Chassis No.: WAUZZZ85ZEA901290

Engine No.: WR005522

Registration: B73 VTM

If any car deserves the title of 'Legend', it is the Audi Quattro. The Geneva Motor Show in 1980 was the arena for the launch of Audi's sensational Quattro. It was the first four-wheel drive production car (with the exception of the small production run of the Jensen FF) and with it Audi dominated the World Rally Championship. The drivers in the very first Quattro team were Hannu Mikkola and Michèle Mouton. Their debut in the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally caused an absolute sensation. In one of those moments that made motorsport history, on a snow-covered surface ten kilometres into the very first special stage, Mikkola overtook a Lancia Stratos that had started one minute before him. Michèle Mouton was the first woman to win a major rally in a Quattro in 1981.

It is arguably the most significant car of the post-war era. The initial plan was to build just 400 for the motorsport industry, but due to strong demand the Quattro went into full production and the first lefthand drive versions were available in the UK in the spring of 1981, but the righthand drive followed in the Autumn of 1982. The first cars are easily identifiable by their twin headlamps, six inch Ronal wheels (seven inch Fuchs as options) and black boot spoilers. The engine was a turbo charged version of the fuel injected 2144cc five cylinder engine which originally produced 200bhp and a massive 210 lbf of torque.

This phenomenal power would take the car to 60mph in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 140 mph. The four wheel drive transmission’s ability to provide traction in all conditions meant that the car re-wrote the rule book in terms of road holding and acceleration.

This Audi was the personal car of Paul Harris, the editor and publisher of Audi Driver magazine and is the subject of twenty seven magazine articles, which are included within the car’s history file, they document in extraordinary detail his eleven year ownership. It is doubtful a fuller history of any Quattro exists. As well as keeping a personal diary of maintenance and fuel consumption Mr Harris was able to call on the services of specialists including, Dialynx Performance, who upgraded the exhaust system to a Cargraphic stainless steel one, fitted Koni adjustable dampers and Quattro MB-Series twin pot front brake calipers and Toyo Proxes T1-R tyres.

Supplied new in 1984 to the Super Tyres Motorist Centre Ltd of Welwyn Garden City, this particular example boasts a stamped service book up to 90,624 miles and a current odometer reading of 104,700. The car has been professionally repainted in Pearlescent White. This Quattro also had its original engine extensively refurbished and lightly breathed upon by John Reade (an ex-Audi engineer who supplied powerplants for the David Sutton rally team) who gas flowed the cylinder head, installed Karl Schmidt pistons and an AET hybrid turbocharger, prior to Paul Harris's ownership in 2004. In December 2017 this car underwent a full service including fitting a new timing belt, water pump, auxiliary drive belts, spark plugs, oil filter and oil change as well as new rear discs and pads.

As the first of the four-wheel drive rally bred machines, the Quattro put Audi at the forefront of four-wheel drive technology and kick started their motorsport heritage which continues to this day. There is still little to match the Quattro it in terms of handling or road holding and even now there is not many that can keep up with a well driven Quattro.

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/?lot=8629&au=10