This 1981 Audi Quattro is a first-year build that has been kept to an exceptionally high level. Finished in Diamond Silver Metallic, this Quattro shows just 85,044 km on the odometer and has recently come out of long-term storage. The Quattro is immediately identifiable over its front-wheel drive Coupe GT brother thanks to its stunning box flared fenders and subtle rear wing. The paint and bodywork around this car is in fantastic condition and comes complete with the extremely period graphics along the lower door of the Audi logo with fading rings. Open the door, and a sea of velour greets you with a unique pattern imprinted on it– a combination of vertical stripes of brown and cream paired with diagonal zebra stripes covering the seats, doors, and headlining. Although this may not sound especially attractive to some, it works well with the rest of the car and is truly evocative of the period in which it was built. Sitting in front of the driver is a 4-spoke steering wheel with “Turbo” emblazoned in the center, and sitting behind it, a gauge cluster with the all-important turbo boost gauge sitting right in the middle. In addition to the HVAC controls, the center stack is equipped with a Blaupunkt Canberra cassette player and, below that, a knob to lock the differentials with individual lights for the front and rear. Powering the Quattro is a 2.1 liter inline-5, with the addition of a turbocharger and intercooler for a power bump. This means 197 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque from just 3,500 rpm and a 0-100 km/h sprint of just 7.1 seconds. With a top speed of over 220 km/h, the Quattro was in a similar league to the contemporary 911 SC, but that performance was achieved very differently. Power was sent through a 5-speed manual gearbox to a full-time 4-wheel drive system- with switchable differential locks both front and rear. After being used sparingly for 15 years, this car was subject to a thorough mechanical reconditioning which included a complete engine overhaul, a new turbocharger, new suspension, and new brakes. Opening the hood, the engine bay is in exceptional condition and it is hard to believe the car is more than 40 years old. By modern car standards, the Quattro won’t blow you away with its speed. Still, the overall package is remarkably cohesive and, on a sweeping B-road, instills great confidence in the driver. Before you know it, you are attacking corners at a remarkable pace while listening to that inline-5 growl emanating from the rear. Produced until 1991, only 11,452 units were produced, and due to the car’s mastery of wet and snowy weather, many have been lost over the years to rust or accidents. For decades, Audi separated itself from other luxury manufacturers thanks to its innovative all-wheel drive system, if you want to experience where that all came from- this Quattro is the perfect car to do just that.