One to Buy: 1984 Audi Quattro Sport (SOLD)
The Group 4 era that kicked off in 1973 yielded an array of spectacular rally cars.
Some Group 4 models such as the Lancia Stratos and mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo were created specially for the job. Others were sports cars like the Porsche 911, Ferrari 308 GTB and Alpine A110 that got adapted to suit. However, the beauty of Group 4 was that it provided a sufficiently level playing field that comparatively mainstream models like the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, Ford Escort RS, Fiat 131 Abarth and Toyota Celica could compete and win.
When Group B came in, that all changed. Homologation requirements were slashed from 400 to just 200 units and rallying soon found itself in unchartered waters.
Audi had first taken the Quattro rallying in 1981 and went on to win both the Driver and Manufacturers titles in 1982 (when Group B and Group 4 cars were allowed to compete alongside one another). The German firm also won the ‘83 Manufacturer’s crown, but by this stage it was clear the Quattro would need a significant upgrade if it was to remain competitive against the new era of trick Group B supercars.
The result was the Quattro Sport which Audi unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1983.
Based on a massively shortened version of the existing B2 bodyshell, the Quattro Sport also featured a special alloy instead of iron block inline five cylinder turbo engine that produced over 50% more power than a standard UR Quattro.
Although 214 Quattro Sports were built, only 164 were sold to customers and just 10 were Federalised for the US market to promote Audi’s attack on the 1986 Pikes Peak Hillclimb (which Bobby Unser won in a Sport S1).
This exceptional unrestored example currently on offer at the Canepa showroom in Scotts Valley, California, is one of those ten. Painted the popular shade of Tornado Red, it has covered just over 35,000 miles from new and is probably one of the finest Quattro Sports in existence.
Reprinted below is Canepa’s description for this extremely rare piece of Group B rally history:
The most exciting and collectible Audi of all time
Extremely well-preserved and maintained example
One of only 10 examples made for the U.S. market – one of 164 street examples worldwide
Equipped with factory air-conditioning
Extensive mechanical servicing and concours preparation performed by Canepa
300+ horsepower, 240lb/ft+ of torque from its 2.1-liter turbocharged engine
Brought to the U.S. to promote Pikes Peak in 1986, then federalized for U.S. road use
Audi’s famous homologation street car for Group B racing
One of the initial 10 Sport Quattros intended for the American market out of the 164 street cars delivered out of the total of 214 cars made. This is one of the rarest models of the road-going Sport Quattros. The Porsche/Audi plant federalized these ten vehicles after importing them. For the 1986 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, ten Sport Quattros were brought in to advertise the brand. In order to sell the vehicles here in the United States, Audi looked for well-known people. Following the hill climb competition, the 10 vehicles were federalized to comply with American standards before being offered to buyers whom Audi felt deserving of owning the Group B homologation vehicle. The original owner of this vehicle retained it for almost two years and had it serviced at the same Dublin, Ohio, dealership, with a service mileage of 15,881 at the time of the last reported service.
After being hidden for over 16 years, the car was finally revealed to the public in 2004 at The Auto Collection in Las Vegas, Nevada, with barely 19,000 miles on the odometer according to earlier accounts. The vehicle was bought by longtime Oregonian Gary Gaska in October 2004 and added to his intimate collection of automobiles. He had a modest collection of two cars, which he loved and treated with the highest care and respect. He kept the Sport Quattro indoors when he had it as proof of how well-preserved it is today. It was his pride and joy.
In 2012, Gary was at the Pebble Beach Concours when he was approached and asked if he might sell the car. Even though the Sport Quattro wasn't up for sale, the same man repeatedly insisted. After months of discussion, Gary was finally persuaded and given an offer he couldn't refuse; as a result, the tenacious man became the third owner of this Sport Quattro.
When the Audi arrived at Canepa, the goal was to preserve all surfaces, components, and even the smallest details. In light of this, commenced a project that would transform this Sport Quattro from an outstanding specimen into possibly the best one in existence.
As the Canepa Difference procedure could begin, the Quattro had a thorough and drawn-out mechanical assessment. Each system was checked and tested to make sure it was functioning as the Audi factory would have planned. To make sure the car passed emissions tests during the federalization process, several extra parts were fitted to the vehicle. The "piggyback" system was quickly removed in order to restore the Audi to its original specifications because it was preventing it from operating to its full capacity. It was decided to remove the engine from the vehicle and completely rebuild the inline-5 turbocharged engine. New pistons, a very tiny overbore, and a complete rebuild of the entire engine were all part of the laborious process that resulted in a Sport Quattro engine that was powerful and eager to rev.
Canepa used the opportunity to give the Sport Quattro an incredibly thorough and attentive concours preparation and detailing both inside and out while the engine was out of the vehicle. Every last piece of debris from the car's undercarriage was removed over the course of more than 3 days, exposing all of the original factory finishes by Audi. Original plating, paint job, and hardware sparkled to the original factory specifications. This simply served to highlight how well-maintained this vehicle was, given that it had 33,200 miles on it at the time. With the same level of care, everything else on the car was detailed. The outside paint was polished to such a flawless quality that it might have been better than when it left the manufacturer in 1985, and the interior, which is entirely original was gently cleaned to maintain the factory components. Cleaning the spare tire and wheel revealed that it was the original tire that had never been taken off the rim. The fully rebuilt engine was matched back to the vehicle and put together after the entire vehicle had been meticulously polished. After everything was completed and fastened, it was put through a thorough test that included a visit to Canepa's dyno, capping the service cost as just over $143k.
This properly maintained 1984 Audi Sport Quattro is now available at Canepa and is a true piece of legend. It is the best Sport Quattro available because it was one of the original ten vehicles brought to the American market, had only a few owners, and underwent a thorough mechanical refurbishment and cosmetic refreshment. This Sport Quattro, which can finally be experienced in the way it was intended to be, will reward its next owner with a pure driving experience with a direct connection to Group B rallying, in addition to being aware that it may be the best example in existence right now.
