This Amazing 1986 Audi Quattro Racer Build Has Many Secrets to Hide

1986 Audi Quattro Racer

Originally built in the 1980s to compete in the Dakar rally, this 1986 Audi Quattro is essentially a Ranger Rover underneath.

Audi has enjoyed tremendous success in the world of motorsports over its illustrious history, racking up its fair share of wins in the world of rally racing, in particular. Thus, we’re simply used to seeing classic Audi machines blasting across all sorts of surfaces at high speed, putting their iconic Quattro systems to good use. But while it may look semi-normal at first glance, this 1986 Audi Quattro racer build up for grabs at Aguttes is anything but underneath its inspired skin.

Rather, while it’s registered as a 1986 Audi in France, where it currently resides, this vehicle is about as highly modified as they come, and it also utilizes a host of Ranger Rover components underneath. It’s reportedly one of the first prototypes assembled by Franco de Paoli, an Italian gentleman driver who was no stranger to the Dakar rally, nor the act of modifying Ranger Rovers for serious off-road racing events.

1986 Audi Quattro Racer

That’s precisely why Paoli chose a Ranger Rover chassis for his 1986 Audi Quattro build, though he went a bit further than that. Rather than just stuffing the frame underneath an old Audi, he also retained the SUV’s suspension setup – albeit heavily modified at this point – as well as its 3.5-liter V8 and gearbox.

1986 Audi Quattro Racer

From there, things get much more conventional, as this Audi touts a 106-gallon fuel tank to help it make it through the grueling Dakar rally, along with fiberglass and Kevlar bodywork. Regardless, its entries in the 1986 and 1987 installments of that particular event didn’t go as planned, with both ending in consecutive DNFs.

1986 Audi Quattro Racer

Regardless, this cool piece of rallying history is now up for auction with an estimated selling price of somewhere around $160,000 to $270,000. It has received a cosmetic restoration that returned it to its originally Dakar specification, yet it also needs a mechanical refresh as well. However, for anyone looking to have a little fun off the pavement, we can’t imagine a cooler – or more unique – way to do precisely that.

Photos: Aguttes

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The Pitfalls of Buying a Cheap S5, Audi Promises Exciting EVs, New A4 Spy Shots & More! | AudiWorld Driven

AudiWorld DrivenAudiWorld Driven series to get you caught up. As always, we rounded up the hottest Audi news, reviews, videos, and AudiWorld forum discussions from the past week just for you. This week incudes a look back by Team Audi Sport at the unfortunate results from the 2023 Dakar. AudiWorld forum members discuss what other vehicles they would buy if the new A4 is disappointing. Speaking of the new A4, we get a good look at the new A4 Avant. A popular YouTuber buys a cheap S5 V8 6-speed and discovers that everything is broken. There is a lot to cover this week so let’s get to it.

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Must Watch Video: 16 Days of Disappointment at Dakar 2023

Audi came into the 2023 Dakar with high hopes. But the Dakar is a cruel and unforgiving race and Audi saw that firsthand this year. Things were actually going quite well until Stage 6. Big crashes and other setbacks then struck and eliminated any hope of Audi taking home the top prize. A video was recently posted on the Audi YouTube channel that summarizes their Dakar effort this year.

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Must Watch Video: $7K Audi S5 Has Laundry List of Issues

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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

RS4 Avant Clone is The Closest You Can Get in the US

B7 Audi RS4 Avant Wagon Clone For Sale

Inside and out, this B7 Avant is a full-fledge RS4 clone. This Cars and Bids auction is the closest you’ll get to a B7 RS4 for a decade!

The B7 Audi RS4 Avant is an iconic staple of the fearsome four rings’ timeline. What’s not to love? A six-speed manual transmission and a 4.2-liter V8 that makes 420 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.  Couple that with the practicalities of a wagon and Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Come to think of it, though; there is one thing we don’t love about it. See, Audi never sold the B7 RS4 in the US. We’re sure you’re aware, and we promise this article’s point is not simply to add salt to that open wound. Instead, we have great news. Right now, there’s a chance for US Audi enthusiasts to get an authentic taste of the B7 RS4 lifestyle. Furthermore, this car is 100% US legal and ready to rock.

This 2008 Audi S4 Avant is currently listed on Cars and Bids. However, this particular wagon is a whole lot more than an S4. This car is a meticulous recreation of an RS4. It has a full drivetrain swap, meaning instead of the standard affair S4 V8 engine with 340 horsepower, it has an authentic RS4 engine making the full-fledged 420 horsepower. It doesn’t stop at just the drivetrain, either. This thing has hours and hours of love and care put into it. As such, though, it’s not going to come cheap. At the time of writing, this auction has five days remaining and already carries a bid of over $50,000.

Interior B7 RS4 swapped S4 Leather bucket seats

The RS4 Conversion Doesn’t Stop at the engine

While the drivetrain swap in itself is impressive, it’s far from telling the whole story of this conversion. If you open the doors, you’ll find that this car also has a full-blown RS4 interior swap. Of course, this includes the gorgeous and sporty Euro-spec leather bucket seats. Heated, of course. Additionally, it has Euro-spec RS4 door cards, a TTRS flat-bottom steering wheel, SRP pedals, and a weighted shift knob.

Other upgrades include an RS4 steering rack, KW V3 coilovers, Brembo GT front rotors, EBC brake pads, and 034Motorsports adjustable control arms, both upper and lower.

Audi RS4 RSFaux S4 B7 Avant Cars and Bids Auction

Widebody to Complete the Look

Perhaps the most selling part of this conversion is the widebody conversion. If we hadn’t been told it wasn’t a legitimate RS4 (and we didn’t read the fantastic “RSFAUX” license plates), we would be at a loss for how this car is in the US. It really is that convincing.

Tying together the whole look is a full-color change to Cambridge Green Pearl, Euro-spec head and taillights, a German-spec Avant rear bumper, and a shining set of gold Work Emotion wheels.

The only slight hang-ups some potential buyers may have are that the Carfax report shows a minor-damage front-end collision in 2014 and the fact that the RS4 cluster swap puts the actual mileage of this vehicle up in the air.

B7 Audi RS4 Clone Six Speed Manual 420 Horsepower

Ultimately, this is a rare opportunity to own a car in the US that meets the specs of one of the many cool cars we never got in our market. Though we finally get a taste of the RS Avant life thanks to the RS6, we are still missing out on plenty of awesome RS Avant cars that are not yet legal. Now, you’ve got a chance o experience it. Unfortunately, though, it’s likely not going to come cheap.

We’ll certainly be watching this auction to see the final hammer price!

Photos: Cars and Bids