Highlights
- Iconic AWD turbocharged drivetrain
- Very early right-hand-drive example
- Restored and engine rebuilt in 1998
- Resprayed in 2005
- Comprehensive maintenance file
The Appeal
If you’re a petrolhead of “a certain age”, then there’s a very good chance Audi’s Ur Quattro was one of the car’s that got you into cars. With its wide arch stance, warbling, turbocharged five-cylinder engine and that ground-breaking Quattro system, it was the king of Group B in the early 80s. A true bedroom wall hero.
Proving the old “win on a Sunday, sell on a Monday” adage, it was a sales sensation too. Many sadly have fallen by the wayside over the decades. That’s why finding an example like this, that has been saved from ignominy and lovingly coaxed back to life, is such a joy.
Finished in a striking interpretation of the Audi Sport livery, with a vast history of maintenance, servicing and rolling restoration, this lovely retro performance coupe is worthy of space in anyone’s garage.
The History and Paperwork
- Built in July 1982 (very early RHD car)
- First registered in August 1985
- The car was liveried with “David Sutton Motorsport’ when bought by the vendor, giving weight to the suggestion that it may have started its life as a rally support vehicle, but we have no documented proof of this
- Six owners from new, current owner since 1994
- Accident (near-side front bodywork and suspension) damaged in 1994 and bought as salvage by the current owner – the car was moving under its own power when it was bought
- Owner serviced and maintained, with dozens of invoices to show work carried out
- Engine rebuilt in 1998
- Full professional bodywork restoration and respray in 2005
- All import documentation present and correct
- Contrôle technique (French MOT equivalent) to July 2024
- French registration documents
- Complete with the handbook, a period sales brochure and material swatches from Audi
- Supplied with a cotton cover by Classic Additions Ltd
- Only being sold as it’s no longer being used
The Interior
- Genuine full leather interior
- Electric windows and door mirrors
- Sigma alarm system
- Alpine CD/radio/MP3 head unit
- Heated driver’s seat
When the vendor purchased the car, it was fitted with racing buckets and harnesses. So they fitted a full, genuine black leather interior from a later car. All of the leather looks to be in good order, with some wear and creasing evident. Overall, it’s in very presentable condition with no notable damage or tearing to the leather.
Carpets are the standard black items, which are paired with a set of rubber floor mats. They are in decent condition, with some wear and staining in evidence, but they appear to be perfectly usable and should clean up quite well. It’s good to note that the headlining appears to be secure and undamaged, with no staining to see.
The dashboard and driving controls are clearly well used, but still in reasonably good condition. All of the switchgear and trim pieces wear a moderate level of patination, with some scuffs, scratches and marks. But we’re told that everything works just as it should, except for the diff lock actuators, which do not fully function although the diff locks themselves work perfectly.
Regarding the gauges, the ones built into the console are oil pressure, oil temperature and voltage. The additional gauge to the right is water temperature. The boost gauge is on the dashboard. so the driver can keep an eye on the engine’s health, while a set of motorsport inspired OMP metal pedals have been fitted. A leather rimmed, three-spoke Alpha sports steering wheel tops things off in the cabin with a sporting flourish.
The boot is generous and well-proportioned, finished with black carpet and containing a full-size spare alloy wheel. There is also a small toolkit while a fire extinguisher is mounted to the underside of the parcel shelf.
The Exterior
- Professionally resprayed and liveried in 2005
- Five spoke competition wheels
- Good overall condition
The car was white when the vendor purchased it as salvage. It was then stripped to a bare shell and painted red as part of the restoration in 1994, before being returned to white in 2005.
While the interior and engine bay were not resprayed, the work looks to have carried out to a good standard and has stood the test of time well. It still looks to be in very good order. There are some marks and blemishes, but generally the paintwork shows well.
The wide arch bodywork all looks in fine fettle, with neat and even panels gaps. All the panels look straight and true, with no major damage or corrosion we could note, just a couple of minor blemishes. Some of the trim is wearing its age now, with a few cracks to the plastic of the rear bumper and rear lights, while the black plastic of the wing mirrors is somewhat faded. However, all the trim is intact as far as we can tell, and looks perfectly serviceable.
We love the motorsport touches to the styling, including the wide arches, that vast rear wing (also handy as an impromptu picnic table when attending rallies) and the aero-style fuel filler.
A full set of Revolution Wheels’ 15-inch, five-spoke, competition rally alloys have been fitted. Finished in gloss white, they look to be in very good order and wear a matched set of 225-section Toyo Proxes that were fitted in July 2020.
As you may expect, the underside is in similarly “good but used” condition as the rest of the car. There is a smattering of surface corrosion to the driveline components, but only what is commensurate with the age of the car. The sills and floors look very good – nice and straight with no signs of damage or corrosion we could identify.
The Mechanics
- 2,144cc five-cylinder, turbocharged engine
- Quattro all-wheel-drive, with diff locks
- Five-speed manual transmission
- Extensive work carried out over the years, all documented
That legendary turbocharged drivetrain really is a superb piece of engineering. Developing some 200hp, it can push this stylish 80s coupe from a standstill to 60mph in 6.3 seconds. Quick enough to give contemporary supercars a scare!
The engine was rebuilt in 1998 by John Reade – an Audi specialist who worked with the Audi rally team. Since then, the car has been well maintained and serviced by the owner. Some of the documented work that has been carried out includes: fitment of a Scorpion exhaust system, installing an oil cooler with braided stainless steel hoses, new clutch master cylinder (2016), new full set of Koni dampers (2017), new battery and a reconditioned alternator (2020).
We’re informed that the car drives just as it should, accelerating strongly, braking strongly and changing gear well. The vendor tells us that it “sounds awesome” and that there are no leaks, smoke or other mechanical issues they are aware of.
They also tell us that they are in possession of numerous spare parts that can be supplied with the car but will need to be negotiated separately.
Summary
Have you ever wanted to be Stig Blomqvist or Walter Röhrl? Well this is probably as close as you can get – well maintained, eminently usable and a superb machine to experience, we think this Ur Quattro is an absolute winner. Buy it, drive it, love it.
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.
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Shipping and transfer
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