1983 Audi Quattro With RS2 Crate Engine Is One Cool Restomod

Heavily modified with modern mechanicals and a Sport widebody kit, this classic Audi Quattro is truly one of a kind.

The original Audi Quattro – or Ur-Quattro, as it’s otherwise known – is a truly iconic machine, one that revolutionized the world of rally racing while also making all-wheel-drive performance-focused road cars all the rage. As such, the Audi Quattro remains a coveted collectible in today’s world, particularly since not many of them were made in total – just 664 units were built for the U.S. from 1983-1986, in fact, and they routinely trade for big money on the auction circuit.

However, this 1983 Audi Quattro recently sold on Cars & Bids for $75,000, and isn’t powered by its original – and legendary – inline five-cylinder powerplant. Rather, it’s now powered by a crate version of the Audi-designed and Porsche-modified 2.2-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine present in the modern-day RS2, which is rated to produce a more potent 311 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque in stock form – flowing to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

This particular powerplant wasn’t left stock, however – rather, it has received modifications including a 2Bennett Audimotive bar-and-plate intercooler, a high-capacity radiator with a 500W fan system, a custom left-side air intake and carbon fiber shroud, and a custom 76mm stainless steel turbo-back exhaust system. The suspension has been upgraded to support this infusion of power, thanks to 2Bennett bits, joined by a big brake system with switchable ABS and S2 running gear.

Aside from that nifty powertrain upgrade, this classic Audi Quattro has been treated to a host of other modifications, too – on the outside, those consist of a Sport Quattro-style carbon fiber widebody kit from 2Bennett, along with custom 18-inch Forgeline wheels. Inside, one will find a custom eight-point roll cage with side-impact ladder bars, plus Recaro bucket seats with harnesses.

The seller of this modified 1983 Audi Quattro has owned it for a very long time – since 1995 – and they’ve put a significant 61,000 miles on the car over that time span. It was repainted in the current Alpine White hue back in 2016, and looks no worse for wear as it sits today. Given the amount of love that went into this build – and how much the seller has driven it – we imagine that it can’t be easy to part ways, but that also gives someone else the chance to own a truly unique version of an iconic vehicle.

Click HERE to join the AudiWorld forums!

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.
He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.
In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.
You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.