Remember when you were a kid, watching cartoons on Saturday morning, and on came a commercial showing the latest toy? Until that commercial appeared, you had never heard of the toy, nor indeed had any great desire for a toy of that type–but once you saw it, you just had to have it. Despite my being well past my elementary-school years, a similar event involving this lovely 1/18-scale Audi happened to me recently.
In the Klockau household, family members are encouraged to hint at what they would like for Christmases and birthdays. While some may feel that this takes the fun out of shopping for your mom, dad, brother or sister, in our experience it works quite well. We are a pragmatic bunch.
It was late January, and my birthday was coming up. I really didn’t have any huge “wants”, but that changed when I came upon this 1972 Audi while perusing model cars online. Although I already had several models from this company, including a Porsche 356 and Chrysler Airflow, I was unaware they had done an Audi 100–the first of a long line of 100s (the third-gen 100 was marketed in the U.S. as the (ill-fated) 5000).
One look at that blue interior and I had only one thought: I must have this model! So thanks to a not-so-subtle hint to my folks, this little Audi was on display amongst my other 1/18 cars a week or so later. Until I saw this model, I was not even aware that the 100 was made as a two-door sedan– all of my period ads show four-doors.
When it debuted in November 1968, the “C1” 100 was a thoroughly modern car with front-wheel-drive and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which was available in 79-hp base, 89-hp S and 99-hp LS versions. A swoopy fastback Coupé S with styling quite similar to the contemporary Aston-Martin DBS was also available. The fastback variants were equipped with a bored-out, 113-hp, 1.9-liter version of the 1.8-liter four.
image: lov2xlr8.no
The 100 was very successful in its home market. Although the production line at Ingolstadt was running full-tilt, it still could not meet initial demand. As a result, a second 100 production line was added at VW’s own Wolfsburg plant! All told, 827,474 C1s were built–not too shabby.
C1s were built up to 1976, and the four-door variant sold quite well in the U.S., despite reliability issues that also seemed to plague other contemporary emissions controls-equipped North American imports. Despite its popularity when new, today it is one of those cars no one remembers until they see one on the road (or if they owned a lemon 100 in the ’70s!).
But enough about the full-size 100; we’re here to talk about the scale model! This one is very well detailed with photo-etched emblems, seats that slide back-and-forth and tilt forward, carpet-simulating blue felt and even fold-down sun visors–just like the real thing!
This car is so detailed, I was able to get the trademark CC “through the window glass” shots. Just behind the driver’s seat you can see the seat belt–it even has a chrome buckle!
All in all, the assembly and quality are quite good, although my example has a slightly misaligned hood, and a little scratch on the passenger door that I imagine I can clean up with a bit of polish. All in all, this little Audi is a keeper!
I really have a thing for Audis of this vintage; the clean lines and no-nonsense design of the 100 (and the smaller 80) are very appealing to me. A full-size Audi of this vintage would probably be a money pit, but I can enjoy one in miniature. Apparently, Signature is also going to do a four-door 100 in the near future–and when it debuts, this mini-me 100 just might get a stablemate.
Nice! Just needs whitewalls. 🙂
Well played, sir!
“it is one of those cars no one remembers until they see one on the road (or if they owned a lemon 100 in the ’70s!)”.
Doesn’t that pretty much mean anybody who ever bought one?
I have always found these to be beautiful cars. Around 1976, I wrecked my Mom’s 74 LeMans. The Pontiac dealer also sold Audis and Hondas. I took the car into the body shop with instructions to bring back a loaner/rental. I saw a couple of Audi 100s in the service bay (where else, in hindsight) and my teenage brain figured “there is a small car, maybe they will give us one of those.” Wrong. I drove out in a Honda Civic wagon with the HondaMatic.
I had no idea at the time that these Audis were so expensive, but as pretty as they were, I should have figured. I also had no idea that they were so troublesome. I am not sure I have ever heard of a positive ownership experience with one, although there must be a few out there.
I was a happy owner of a silver with black interior, 1970 100LS 2-door with stick shift. I guess I must have been one of the lucky ones and only had minor issues with mine. A broken exhaust pipe welded up by Midas for $12. Brakes lasted me 30,000 miles. I replaced the clutch at 100,000 miles. I then sold it and bought a 1979 5000S. That car also only gave me minor problems, the biggest being the A/C air distribution box and vacuum door locks.
I have owned other Audis, all quattros.
I am now the happy owner of a 2011 A8
Very neat model! The offset radiator is interesting. I remember the 80s VW Fox having a similar layout.
Tom, you have a great knack for making a model appear like the real thing in natural light. Well done!
Had a boyfriend in the late ’70’s who drove a 100LS. It was very comfortable to sit in. According to most of what I read the new ones have the same quality interior. Too bad the mechanicals don’t measure up to the same standards. Service departments definitely keep Audi dealerships in business!
Very detailed model and so much more durable than the real thing.
Growing up in Germany in the 70’s we had several of the real thing of these (but 4doors). Your model is of the Automatic model, which is a rare beast in the wild in Germany in those years but one of the ones we had was a nAutomatic. When we moved here in the early ’81 my Dad bought another couple of them, but they had many more problems than the ones in Germany. No idea why, but they were inferior.
Nice model, great detailing!
I haven’t seen one of these running in 25 years. Even in Import adopting/Curbside Classic-landia Northern California, the only one I can think of seeing on a regular basis is the one on Willow Road in Menlo Park next to an equally decrepit Fox under a bunch of leaves. Pretty sure both are gone now.
It’s such a pity they were such horrible cars (on the American Market) because there’s rarely been a compact sedan this elegant and well detailed. This is the only one I’ve seen for sale recently:
http://bringatrailer.com/2009/11/04/48k-original-miles-1970-audi-100ls-2-door/
My parents bought a dark green 1973 100LS new and one of my earliest memories is having to actually cross a major highway as a 4 year old with my pregnant mother when it overheated. It was traded in a short time later on a Toyota Corolla wagon.
A girl I knew in high school in the ’80s still had one of these (4-dr) in her family, though I don’t recall her ever driving it. I think her dad had been stationed in Germany and they were thus somewhat Germanophilic; I can’t think of anyone else I knew who had one.
That is a very impressive model! I’d hate to think what it cost…
Is it me or is that shift lever way too long?
Neat though, and obscure model for sure, its what Stuart Little would drive if he was a college professor.
Definitely not just you. I was thinking the same thing, and wondering if it is accurate or a prominent flaw in what appears to be an otherwise precisely detailed replica.
Definately has that hand-carved look a little as some of the lines and proportions are slightly off, but over-all I love it – thanks for sharing. So great you still have it!
Actually I only just got it last month.
Excellent. Would have been nice to see a little more texture under the hood, but a winning effort all in all. The interior is particularly interesting to look at.
I recall riding around in my Grandparent’s Audi 5000 in the mid-80’s. They chose European delivery during a vacation to Germany, so they drove it on the Autobahn, and then brought it back to the states. So unlike most Euro cars in the US with a trendy “D” for Deutschland decal in the trunk lid, that car earned it’s stripes in the Fatherland before coming over.
By the way, ahoy there and good evening Professor Lummox!
No wonder most guessed it would be a Mercedes, Daimler-Benz owned Audi for some time preceding the Audi 100’s introduction, and its main designer was brought in by it (probably saving Audi as he went against explicit CEO orders and designed the 100 without its consent)
Not very surprising either it looked like a full-size car, because that’s a very nice scale model!
“In the Klockau household, family members are encouraged to hint at what they would like for Christmases and birthdays. While some may feel that this takes the fun out of shopping for your mom, dad, brother or sister, in our experience it works quite well. We are a pragmatic bunch.”
Same goes for the “Mann” clan.