1981 | Audi quattro

Every once in a while, a car comes along in the racing world that is so revolutionary it forces every other team to reevaluate what they are doing entirely. One of the most notable examples of this was with Audi and the Quattro system. Audi had been experimenting with all-wheel drive sedans in secret since the mid-1970s, and when the rules changed to allow four-wheel drive for the 1980 rally season, Audi was ahead of the curve. Although the car initially had some teething issues, it was positively unbeatable when working properly- especially on a loose surface. And by the time the 1982 season came about, other teams realized that all-wheel drive would be the only way forward. At this same time, Audi was building the racing Quattro Coupe on which the race car was based. At the time, all-wheel drive was relegated to trucks and military vehicles as it was considered too heavy and unwieldy but thanks to considerable development by Audi, many of the common drivability issues in town were gone, and what was left was a car that made drivers exceptionally confident in nearly any weather conditions.

This 1981 Audi Quattro is a first-year build that has been kept to an exceptionally high level. Finished in Diamond Silver Metallic, this Quattro shows just 85,044 km on the odometer and has recently come out of long-term storage. The Quattro is immediately identifiable over its front-wheel drive Coupe GT brother thanks to its stunning box flared fenders and subtle rear wing. The paint and bodywork around this car is in fantastic condition and comes complete with the extremely period graphics along the lower door of the Audi logo with fading rings.

Open the door, and a sea of ​​velor greets you with a unique pattern imprinted on it – a combination of vertical stripes of brown and cream paired with diagonal zebra stripes covering the seats, doors, and headlining. Although this may not sound especially attractive to some, it works well with the rest of the car and is truly evocative of the period in which it was built. Sitting in front of the driver is a 4-spoke steering wheel with “Turbo” emblazoned in the center, and sitting behind it, a gauge cluster with the all-important turbo boost gauge sitting right in the middle. In addition to the HVAC controls, the center stack is equipped with a Blaupunkt Canberra cassette player and, below that, a knob to lock the differentials with individual lights for the front and rear.

Powering the Quattro is a 2.1 liter inline-5, with the addition of a turbocharger and intercooler for a power bump. This means 197 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque from just 3,500 rpm and a 0-100 km/h sprint of just 7.1 seconds. With a top speed of over 220 km/h, the Quattro was in a similar league to the contemporary 911 SC, but that performance was achieved very differently. Power was sent through a 5-speed manual gearbox to a full-time 4-wheel drive system- with switchable differential locks both front and rear. After being used sparingly for 15 years, this car was subject to a thorough mechanical reconditioning which included a complete engine overhaul, a new turbocharger, new suspension, and new brakes. Opening the hood, the engine bay is in exceptional condition and it is hard to believe the car is more than 40 years old. By modern car standards, the Quattro won't blow you away with its speed. Still, the overall package is remarkably cohesive and, on a sweeping B-road, instills great confidence in the driver. Before you know it, you are attacking corners at a remarkable pace while listening to that inline-5 growl emanating from the rear.

Produced until 1991, only 11,452 units were produced, and due to the car's mastery of wet and snowy weather, many have been lost over the years to rust or accidents. For decades, Audi separated itself from other luxury manufacturers thanks to its innovative all-wheel drive system, if you want to experience where that all came from- this Quattro is the perfect car to do just that.

L'Audi Quattro è famosa per essere stata una delle prime auto di serie dotate di trazione integrale permanente, una caratteristica che ha rivoluzionato il mondo dell'automobilismo e ha portato alla diffusione della trazione integrale su molte auto sportive e per le competizioni, soprattutto nei rally. Questo sistema, chiamato "quattro", garantisce maggiore stabilità, aderenza e prestazioni su strada e fuori strada.

La Quattro è dotata di un motore a cinque cilindri in linea da 2,1 litri sovralimentato che produceva una potenza notevole per l'epoca. Questo ha contribuito notevolmente a costruire il prestigio di Audi come costruttore di auto sportive e da corsa.

Questa vettura è una delle prime 500 costruite, è stata completamente revisionata sia meccanicamente che negli interni e nella carrozzeria ed è pronta per essere un gioiello in qualsiasi collezione di auto. Sicuramente un pezzo di storia dell'automobilismo mondiale, proveniente da un'importante collezione privata.

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Queste informazioni non sono le informazioni precontrattuali previste dal D.Lgs. 21/2014, ma una semplice indicazione sommaria del veicolo, che dovrà essere completata da specifiche informazioni precontrattuali fornite dal Venditore proponente prima che assumiate impegni.I prezzi esposti sul sito internet sono indicativi e potrebbero subire variazioni.

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