Lot 213: 1985 Audi Quattro Sport SWB

An evolution of the Audi quattro which dominated the results of world class rallying, the Sport, with the marque's celebrated permanent four wheel drive transmission, was one of just 200 special homologation versions of the volume-produced quattro coupe. These supercars were only available in left-hand drive and were equipped with an all new 20 valve alloy engine block. They can be easily identified by their shortness, the wheelbase being 29cm shorter than the standard quattro fixed head coupe and sporting some seriously steroidal bulging wheel arches, rear wing vents and single square headlamps. It is considered one of the most significant rally cars of all time, and was one of the first to take advantage of the then recently changed rules which allowed the use of all wheel drive transmission in competition racing. Many critics doubted the viability of all wheel drive racers, thinking them to be too heavy and complex, yet the quattro was an instant success, winning on its first outing, courtesy of Walter Rhrl and Christian Geistdrfer in the 1985 San Remo Rally. Twenty years after the cancellation of the ferociously fast Group B category, the Sport quattro is still widely regarded as the most powerful rally car ever fielded in international competition, with the final factory machines of 1986 rated at 600bhp. Originally imported by Audi Sport UK and driven by Harold Demuth in the 1985/86 British National Rally Championship, this car was the last Sport quattro to compete in a Group B rally anywhere in the world - the 1986 RAC Rally. It was acquired by a Spanish owner after Audi disbanded its Group B rally programme and was used in the Spanish national rally championship, after which it was acquired by Dialynx Performance Ltd from Historic Motorsport UK and rebuilt to original specification by fabricating exact recreation parts taken from another Group B works quattro in their possession before being acquired by the present owner. (All interested parties should note a full specification list is available). The car has also been sensitively updated by the current owner for hillclimb and sprint use and it is painted in Audi silver. To put the performance into perspective, it has been officially timed at a staggering 2.86 seconds from zero to 60mph. Supplied with a current MoT test certificate valid until April 2009 and a V5 registration document, this car is described as being in good condition throughout with the engine and six speed transmission in excellent order. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a fearsome Group B rally legend with period competition history.