Expert Buyer

Audi Quattro

Synonymous with Group B rallying dominance and for becoming an icon of 1980s Britain at the hands of Philip Glenister in Ashes to Ashes, the quattro was a game-changer that promised the world, and delivered: dashing good looks, solid build quality, rust resistance (the later ones anyway) and more practicality than you’d expect from a car with such blistering road performance.

Production began in 1980, though the UK had to wait until 1982 to receive right-hand drive models. In total around 11,452 quattros were built but only a few dozen are left in the UK. Classic Audi specialists are relatively few in this country, and quattros are eagerly snapped up by dealers specialising in modern classics and performance cars.

The key stages in the quattro’s evolution were engine changes from 2.1-litre 10v ( WR), to 2.2-litre 10v (MB), to 2.2-litre 20v (RR). Another key consideration is the use of a Torsen centre diff’, rather than a manual locking diff’, from 1987 onwards. Parts availability is has become problematic and costly, so buyers need to be alert to signs of slipping maintenance standards, and to check what’s working correctly.

Values are, predictably, booming, and a few dealers are sticking ambitious £40,000-plus asking prices in windscreens. To put that in perspective, the 1983 quattro used in

Ashes to Ashes – refurbished by Audi and signed by Glenister – fetched £38,598 at auction in 2014.

It’s worth remembering the frontwheel drive Audi 80 (B2) from which the quattro is derived. Desired by surprisingly few, it’s handsome and rare, and decent coupés rarely command more than £5000. A worthy contender… but you’ll never get that excuse to say ‘Fire up the quattro’!