The 2016 Edition Audi event was held on the 9th of October. As usual I came home with (too) many pictures, and here’s the CC-selection I made.
1983 Audi 80 CL.
1991 Audi 80 with a 1.8 liter gasoline engine, a popular engine choice back then. Audi really gained momentum with this B3 generation of the 80, introduced in 1986. Modern, very well built, excellent rust proofing. And above all, a commercial success.
1999 Audi A8 2.8-5V Exclusive Automatic. An F-segment sedan. The Oberklasse, in German.
1985 Audi 80 CC.
1983 Audi Coupé (B2) GT 5E with a 130 hp 2,144 cc inline-5.
1986 Audi 200 2.2 Turbo.
1995 Audi Coupé (B3) 2.6 E.
2010 Audi A6 2.0 TFSI.
2002 Audi RS6 Avant. Quattro all-wheel drive, 450 hp from a 4.2 liter Biturbo V8. Whoopee.
2011 Audi A1 1.4 TFSI. The A1, introduced in 2010, is Audi’s MINI competitor.
1977 Audi 80 LS automatic, powered by a 1.6 liter engine.
2009 Audi A5 3.0 TDI.
1998 Audi A4 1.9 TDI. It just keeps on rolling, rolling and rolling.
1972 Audi 100 Coupé S.
Born a classic – zero doubt. The 1994-1996 Audi RS2 Avant, an Audi & Porsche joint-project, the mother of all Audi RS models. Quattro, naturally, and a 315 hp turbocharged 2.2 liter inline-5 engine. Just 2,891 of these were built. The RS2 above, registered in April 1995, is tuned to 380 hp.
1983 Ur-Quattro, imported from the US.
1976 Audi 80 LS.
With period-correct exterior and interior colors.
1972 Audi 100 Coupé S.
Wonderful, this 1970 Audi 100 S. The S has a 90 hp 1,760 cc engine.
And this here is the first Audi model after the Second World War. The 1965 Audi F103 originated from the last DKW model, the 1964-1966 DKW F102. Pictured a splendid 1970 Audi F103 Super 90 2-door sedan.
2005 Audi S4 Avant. Quattro all-wheel drive, 344 hp from a naturally aspirated 4.2 liter V8. Whoopee.
1993 Audi 80 with a 2 liter gasoline engine.
2005 Audi A4 Quattro DTM Edition with a 220 hp 2.0 TFSI engine. The DTM is the German touring car championship, which Audi won in 2004 with the A4 DTM.
1982 Audi Coupé (B2) GT 5S. Of course with an inline-5 engine.
2011 Audi A1 1.2 TFSI.
2003 Audi A4 Avant 1.8 T. That’s a red T, because 190 hp.
2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, a plug-in-hybrid with a 1.4 TFSI engine.
A more conventional 2014 Audi A3 sedan 1.8 TFSI.
In 1969 NSU, a German manufacturer of cars and motorcycles, merged with Auto Union. The new company’s name was Audi NSU Auto Union. Note that Volkswagen fully owned Auto Union since 1966. Above a 1969 NSU TT, also called an NSU 1200 TT. It has a 65 hp (factory tuned, that is) 1,177 cc 4-cylinder rear engine.
And then there was this, a 1936 Horch 830 BL Convertible with a V8.
Audi’s logo dates back to 1932, when Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer formed Auto Union. Hence the four rings. August Horch founded Horch in 1904 and Audi in 1909, so this seems to be the most appropriate image to end the Audi tour.
Thank you. I love Audi. Particularly the ones I owned, The first and second generation 80s, Known here in the states as the Fox (First gen) and the 4000 (2nd gen) They are both nearly impossible to find here in the U.S. Quite scarce. Would love to find one in serviceable condition.
Very nice, some of my earliest car memories were formed in the back seat of our Audi Super 90, that’s a rare survivor you saw! After that we had a string of early Audi 100’s.
I always found it interesting that when Audi created the Audi 90 of the early-mid ’80’s, it got the wrap around body color bumpers while the 80 continued on with the black beam bumpers (in Europe). Over here in the US the 1984 4000 got the look of the 90 for 1985 but was still called the 4000, we never got the “80” that you had. Then for 1988 we got the rounded one like the red one you shot and they were separated as 80’s (4cyl if FWD, 5cyl if AWD) and 90’s (5cyl no matter what).
I still lust after the RS2 which was the holy grail back when we were building up early C4 S4’s and S6’s. Such a tunable engine and so much (reliable, usable) power was left on the table by Audi.
And the 2nd (well, third I suppose) coupe for 1990 was such a nice shape that still looks good nowadays especially with the updates that Europe got by 1992 with the larger hood etc. It’s a shame we only got for it for two years in ’90 and ’91, although it did have challenges over here (price, considered underpowered with the 5cyl 20v NA engine and a but chubby).
Any idea why Audi just didn’t give their models the same number all over the world ? A name can sound (unintentionally) “funny” in another part of the world. But a simple, innocent number ?
I think Audi wanted to give their new C2 100 a bit of a fresh start, as the C1 100 quickly developed a rep for being rather fragile. And since all US-bound 100s had the new 5 cylinder engine, 5000 seemed to make sense. Once they did that, it only made sense to call the 80 a 4000 here.
Well, none of it really made sense, which is why they eventually went back to global names.
This was also the period when VW changed the names of the Passat to Dasher in the US, and we had the Rabbit (Golf) earlier. I suspect that the VW/Audi USA was behind these.
That certainly sounds logical.
J.K.
I owned a rare 1971 Super 90 2dr. in red.
The bumpers where Stainless Steel, they were more of an ornament then crash protection. CV Joints became a problem.
Sure do like the looks of most older Audi’s seen here, my fear would be part$ and labor cost. My cousin owned a few Audi Fox’s back in the 1980’s.
Chicago winter salt destroyed them.
Love everything they made up to the late 90s. Then I feel as if they really lost what made them special.
Same—I’ve been calling myself an “Audi hipster” lately because I feel like there’s a certain “I liked it before it was popular, but now it’s uncool” factor (learned to drive on a B4 90, bought by my parents when it looked like Audi would leave US). Although the early Ax cars are fine, I feel like the company lost some of what made it appealing to a niche. You paid more because you got something that was screwed together better, built and designed with care. And looking at these cars they seem mostly unconcerned with standing out in some obvious way—there’s confidence in these cars (look at that 1970 100) but it comes from everything being just right, nothing over-the-top or exaggerated. No need for aggressive styling when you’re that good. Pre-A4 most Audis look, to me, less like they were designed and more like they evolved, like this is how a cars would be if they weren’t tampered with by meddling stylists.
It’s kind of dumb to knock Audi for pursuing an image—all car companies do, and the old stance was an image too, and I certainly like cars that are “styled”—but something about it turns me off to most contemporary Audis.
If I could “like” your comment I would. Sums up my thoughts so much better than my clumsy effort later in the thread
I feel sorta like that about BMW and Mercedes cars as well. Once they became so ubiquitous they seemed to become ‘generic German’ and lost that cool factor.
Favorite is the 1970 100S, not LS. Audi seemed to be the one making basic not luxury sedans that were modern and reflected German ideas. Opel and Ford having USA influence and VW stuck in their rear engine dead end.
Great collection of pictures.
My first car was a 1981 Coupe (similar to the ’82 in your pictures), so I’ve always had a fondness for Audis of that period. The pictures of that Coupe bring back lots of memories! Mine was silver with a great blue plaid interior, though by the time I bought it, the upholstery was heavily ripped. The cloth upholstery on these cars was definitely not durable.
I know it sounds almost blasphemous, but on late 70s and 80s Audis, I actually prefer the larger US-market bumpers, particularly on the rear. The European bumpers seem almost stunted and give the appearance of being ineffectual. Part of this preference is just what I’m accustomed to seeing, but sometimes I think larger bumpers actual make the car look more complete.
In middle school the library had one of those pre-coffee-table-book books about cars published in Britain in the mid ’70s which showed a side-on view of a Vauxhall Chevette. Talk about weak chins, front and rear!
Awesome cars! Call me old-school, but I prefer older Audi cars, like the 1970s through the 90s.
I always liked the looks of the Ur-Quattro and Coupe B2, but they do make me wonder why they aren’t hatchbacks.
If I recall, in those cars, the fuel tank was mounted vertically, behind the rear seat (between the seat at the trunk). I assume this was done for crash protection, and leads me to believe that the folks who designed it definitely didn’t want it to be a hatch. But what’s odd is that the similar VW Passat/Quantum came in hatch and wagon body styles, where obviously the fuel tank was located somewhere else.
You’re correct re: the placement of the tank vertically behind the rear seat. On Quantum/Passat (wagon and hatch at least) the tank is under the floor behind the rear axle, not as good for crash safety.
As a result on the 4000/80/Coupe the trunk is very deep (vertically), it even drops down between the rails.
Sounds like an ideal car to bring home the old steamer trunk I saw in an antique shop yesterday.
Always liked the Audi 100 sedan as a boy but the 100s coupe is even more stylish.My late father was keen on the 100 sedan and the BMW 3.0s sedan,even took them for a test drive,but stuck to importing Buicks.
Makes me miss the Audi 80 (Fox) 2 door I had for 2 years in the mid ’90s… 🙁
The same one that was many years later modified to become the Brazil-built VW Fox, correct?
The 60’s and 70’s Audis are absolutely beautiful! The white 1970 Audi F103 is at the top of my list, what a clean and crisp design.
That Horch is a beauty. The name doesn’t have the same ring as “Maybach,” or the cachet of “770k” but this car does remind me that Audi has some high-end heritage. A Horch won Pebble Beach a few years ago.
Fun fact (though probably already known by many CC’ers): “Audi” is the Latin translation of “Horch,” which means “Listen!” (as in, “listen to me”).
Quite right. We call a hearing care professional an audicien. You just have to drive an Audi in that branch.
I’m assuming Horch is basically the German equivalent of “Hark”?
A very nice selection of Audis, which have long been one of my favorite brands, ever since my family had an ’86 5000 sedan in the early 90’s. That C5 generation RS6 is perhaps my favorite uber-wagon ever; it may not have the pedigree of the RS2 or the power of some later generations/competitors (though 450 HP isn’t exactly weak). But I love the shape, love the interior, and it’s the ultimate version.
Some of the older models are very appealing too–the original 100, both sedan and coupe versions, are just beautiful. And I actually much prefer the 80 with those slim Euro bumpers as opposed to the big, heavy-looking US units fitted to the equivalent 4000. The front bumper on the early US-market 4000s has that same park bench appearance that plagued many 70’s American cars onto which the 5 MPH units were ungracefully tacked.
Some nice early Audis there.
The early 70s 100LS and Super 90 are very thin on the ground here. The last of either than I recall seeing running was a Super 90 in 81 or 82.
Trivia bit: Studebaker was distributing Mercedes in the US, and, as an outgrowth of that, started distributing DKW in 59. I found this pic in a Studebaker annual report. DKW really made a giant leap forward in styling with the F102.
I still have fond memories of my father’s 1984 4000 Quattro (US market 80). It was fun drive, very nice looking and had a distinctive sound from the 5 cylinder engine. I also really liked a late 80s conversion I saw in a magazine that put the turbo engine form an Ur-Quattro in a 4000 sedan and added the boxed fender flares for a not quite Q ship. While the rounded styling of the late 80s and 90s is the modern Audi look, I still prefer the sharp edged look of the 70s and early 80s cars, perhaps for the same reason I still like 80s music.
Thank you for these pics — absolutely beautiful, as per usual…
I have a soft spot for the 100 Coupé S and early Audis in general — that orange 80 LS is perfect, for example. I don’t mind the round headlamps, though they’re not as nice as the earlier models’.
Nice to see the little NSU there. The company was “Audi-NSU” for a long while after they stopped making the Neckarsulm marque’s products. Beautiful Horch too.
Nice to see the little NSU there. The company was “Audi-NSU” for a long while after they stopped making the Neckarsulm marque’s products.
Can’t help but wonder why VW bought NSU. Might have been for the Wankel, but the K70 platform was redundant as they already had the front drive Audi platform.
Probably to increase production capacity while killing off a direct Beetle competitor (the NSU 1200).
The added bonus was NSU’s location, in Baden-Wurtemberg. VW would have three factories (Wolfsburg, Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm) in three different German states (Lower Saxony, Bavaria, B-W). Having a foothold in three states made VW stronger politically (Lower Saxony still retains 20% of voting rights at VW) — they went “federal”.
Audi also got the Ro80 out of the deal, which had very advanced aerodynamics for the time. It’s easy to see the Ro80’s influence on later Audis in that respect.
Probably to increase production capacity while killing off a direct Beetle competitor (the NSU 1200).
By 69 VW management must have realized the fat lady was tuning up for the end of both the Bug and the rear engined NSUs. I can’t see spending a bundle on the chance they could squeeze a couple more years out of a woefully obsolete platform. The Wiki article on the 1200 says it was produced into 72, only two years before Bug production stopped in Wolfsburg,
I can see picking up NSU if they really needed the factory capacity at the time. Interestingly, the Wiki entry on the K70 says it was built as a VW at a new plant in Salzgitter, also in Lower Saxony, while Ro80, and later, various Audi and Porsche models were built in Neckarsulm.
If I had been the big dog in Wolfsburg, I would have produced the 4 stroke engined F103 as a VW, skipped the Type 4 entirely, and skipped NSU. The Audi brand would have launched with the C1 platform 100 and VW would not have had it’s brush with failure in the early 70s as it would not have bet the company on the Bug as long as it did.
….but they never asked me.
Beetles may have moved from Wolfsburg in 74, but they were sold in Europe until 1985. Killing a competitor is always a good solution. The rear-engine NSUs were offed in 72 to make way for the Audi 50, a rather important car since it was soon rebadged as the Polo, the Beetle’s replacement.
If you’re VW in 1968, you need a big third factory. Wolfsburg is Beetled-up, Ingolstadt is busy with Audis. How can you develop the new range of cars you know you need without the massive capital expenditure of building a 3rd German plant? You buy one that’s already made, where the workforce is already trained and the local government eager to make your stay worthwhile.
So if you “skip” NSU, you would have to spend lots of time and money making a new plant. The question is: how much did NSU cost vs. the cost of a new factory? I guess VW worked that one out for themselves and did what they did for sound financial reasons.
Launching Audi with the F103 made more sense than your idea of waiting for the C1. After all, the DKW F102 and the Audi F103 share the same body and badge. Sticking a VW badge on a DKW would have been a little disorientating for the clientele of both VW and Auto-Union…
Auto Union had a brand new 1.7 liter 4-cylinder 4-stroke “Mitteldruck-Motor” in the mid-sixties. The old pre-WW2 Audi name was dusted off because at that point DKW had become a synonym for 2-stroke engines. Thus, the 2-stroke DKW F102 evolved into the 4-stroke Audi F103.
This according to the German Wikipedia sites I checked. Actually, if I want to know something about any German vehicle my first choice is always the German Wikipedia site. Very comprehensive (I mean, just look at their charts with engine specs) and backed up by real sources, not just opinions.
If you’re VW in 1968, you need a big third factory. Wolfsburg is Beetled-up, Ingolstadt is busy with Audis.
VW did build a new plant, in Salzgitter, which opened in 1970. I agree that the NSU plant may have been attractively priced. There may also have been pressure from the German government to buy NSU to save the jobs at the plant.
Sticking a VW badge on a DKW would have been a little disorientating
While most of the existing NSU models continued to be built at Neckarsulm, VW stuck their badge on the K70, no less disorientating than rebadging a DKW as a VW, and moved production to the VW plant at Salzgitter. Ingolstadt was running at capacity because it was making both the F103 and the 100. Without NSU, F103 production, and after it Audi 80/Passat production could have been moved to Salzgitter, freeing capacity at Ingolstadt.
It appears that, by the mid 70s, VW had too much assembly capacity as assembly operations at Salzgitter were ended in 75 and the plant, to this day only builds engines.
Pic pinched from the Wiki page of VW branded K70s, and Type 4s, being built at Salzgitter.
Beautiful ones. People from Brazilian VW used to get some inspiration from those Audis in the past.
Another lot
Very nicely done, even the same angles !
Actually I must thank you for a great album like this full of Audies! 🙂
The Audi 80 B4 must be the best style of an early aero sedan. Not too rounded, but not boxy, and not bloated. Plenty of Avant 1.9 TDi’s in Portugal. Coming mostly privately imported from Germany in the early 00’s. Alas, there are more imported ones than Portugal-new ones here. The 1.9 TDI is a great engine and withstands abuse. The doors shut nicely, the wagon looks good, the interior feels premium fuel consumption is great!
And, BTW, great collection of photos, Johannes! You (and Roger Carr) never fail in covering frequent old car shows 🙂
Thank you ! I still see the B3 and B4 80 regularly, mostly driven by guys from Eastern and Central Europe. What strikes me most is the immaculate condition these cars are often in; 20 to 30 years old and no rust. These cars were built to last.
You’re welcome 🙂
The bodies of those series 80’s are really rust resistant. (Our climate is fairly good too. A lot of Audis, Bimmers and Mercedes, or even Volvos are imported here used to live the rest of their lives away from the German salt.) The only things that give away their condition here are things like falling headliners, broken trim pieces or shot paintjob. I’m not a pro in that subject, but the solid bodies and ubiquitous engines with plenty of people working on them (the 1.9 TDI and the unavailable 2.5 R5 TDI must be the best diesels ever) for me makes them a good starting point for eventual restorations.
Yet sometimes I see a very clean green or dark grey one with the beautiful 10 spoke wheels and wonder how gorgeous the shape of them is. The Avant is actually aging better than the B5 A4 Avant (just compare the butts of both)
My experience with Audi was two fold. The first was a 1973 Fox that was given to me for a year as a company car while in college. Blue with automatic and no great shakes but no trouble for the year. The second was my mothers 1974 Audi 100LS that was the standard mustard color. Not a bad car but not a great car. Automatic yet with those idiotic inboard brake rotors up front.
Final memory of the car was blowing a tire on US 5 June 1982 and veering off the road onto the gravel shoulder. I wasn’t driving but a friend at the time. Jack was worthless and two guys needed to lift the front to quickly change out the tire. One friend put the tire on while the fourth put the lug nuts on before the car became too much for the other two. We happened to be near a part of US 5 which would flood in those days and become mosquito heaven. There wasn’t one of us who didn’t have a minimum of 200 bites on the exposed parts of our bodies being legs, arms or chest. I hate mosquitos and Audis.
I am very glad Johannes that “as always” you came home with too many pictures.
it gives us such a wonderful variety of cars to look at, whatever show you attend!
Car- and truck show season is pretty much over for this year. But I still have a collection of Classic Americana in stock (same location as the Audi show) plus a whole variety of other classics, present at the periphery of the main shows. So there’s still some work to do… 🙂
Found these 2 Audi 100s in a field a few kms south of Black Diamond, Alberta month ago while cycling. Friendly owner invited me to take closer look, said he planned to restore both. Invited me back to see them in a year, when they’ll be done… I have my doubts. The rare in North America even back in the day 2 door is missing its engine. The 4 door appears more complete.
Can’t upload photo of 4 door, “server unavailable, capacity problems” ??
Beautiful Audi’s
Great that Audi made a Resurgence back from it’s Sudden Surge fiasco several years ago. I rem. reading that drivers error was the real problem ??
That was a US-phenomenon only. Never happened anywhere else. So yes, it must have been drivers stupidity. Audi’s mighty rise -without a hitch- in Europe started with the 1982 100-C3 and the 1986 80-B3. They’ve become direct BMW and Mercedes-Benz competitors in the C-, D-, E- and F-segment. So far everybody else failed.
Yes, but Audi’s initial response, effectively telling customers they were stupid, did not go over well, and contributed to the steep decline in sales. CBS’s 60 Minutes show faking “unintended acceleration” is well documented. CBS never admitted/apologized.
Beautiful photos of some great old Audi’s. Really love those B2 Coupes, I would love to have one in great condition and would have no problem with driving one today. The Quattro Coupe would be my dream machine, but since I would be maintaining it myself I would stick to the regular version. Parts are still easy and affordable to get for my MK2 Jetta, they probably are more scarce and spendy for the B2, though. Love the ’70s through early ’90’s Audis.
You did save the best for the end, the Horch is one beautiful machine.
Great pics – I’ve loved Audi since I first set eyes on a ’78 5000. My current daily driver is a 2008 A3, but I so think Audi has lost their edge more recently and I won’t be trading up any time soon… Audi to me was always the intelligent choice amongst the German manufacturers – an Audi driver was more “individual” than the Benz or Bimmer driver, kinda like the guy who chose SAAB over Volvo. Not so much these days. Looked at a 2016 A3 today, but it didn’t move me- the lines were too fussy, too generic. Beautifully built though, but style-wise it didn’t sing. Mores the pity.