Helios Blue Ur-Quattro: Timeless as Ever
One of 664 made for the U.S. market, this 1983 Audi Quattro is one of the best examples of what would make Audi the company it is today.
In 1977, Audi chassis engineer Jorg Bensinger saw what the Volkswagen Iltis could do with this all-wheel drive in the snow. He believed its performance would be perfect for a high-performance sports car. Three years later, the Audi Quattro – known to fans as the Ur-Quattro – debuted on the world’s stage. From that point on, Audi’s fate was sealed as a builder of all-wheel drive, high-performance machines.
The Ur-Quattro is also a rarity in the United States, as only 664 were sold here. One of them is this 1983 Helios Blue Ur-Quattro on Bring a Trailer. Not only is a beautiful machine, but it’s one of the best examples of what made Audi the company it is today.
Originally delivered to Audi of San Francisco, the Ur-Quattro received a few refreshes from its current owner. Its Helios Blue paint received a refresh in 2018, along with the weatherstripping and trim. The 15-inch Ronal R8s were placed on the corners under current ownership, as well. This Audi certainly looks as timeless as ever.
The magic continues under the hood, too. Powering the Ur-Quattro is its 2.1-liter turbo-five, which had delivered 160 horses and 170 lb-ft of torque to the quattro system via a five-speed manual. Not a whole lot of power compared to Audi’s latest S and RS beasts. However, this is how it was in the waning days of the malaise.
The interior is on a whole other level. The Mocha cloth seats with zebra-pattering make the excellent contrast against the Helios Blue hue on the outside. The manually operated sunroof is definitely a throwback few would remember or expect, adding more to the overall charm of the Ur-Quattro. It’s definitely a cozy place to be when giving the Audi all it’s got.
The Ur-Quattro more than earned its place in Audi’s history. From ski slopes to rally stages, it proved to the world all-wheel drive wasn’t the sole domain of trucks. It’s safe to say every high-performance all-wheel drive vehicle made today owes a debt to the Ur-Quattro.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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