This wicked S6 Avant Clone is undeniably cool, but its checkered history appears to have turned off potential buyers.
As loads of AudiWorld members know, the Audi S6 Avant never made it to our shores. But that didn’t stop one enterprising Four Rings fan from getting their dream machine on the road here. Because this baby, which rolled off the assembly line as a standard A6 longroof, had its stock drivetrain plucked so Audi’s monster 5.2-liter V10 could provide motivation. Shifting duties are handled by a six-speed automatic which pipes poke to all four corners via the famous quattro all-wheel drive system. And since the mill was factory rated at a healthy 435 horsepower and 389 lb-ft of torque, it’s sure to go like a scalded cat.
Of course, as you might expect with an ambitious project like this, the heart transplant wasn’t the end of the modifications. According to the listing on Doug DeMuro’s auction site, Car & Bids, plenty of other work has been done. The catalog of additional mods is as long as a CVS receipt, and includes mechanical bits like high-flow cats, a Maserati GTS resonator, Milltek mufflers, A8 Brembo front brake rotors, A6 Sport Package rear brakes, and 20-inch B9 S5 wheels.
On top of that, C6 RS6 rocker panels were added, and the sheetmetal was sprayed in rich Sepang Blue. Overall, this beast looks outstanding, and it sparkles in the over 240 pictures posted.
Now, if you’re like me? Even if there are some little issues — think flakey Bluetooth, rock chips, worn driver’s seat — this still sounds like a compelling package. But there’s more to the story here — which is likely why the bidding stalled at $35,000 and the reserve wasn’t met. First, there’s the issue of mileage. Because while the true mileage is unknown, what is known is that the ten-pot has over 100k on the clock. Personally, that alone would make me walk, as nobody builds something like this to baby it, and even if you know how to turn a wrench, keeping a 14-year-old high-performance engine isn’t going to be cheap.
Even more worrying than the mileage, however, is the vehicle’s accident history. Or rather, the vehicle’s history of accidents. There are three shunts listed on the Carfax, and one of them is said to have inflicted structural damage. So it seems perfectly reasonable that this wicked wagon — as incredibly cool as it is — didn’t meet the mysterious reserve. That said, what do you think would be a fair price for a build like this? Or would its checkered history turn you off entirely? Let us know HERE in the forums!
Photos: Cars & Bids