words: Bill, photos: Bring A Trailer
The first thing you’ll notice about this Quattro is the striking color. Originally black, it has been repainted in Galaxy Blue. While purists may chafe at the color change, I love it…similar to Sepang Blue which is one of my favorite Audi blues. Here’s the ad:
This 1983 Audi Quattro was purchased by the seller in 2006, and it was subsequently refurbished and modified. Now finished in blue over a grey cloth interior, the car is powered by a later-model turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-five mated to a five-speed manual transaxle and Quattro all-wheel drive with locking center and rear differentials. Equipment includes 15″ Ronal R8-style wheels, a sunroof, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, and an aftermarket Kenwood stereo. Modifications consist of a 034Motorsport Stage IIc stand-alone ECU, a BlauSport “272” camshaft, a relocated battery, 2Bennett Audimotive adjustable coilovers, G60 front brakes, a dashboard swap, and additional auxiliary gauges. This Ur-Quattro is offered with spare wheels and tires, spare parts, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Arizona title.
Previously black, the body was repainted in Sherwin-Williams Galaxy Blue in 2008, and the exterior features boxed fender flares, silver ring logos on the lower doors, a manually operated sunroof, a rear window washer and wiper, and a raised rear spoiler in black. The left-rear quarter window “quattro” decal is faded, and paint chips and blemishes in the trim are documented in the photo gallery below.
Silver-finished 15×8″ Ronal R8-style wheels feature inset spokes and wear Kumho Ecsta AST tires measuring 225/50 all-around. Modifications include 2Bennett Audimotive adjustable coilovers and G60 front brake calipers reportedly sourced from an Audi 5000 model with cross-drilled and ventilated front rotors. The brake calipers have been painted blue.
The cabin features grey cloth upholstery and matching door panels along with a contrasting black dashboard and carpets. The seller notes the upholstery was replaced in 2008 along with the dashboard, which was reportedly sourced from a 1985 Audi Coupe GT. A differential lock switch is mounted in the center stack, and additional equipment includes power windows and side mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, a rear-window defroster, and an aftermarket Kenwood CD stereo with USB connectivity.
The steering wheel wears faux carbon-fiber trim and frames VDO instruments including a 155-mph speedometer, a tachometer with inset analog clock, and auxiliary gauges showing boost pressure and fuel level. Additional gauges displaying oil pressure, boost pressure, and water temperature have been added atop the center of the dashboard, and a fuel-mixture gauge is mounted on the glovebox door. The odometer now shows 126k miles, approximately 11k of which were added by the seller. The seller notes cracks in the dash pad around the aftermarket gauge mounts.
The turbocharged and intercooled 2.2-liter inline-five was reportedly sourced from a 1989 Audi model and installed by the seller in 2008. Modifications include a BlauSport “272” camshaft and a 034Motorsport Stage IIc stand-alone fuel-injection and engine management package. The engine is said to have been dyno-tuned by Apikol Performance Automotive of Arvada, Colorado, and a dynamometer graph from 2009 is included below. The battery has been relocated to the trunk, and recent service is said to have included a refurbished radiator and replacement of the cooling fan.
Power is delivered to all four wheels through a five-speed manual transaxle and a Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The center and rear differentials can be locked by the driver via a dashboard-mounted switch panel. Paint overspray is noted on the undercarriage, and corrosion is visible on underside components.
Spare and removed parts are included in the sale, along with the following spare wheels and tires:
- Four 17×7″ ASA JH8 silver five-spoke wheels with 205/45 Sumitomo tires
- Four removed 15×6.5″ Ronal R8-style 16 spoke wheels without tires
- Four 15″ Fuchs wheels without tires
The Carfax report shows no accidents or other damage and lists registration history in Colorado and Arizona from its first entry in 1993.
As noted in the ad, the interior and the engine are not original to the car. The true mileage isn’t known due to the dash swap. Personally, I would ditch the aftermarket wheels and stereo and stick to the Ronals and find a period correct OEM head unit or at least a modern one that looks period correct. So can purists be upset because it is not the original paint and not even an OEM color? Currently sitting at $15,000, it has 5 days left for bidding. Will the non original parts affect the final price? We shall see. You can find this blue dream HERE.
