Audi Quattro Turbo

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THIS CAR HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

Launched in 1980, initially in LHD form only, the Audi Quattro was a game-changing sports coupe that dragged four-wheel drive out of the farmyard and onto the highway.

Years ahead of it's time, every Quattro was hand-built at first and cost an absolute fortune when new. Based on the humble Audi 80 coupe, it could be easily distinguished by the flared arches and the lovely warble of its straight-five intercooled turbo engine.

Producing 197bhp and 210lb/ft in standard form, it could accelerate to 60mph in just 7.1 seconds with a top speed of 138mph. It stuck to the road like glue and, when the rules were changed to allow 4x4s into the World Rally Championship, it won virtually every event it entered.

The first cars had a WR code 10v engine of 2,144cc capacity, later enlarged to 2,226cc for the MB code unit which gave a significant increase in low down torque and upped the power to 217bhp, dropping the 0-60 time to sub-7 seconds and increasing the top speed to 143mph.

But it wasn’t the out-and-out performance figures which stood the car apart from its rivals. It was the astonishing grip and handling, the sheer usability of the power which could be put down on the road in any conditions, making the Quattro a hugely fast point-to-point machine. Qualities that are now being appreciated by a new generation of fans thanks to its starring role in the TV series ‘Ashes to Ashes’.

Audi Quattros, especially ones with verifiable histories, seem to be a rare thing these days. The 1986 MB code example on offer today has covered a not inconsiderable 160,000 miles, but reputedly has a fully documented history file as testament to its care and maintenance.

As well as a fully-stamped service book, the Quattro retains all its previous MOT certificates and service dockets. Recently unearthed after six years in storage, it has been recommissioned and was recently fitted with a new timing belt. Coming to the sale from the south of Ireland, it is still on Irish plates and will need to be re-registered here prior to use.