Audi Sport began production of the quattro for rallies simultaneously with the quattro series, launched in the European market in March 1980. It became a historic model for the brand with the four rings, responsible for introducing the four-wheel drive system in road vehicles and pioneering the current range of Audi Sport sports cars.
It is estimated that 224 units were produced, of which only 164 were homologated to circulate on public roads. The production version had 320 mm less wheelbase than the competition car, which, combined with a fiberglass and carbon/kevlar body construction, allowed for a weight reduction of over 300 kg. The 5-cylinder engine produced 306 hp of power and 350 Nm of torque.
The car in the images is one of the most well-preserved examples we have seen at auction, with only 8800 kilometers driven since it left the factory forty years ago. Interestingly, this white Audi Sport quattro was part of a very small group of cars that were transported to Japan and belonged to the collector Yoshikuni Okamoto. Later, the model was sold to a former rally driver in the USA, where it remains to this day. It will be auctioned on January 25th, during the event held by RM Sotheby’s in Arizona. The estimated value is between €550,000 and €650,000.
