EXHIBIT SPOTLIGHT - AUDI QUATTROS CREATING A MOTORSPORTS ICON

The Museum’s latest exhibit, “Street | Rally | Race,” features iconic rally cars that enthusiasts like myself dream of owning. These cars helped establish their respective marques as motorsport legends, but none more than the screaming five-cylinder, all-wheel-drive (AWD) monster from Ingolstadt.

As the newest kid on the block, the German manufacturer, Audi, was looking to separate itself from the crowd in the ever-competitive world of the German automotive industry. Facing fierce competition from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi executives knew they had to create something special to steal the spotlight from its well-established rivals. By the year 1980, Audi had found exactly what they were looking for.

Making its official debut at the 1980 International Geneva Motor Show, the Audi Ur-Quattro (Original Quattro) took the automotive world by storm. The Audi Ur-Quattro quickly became the focus of automotive enthusiasts. The car featured a glorious-sounding, turbocharged inline five-cylinder capable of producing upwards of 450 horsepower in some rallyspec cars. Paired with its five-cylinder powerplant, the Ur-Quattro stood out from the crowd with its revolutionary permanent AWD system named Quattro (Four). The Quattro system directed power to all four wheels, something that was unheard of for regular passenger cars, which were typically front-wheel-drive (FWD) or rearwheel-drive (RWD). The Audi Ur-Quattro became one of the first production cars with a permanent AWD system, leaving Audi with a problem. How would the company prove that its AWD system made its cars better than its RWD competitors? The Audi Quattro was put to the ultimate test in the Fall of 1981. Entering its first World Rally event at the Monte Carlo Rally, the Quattro overtook the RWD Lancia Stratos, showing its AWD dominance in the snowing conditions. Between the 1981 season and the end of the 1984 season, the UrQuattro accomplished multiple race victories, two manufacturers’ titles, two drivers’ titles, and the historic feat of the first World Rally Championship (WRC) won by a woman driver, Michele Mouton.

1981 AUDI UR-QUATTRO RALLYE

This 1981 Audi Quattro started its life as an official press car for Audi. One year later, in 1982, this Quattro was converted into full rally spec and assigned to David Sutton Motorsport’s official Audi Rally Team. This automobile was primarily used as a practice car for the Audi team’s drivers. In the same period, this Quattro was used by American WRC legend John Buffam and the Finnish driver Hannu Mikkola.

Although primarily a practice car, this Quattro also participated in its fair share of rallying events. The Quattro competed in the 1983 Rothmans Circuit of Ireland Rally alongside the WRC legend Stig Blomqvist and was eventually sold off to a private team in 1985.

1983 AUDI UR-QUATTRO CANADIAN IMPORT

This 1983 Audi Ur-Quattro spent much of its life up in Canada, having been purchased new in Quebec as a street spec car, one of the ninety-nine Ur-Quattros imported to Canada.

It was put to the test like its rally-spec sibling, competing in the Quebec ice racing series. During the cold winter months competitors battle it out on tracks plowed out on top of frozen lakes and rivers, racing in an almost frictionless environment. The Quattro AWD system became popular on ice racing circuits, with its ability to perform exceptionally well in slippery environments. The Quattro system helped to establish this car racing pedigree, becoming a champion and fierce competitor in Quebec ice racing circuits.

These Ur-Quattros were eventually imported to the United States and are now featured at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Come to see these rallying icons before it’s too late in the exhibit Street | Rally | Race, ending April 2024.