I’m the kind of dork who interrupts my girlfriend mid-sentence to point out a cool car on the street. Sometimes, I launch into a diatribe — an essay on exactly who might buy such a car. But most times I try to point out the significance of a model, to give my girlfriend some kind of context as to its importance, historical or otherwise.
At the time of writing, my girlfriend is yet to care. Not even a little. When I sounded off about a rather special Audi the other day, she simply nodded and asked where we were going to have dinner.
I just don’t understand her nonchalance about this because when it comes to the subject of go-fast tech, one could argue that no manufacturer has made an impact like Audi.
Sure, there are many examples of historically significant cars that permanently changed the automotive landscape. The Mustang popularized the idea of the options list, trim levels, and cheap power. The Volkswagen Golf GTI made economy cars fun. Up until the last decade or so, the Mercedes S-Class was a touchstone for what accessories and amenities would eventually trickle down to more mainstream models. If you’re a car nerd like me, you could name dozens more examples while the person who claims to love you impatiently waits for you to just stop talking.
But let me propose to you the idea of a permanent four-wheel drive in a sport sedan.
Audi was the first to do it in the Ur-Quattro and it forever changed the landscape of performance cars.
Right now, there’s a pristine 1988 European-spec Audi Quattro listed for sale on AutoTrader.
Born out of Audi taking advantage of a loophole in the rules of competition racing that allowed four-wheel drive, the Quattro made its debut for public consumption in 1980, with less than 11,500 examples produced worldwide before its discontinuation in 1991.
On the rally circuit, Quattro's innovative permanent four-wheel-drive system earned both manufacturer and driver’s championships in the brutal Group B competitions. But it wasn’t just the driveline that was so ahead of its time.
The Quattro featured front and rear independent suspension. An inline five-cylinder engine was aided by an oil-cooled turbocharger, air-to-air intercooler, and trick Bosch fuel injection. For 1987, a Torsen centre differential was used for the first time, replacing the manual centre differential lock.
See? Nerdy stuff. Heck, even the gauges were nerdy. An LCD instrument cluster made the Quattro look more like it should be attacking the Death Star than a rally circuit.
All of this is what makes this tornado-red example for sale in Richmond Hill, Ont., so special.
Better yet, this example isn’t some museum gem you can never drive. Yes, the car has received a high-quality detail and polish (and looks pretty gorgeous from where we’re sitting). But the private seller freely admitted to AutoTrader that while this car has been well maintained over its life, with comprehensive service records to back up the claim, it’s not perfect. There are small paint chips in the front bumper and some of the black leather seat bolstering has expected wear.
But these are actually good signs. This is what you want in a vintage car like this because it means somebody has been driving and using it. (A tip on your next used car purchase; a dusty engine bay is often a good sign.)
What is important is that the car has undergone a serious mechanical overhaul, completed by the previous owner, receiving a refreshed turbo, fuel pump, and new exhaust — restored to original factory spec, so it remains in “stock” form.
Moreover, this is a right-hand-drive European-spec car. Specifically, this Quattro was originally a U.K.-market car. It was imported into Canada in 2020, where it is now legally road-registered.
The significance of the Euro-spec? Well, as expected, the North American cars were worse. For 1987 and prior, the North American cars received a far downgraded engine.
And like many European imports of the time, larger impact bumpers with built-in shock absorbers had to be fitted to meet American crash safety standards. The North American Quattros also didn’t have ABS for some reason, but did include air conditioning and leather upholstery.
Truly, the Quattro was just too far ahead of its time for North America. Only 99 units ever sold in Canada, which is shocking because why would we want a fun-to-drive, practical compact car built to handle every kind of weather condition?
Nonetheless, the Quattro’s legacy lives on in both Audi’s logo and the perpetuation of its four-wheel-drive system, which Audi still calls “Quattro all-wheel drive.” But it’s bigger than that. Its groundbreaking marriage of four-wheel drive and performance driving was so successful that even the most thoroughbred supercars and the 100-proof Porsche 911 were forced to adapt.
The Quattro is more than just car nerd trivia on wheels. It's the genesis of an entire revolution in automotive performance. “Ur” even means “first of its kind.”
This is another piece of drivable history that’s for sale, and somebody needs to please buy it … if only to ensure there’s at least one still driving in the entire country.
And while your partner might not get or appreciate it, all of your fellow car nerds will.
