1976 Audi Fox Wagon Wants You to Embrace the Low Life
This air suspension on this classic Audi Fox Wagon might be too much for some Four Ring fans.
While the Audi Fox Wagon might not have the racing pedigree of something like the Turbo Quattro Coupe, it’s a somewhat rare machine, so the example we recently found on Bring a Trailer caught our attention. This particular model is also something of a movie star, as it was heavily featured in An Avant Story, the long-form 2021 RS6 Avant commercial the company released last year.
If for some reason you haven’t watched it yet, we’d highly recommend checking it out. It’s exactly the kind of soft-focus fare that warms our greasy little heart. That said, from a football field away, it’s obvious that this old Audi has gone under the knife since the spot was shot.
Most notably, an air suspension system has been installed, which we realize is a love or hate addition. For what it’s worth, it does looks like the work was done to a high standard, and California’s mild climate has been kind to the undercarriage. When the car was getting its new coat of Marathon Blue, the corner lights, side strips, and antenna were filled in and smoothed out, and the impact is pronounced.
For those who prefer more of a factory look, the car comes with a whole host of original parts. So while the body work might already be signed, sealed, and delivered, the stock wheels are included with the sale.
The strictly business look makes us wish there was something more to report on as far as motivation is concerned, but the stock 1.6-liter inline-four remains under the hood. Why the owner didn’t opt for something with a tad more poke is a mystery. Certainty, if we were got this deep into a project, there’s no way we’d be able to resist going the sleeper route.
Though the black and yellow combination isn’t period correct, the vanity plate is a nice touch. And while California allows folks to keep custom plates, unless the seller also has an early 1980s Mustang in their garage, it’ll likely stick with the Fox post sale.
In profile, the Fox is a handsome, clean design, featuring sharp angles and a great greenhouse. We think the bumpers, which were sourced from a first-gen Volkswagen Jetta look great, particularly up front. From where we’re standing, they’re not too big or too small, so we’d say even someone as famously finicky as Goldilocks would approve.
The dropped suspension remains a sticking point for us, however. We’d like to see a little more lift here, and a little more sidewall on those five-spoke BBS units. The Fox badge on the front fender is cute as a button though, and we’d happily wear a t-shirt sporting that logo — especially if we owned this wagon.
Along with the floor mats sporting the raging bull from Sant’Agata, the owner has also fitted the Fox with a Lamborghini gas cap. It’s a small, subtle touch, no doubt. But if it’s real? We can assure you that it was not an inexpensive bit. Because when we were embedded with the Gumball 3000 way back in 2014, one Gallardo driver made the mistake of leaving his gas cap on top of the pump during a fuel stop.
Since we were riding shotgun — and honestly didn’t have any other choice — we accompanied them to a dealership along the rally route to score a replacement. From what we recall, it cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $300, which isn’t a lot of cash if you’re flush enough to spend a week parting on a rich-person rally. But if you’re customizing a 1970s people mover? Shelling out that kind of cash for something so small might sting a little more.
Eagle-eyed Audi aficionados will also notice that the four-spoke Nardi steering wheel isn’t a factory component. Though at least in the pictures, it seems to match the wood surround of the gauge cluster and the shift nob pretty well. So while gripping grain might not be for everyone, the aftermarket tiller doesn’t stand out as much as we might have imagined.
While we were writing this post, the bidding was holding steady at just over $9,000, with around a day left, and there’s no reserve. So do you think this is a reasonable deal for this low-level 1970s player? Or would you have to be a total jive turkey to pay anything close to that? Head into the forum and let us know!