From The Classifieds: 1983 Audi quattro

Audi rocked the international rallying world when it introduced the quattro coupe in 1980.

The turbocharged five-cylinder all-wheel drive coupe revolutionised the manner in which competing brands configured their vehicles after Audi engineers discovered the traction benefits in 1977. It was around then that an Audi chassis engineer compared the performance of a regular two-wheel drive Audi 80 with a Volkswagen Iltis “jeep” on winter roads.

That the 56kW Volkswagen could blow away the 127kW Audi was proof enough that sending power to all four wheels had significant performance benefits in low-traction situations.

The way to the historic Audi quattro (which is Italian for “four”) coupe was a three-year ride involving Audi’s technical director Ferdinand Piech that resulted in the development of a system utilising a lockable centre differential to apportion the power effectively, while also allowing the car to turn corners without the dreaded “binding-up” of the front and rear axles as they attempted to spin at different speeds.

The quattro was first unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March 1980, complete with a 147kW turbocharged and intercooled five-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission.

The Audi was embraced immediately by the rallying fraternity and by 1984 the quattro had become an icon with two World Rally Championship drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles under its belt. During its 11-year life, it won countless rallies in Europe, the USA and Australia.

The car was the genesis for a complete range of quattro Audi models that has permeated the brand for around three decades.

Not surprisingly, the Audi quattro, now referred to as the Ur-Quattro (Ur is German for “ancient” or ”great”) has become highly valued property among historic vehicle enthusiasts in which the rarity of the model (11,452 were built between 1980 and 1991) becomes a factor in locating one, particularly in Australia where it was never sold.

Which makes this 1983 model being offered on carsales.com.au at $37,500 something special.

Purchased in the UK under Volkswagen-Audi’s delivery scheme being operated in Europe, the right-hand drive quattro was imported new to Australia and has been treated with care and respect ever since.

The current owner, who has had the Alpine White car for 20 years, has all the original delivery documentation, which will come as part of the package.

It has been kept “absolutely original, regardless of cost.” Optional equipment includes a factory sunroof and Fuchs five-spoke alloy wheels, while the headlights are single-lens Cibies. Upholstery is original brown herringbone jacquard fabric. The owner, who lives in the Melbourne bayside outer suburb of Mount Eliza, says the quattro has always been garaged and covered.

The odometer is showing 110,500km and the car, which is registered until August 2014, will be supplied with a roadworthy certificate. It is also available with “4 AUDI” number plates that will be sold separately.

The owner says a respected Audi service centre claimed the quattro was: “The best and most original quattro in the country."

Obviously a keen enthusiast, the owner suggests those who would like to see an original quattro should arrive on a Sunday afternoon with a bottle of Shiraz for a chat . . .