sell side by side until the Audi 50 was discontinued in 1978. By that time Audi had produced a total of around 180,000 Audi 50’s.
This example is one of very few that will have made it to UK shores. It was imported to the UK from France in 2014 and stored until a restoration during 2017. During that time an eye-catching custom Audi 50 was born. This is a car that is sure to be a favourite at the many VW and Audi car shows and events that occur in the UK in the summer months. All with the simple, practical and cheap to maintain underpinnings of the VW Polo.
The History and Paperwork
This little Audi 50 was produced in 1975, the second year of Audi 50 production
Little is known of its early life, however
The car was imported from France to the UK in 2014
It was believed to have been stored until it underwent a full restoration in 2017
This work touched every aspect of the Audi to produce the car we see today
The car was first registered in the UK in March 2018
The car was then used for a while by its first UK owner
The current owner acquired the car in September 2019 to become its second UK owner
The car is complete with its current V5 in the name of the owner
The V5 designates the car as a Historic Vehicle
As such it is MoT and VED exempt in the UK
Online records show it did pass an MoT in February 2018 at an indicated 85,423 kms
This was an advisory free pass
The Interior
The interior is very reminiscent of the early VW Polos
The interior appears very utilitarian by today’s standards
The seats have been beautifully retrimmed in grey, herringbone tweed material
The bolsters are finished in black vinyl
The rear bench is similarly trimmed with a centre section finished in black vinyl
The condition is excellent and has clearly been professionally undertaken
The carpets also appear to have been fitted during the restoration
These are in a Berber style and finished in a complimentary grey hue
The dashboard is a simple affair finished in black vinyl
The green on black VDO gauge set is a unique Audi touch
Smaller, less expensive gauges were used on the VW Polo
This example if fitted with a four spoke, leather rimmed BBS steering wheel
The original, more dainty, original is also included and pictured
The BBS wheel, like the dash centre panel has been finished in herringbone fabric
Judging by the Harris label on the dash this is from a Harris tweed jacket
Its herringbone pattern is a very close approximation to the seat fabric
Door cards and side panels are finished in hard-wearing black vinyl
The compact boot features its original mat
It is also home to spare wheel and jack
The Exterior
This little Audi looks really eye-catching in its bright sky-blue paintwork
This was applied in 2017 during the car’s restoration an exudes a high shine
It has been professionally applied with even the door shuts and boot floor nicely covered
The body work looks robust too with shut lines and panel gaps looking straight
There is the odd paint chip in evidence and some minor surface bubbling
These have been photographed for your review
The car sits on 14-inch split rim BBS alloy wheels
These consist of highly polished rims and anthracite painted multi-spoke centres
They appear to be in excellent condition throughout
A matching set of recent Nankang tyres in a 155/55 configuration are fitted
A degree of intentional tyre-stretch is apparent, adding to the desirable custom look
A pair of black vinyl BBS decals and sill stripes have been added
Cabin glass and light lenses all appear to be in great condition and original
The car has been tastefully lowered or “stanced” to add to its show-car appeal
The Mechanics
The Audi 50 shared its mechanical underpinnings with the VW Polo
This makes for a well proven set up and mostly good spares availability
Being the higher GL model this Audi 50 features the higher powered 1,093 cc engine
Originally rated at around 59 bhp and driving through a four-speed manual gearbox
The mechanicals of this car were understood to have been recommissioned in 2017
The current owner reports that the car runs very well indeed
He also underlines the low mileage that the car has covered since 2017
The only fault reported is a misbehaving temperature gauge
This is understood to be a gauge or sender fault and doesn’t reflect hot running
The under-bonnet presentation of the car is very strong
The underside exhibits a large degree of original underseal in place
Some surface corrosion is visible but nothing out of keeping with the age of the car
Summary
An Audi 50 is a rarely seen car on UK roads being a Europe-only model. That has to be a good thing, too, in terms of desirability and interest. It is also reassuring to know of the high percentage of parts that cross over with the MKI VW Polo, meaning parts availability should remain reasonably good.
This example has been developed and restored into a show-car par excellence. It looks great in its bright blue colourway and the condition is generally very good. The lowered stance, BBS alloy wheels and stretched tyres all help to give the car a very individual persona. The interior is pristine and features some interesting, personalised touches. A really fun ownership prospect for this year’s show season and beyond.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
1975 Audi 50GL (Type 86)
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