A Rare 1982 Audi Ur Quattro is Found in Scotland after almost 30 Years

1982 Audi Ur Quattro

After Almost 30 Years, this Alpine White Audi Ur Quattro from 1982 is Found and Rescued from a Scottish Garage

Just last month, a 1982 Audi Ur Quattro got to see the sun after being locked away in a Scottish garage since 1994. Featured on Jonny Smith’s The Late Brake Show was Jason and his late brother’s Ur Quattro, which was stored in his garage for reasons unknown, and then left untouched for 28 years. That is, until Smith came along to show the world an incredibly rare and rally bred beauty.

Having sat in a windowless garage for nearly three decades, the interior was a tad dusty, but intact, colorful and bright – just like it would have been in 1982. No sun damage or bleaching, no rodent damage, and very little water and mold damage – despite being so close to Scottish shores. The only evidence the car had even seen the light of day beforehand was a few retro packs of cigarettes and an air freshener.

After phoning a friend who had access to a trove of classic Audi knowledge, he was able to find out that the car was hand-built by a team of Audi workers in July of 1982 – before mass production took affect for the company. It also happened to be only one of 70 right hand drive models sold in the United Kingdom, making for the Alpine white Quattro with matching Fuch wheels the stuff of legends.

1982 Audi Ur Quattro

A Rich and Capable History

What makes the Ur Quattro that Smith stumbled upon so special wasn’t just the origin story, but what came of the result. For instance, the Quattro was inspired by Volkswagen’s very capable but fairly unknown Iltis – an off-roader that was used by the German military. Audi, knowing that the Iltis could quite literally go anywhere but was slower than molasses on a winter day, decided to take what made the Iltis so successful and make it prettier and faster. And thus, the Ur Quattro was born.

Once the Quattro was introduced into professional rallying, though, the world of rally was forever changed. Anyone who is into rally knows the Audi Quattro – and how much of an impact the permanent 4WD system had on competing manufacturers.

1982 Audi Ur Quattro

While Smith didn’t take the precious Audi home, he did try valiantly to try and start the famous 2.2 liter five-cylinder up. Despite fresh oil, cleaning up the distributor points, sprucing up the plugs and hooking it up to a bigger battery, the Quattro needed more attention that Smith could give it. Shortly after Smith’s visit in Scotland, the one of a kind car went up for auction and was sold for £20,250. To check out the listing and more photos of the incredible car, click here.

To view the original video, check out some retro wrappers and newspapers found in the garage and what Jason’s brother traded in to get the Audi, watch the video below.

Cars were always a central part of Kristen’s life. It all started with passing tools to her colorfully cursing sailor of a father while he was underneath Chevy Novas from the 1970s. Eventually she was promoted from Tool Monkey to Apprentice – auto mechanics were her first love. Having graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay in 2020 and married a successful mechanic, she spend most of her days reading, writing and talking about what she loves most: cars.

Ginster Yellow Coupe Quattro Holy Grail Hits the Auction Block

Ginster Yellow B3 Audi Coupe Quattro Rare Collectors Car

Near-Flawless Ginster Yellow ACQ is one of only a handful in this rare color. With 64,000 original miles, this is a collector’s holy grail. 

When someone outside the Audi world hears the phrase “Audi Coupe Quattro,” they’re most likely to picture the iconic UR Quattro or Quattro S1 rally car. That’s because its successor, the B3 Coupe Quattro, wasn’t the most successful of sales stories in North America. This is especially true when it comes to the color Ginster Yellow, which we’re happy to admit isn’t for everyone. With only around 1,750 ACQs ever selling among its short run of only 1990 and 1991 model years in the US, it’s estimated only a couple dozen came in this color. To find one is a difficult task. So, if you’re a classic Audi collector, we advise you get out your wallet because this one is for sale.

This rare beauty is currently listed for sale on Cars and Bids. At the time of writing, it’s got about a week left and currently holds a bid of just $4,600. However, we don’t anticipate it’s going to stay that low. Given the rarity and its condition, it’s hard to say what it will sell for. We can assure you, though, we’ll be watching it closely.

Audi 20V Naturally Aspirated five-cylinder engine

Classic Audi Five-Cylinder Power

While the European market did get these cars with turbo engines, we did not. However, they still have some legendary Audi heritage planted under the hood. The 2.3-liter inline-five 20-valve shares the same architecture as the rally icon. Dual-overhead-camshaft construction and a sound that you won’t soon forget, even naturally aspirated. Originally, this engine had an output of 164 horsepower and 157 pound-feet of torque. Of course, power is sent to all four wheels via the five-speed manual transmission.

The Ginster Yellow paint job is far from subtle, which perfectly contrasts how much the underloved B3 Coupe Quattro flew under the radar. Its 15″ Speedline wheels complement this color quite nicely, though. One thing’s for sure; nobody is going to miss this thing driving down the road!

Interior of B3 Audi Coupe Quattro for sale Cars and Bids

A Rare Gem Frozen in Time

The true selling point of this beauty is its overall condition. It has only 64,200 original miles, which is reflected inside and out. Though it isn’t perfect, it’s in remarkable shape for being 32 years old.

Known flaws listed in the article include rock chips, peeling paint on the grille, peeling clear coat on the hatch, wheel scratches, and, of course, some minor electrical issues. The passenger power mirror, driver’s window regulator, and driver’s power seat do not currently function.

It does have plenty of recent service history, though, including control arms, ball joints, and tie rods. Furthermore, it got a new battery, new thermostat, new tires, new water pump, timing belt, and a host of seals replaced, too. Finally, the seller had a new ABS sensor installed, and the air conditioning system serviced within 600 miles.

So, while it may not be Concours perfect, it truly is an ideal car for a collector who isn’t afraid to drive their vehicles. Moreover, it’s ideal for a collector who wants to be noticed as they drive down the road.

Photos: Cars and Bids

Helios Blue Ur-Quattro: Timeless as Ever

1983 Audi Quattro

One of 664 made for the U.S. market, this 1983 Audi Quattro is one of the best examples of what would make Audi the company it is today.

In 1977, Audi chassis engineer Jorg Bensinger saw what the Volkswagen Iltis could do with this all-wheel drive in the snow. He believed its performance would be perfect for a high-performance sports car. Three years later, the Audi Quattro – known to fans as the Ur-Quattro – debuted on the world’s stage. From that point on, Audi’s fate was sealed as a builder of all-wheel drive, high-performance machines.

The Ur-Quattro is also a rarity in the United States, as only 664 were sold here. One of them is this 1983 Helios Blue Ur-Quattro on Bring a Trailer. Not only is a beautiful machine, but it’s one of the best examples of what made Audi the company it is today.

1983 Audi Quattro

Originally delivered to Audi of San Francisco, the Ur-Quattro received a few refreshes from its current owner. Its Helios Blue paint received a refresh in 2018, along with the weatherstripping and trim. The 15-inch Ronal R8s were placed on the corners under current ownership, as well. This Audi certainly looks as timeless as ever.

1983 Audi Quattro

The magic continues under the hood, too. Powering the Ur-Quattro is its 2.1-liter turbo-five, which had delivered 160 horses and 170 lb-ft of torque to the quattro system via a five-speed manual. Not a whole lot of power compared to Audi’s latest S and RS beasts. However, this is how it was in the waning days of the malaise.

1983 Audi Quattro

The interior is on a whole other level. The Mocha cloth seats with zebra-pattering make the excellent contrast against the Helios Blue hue on the outside. The manually operated sunroof is definitely a throwback few would remember or expect, adding more to the overall charm of the Ur-Quattro. It’s definitely a cozy place to be when giving the Audi all it’s got.

1983 Audi Quattro

The Ur-Quattro more than earned its place in Audi’s history. From ski slopes to rally stages, it proved to the world all-wheel drive wasn’t the sole domain of trucks. It’s safe to say every high-performance all-wheel drive vehicle made today owes a debt to the Ur-Quattro.

Photos: Bring a Trailer

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Cameron Aubernon’s path to automotive journalism began in the early New ’10s. Back then, a friend of hers thought she was an independent fashion blogger.

Aubernon wasn’t, so she became one, covering fashion in her own way for the next few years.

From there, she’s written for: Louisville.com/Louisville Magazine, Insider Louisville, The Voice-Tribune/The Voice, TOPS Louisville, Jeffersontown Magazine, Dispatches Europe, The Truth About Cars, Automotive News, Yahoo Autos, RideApart, Hagerty, and Street Trucks.

Aubernon also served as the editor-in-chief of a short-lived online society publication in Louisville, Kentucky, interned at the city’s NPR affiliate, WFPL-FM, and was the de facto publicist-in-residence for a communal art space near the University of Louisville.

Aubernon is a member of the International Motor Press Association, and the Washington Automotive Press Association.