1982 Audi Ur Quattro – Auction Car of the Week

There are few ’80s classics as exciting, as evocative and as desirable as the now legendary Audi Ur Quattro. Five cylinders of turbocharged, all-wheel drive action, unapologetically boxy lines, and a direct link to the mad, muddy world of rallying. This is more than a car, it’s excitement on wheels. It’s a celebration of engineering, of speed and of just how much fun exploding petrol can be. Even in standard form, the Ur was and still is a car to drool over. This one, however, which is currently on our auction platform, has wide arches, white rally wheels and a racing Audi Sport livery that transports you back in time at a mere glance. Yes please.

Now living in France, this Ur Quattro is in fact a right-hand drive machine, so bringing it back to the UK should be no issue at all. A July 1982 car, it’s one of the earlier Ur models to be built and has been enthusiast owned for much of its life. There is some belief, due to it being registered in 1985, and the fact it was bought with David Sutton Motorsport livery, that it might have been a rally support vehicle or maybe even a recce car in its early life. However, that’s open to speculation today. The car has had six owners, though the current owner has had it for a long time – since 1994 in fact.

It was subject to a knock in the nearside front, but as you can see there is no evidence of that now. The car was damaged, but the current owner bought it as such and vouches that the car was still able to run and drive. And again, he’s had it ever since, so it must be a good one! He’s had the engine rebuilt in 1998, there is a stack of invoices for all the parts and consumables the Audi has required over the years, and it has a French equivalent MOT (contrôle technique) until July of 2024. In 2005, the car was repainted in the colours you see it in now, and during the same period, the body was restored to a high standard.

As you can see, this Ur Quattro has an unapologetic rally theme when it comes to its overall aesthetic. Those graphics, the wide-arch body kit, the white 15-inch Revolution alloys. It’s all very… fast. But it is only external. Obviously keen to maintain a level of usability, the owner hasn’t opted to go mad on the interior and has instead been dedicated in his devotion to comfort. As you can see, you have leather seats (the driver’s seat is heated), there are electric windows, there’s a modern stereo system, all the trim is present, the carpets are great and even the headlining has been restored. This is a car you can properly use, and we love it for that.

If you want an early Ur Quattro, but one that stands out from the crowd, this is most certainly it. This car has been loved and looked after without concern over the expense of doing so, it has wanted for nothing, it’s been given a truly outstanding visual makeover and as such, this is one of those cars that will make you smile every time you jump in and turn the key. Just imagine chucking the winning bid in and then being the one who gets to enjoy a spirited drive back from France in this. What a thrill.