Friday 10th October 2008

SOTW: Audi 80 Sport

It's an Audi 80 and it's sporty - it must be the Audi 80 Sport

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Before the eighties Audis were a bit boring. All they did was got people from A to B, that sort of stuff. But then Audi decided to bung in the sort of technology people used on farmyards and suddenly everything changed. The cars got quicker and started winning rallies and winning rallies was cool, so Audis started becoming cool.

The effect motorsport was having on the brand didn’t go unnoticed over at Audi Towers and the marketing men went into overdrive. The Audi Quattro turbo was selling well and the short-wheelbase Sport version was also sold in limited numbers.

But the coupes weren’t the only models to benefit from this new found success in rallying and the Audi 80 saloon was turned into a ‘Sport’ as well. It was based on the GTE and featured a 1.8-litre fuel-injected engine, a subtle bodykit and some fancy optional stickers.

The car was introduced in 1983 in the UK and also featured Ronal alloys and a charcoal Recaro interior. The 80 had been designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and his trademark ruler work lent itself well to the Sport’s quietly macho rubber spoiler and deep chin spoiler.

The B3 80 Sport didn’t really work quite as well but by this point Audi was well on its way to becoming the carmaker it is today. Audis tend to last pretty well but you still don’t see many 80 Sports around these days.

The 1985 example we found on classicsforsale.co.uk has had a lot of work done on it and is said to be in a very tidy condition. There’s almost a year’s MOT and the 139,000 miles shouldn’t be too much of a worry in a car like this.

In my opinion this is one cool car, only let down slightly by the lack of original alloys, but these shouldn’t be too hard to source. So a slice of Audi motorsport history (well, ok, not really) for £800. Can’t say fairer than that…

Ad reads: ‘Sought after car in good condition all round. 1.8 fuel injection, 139000 miles.
Owned by father and son up to 2007, and has had over £3000 spent in the last year, including cylinder head overhaul, repair to windscreen pillars and brake refurbishment.
Engine is quiet and responsive, handling taut as you would expect from this model, very good to drive altogether.
MOT to August 2009 - tidy body and clean interior. Recaro front seats fitted. A good example. £800.’

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PH Shed of the Week Update!

Our £250 Golf GTI 16V will be treated to a new expansion tank this weekend after we noticed water seeping out around the cap when the car was hot. We tried a new cap but it didn't help so hopefully the tank will sort the problem - £8.85 from German, Swedish and French, so it didn't break the bank.

The car has gone up for sale and one chap came to look at it, but the deal was not sealed. We've had a couple more calls so hopefully we should be shifting her on soon. Hopefully.

[Strawman]

No link to ad for the Golf?

[morgrp]

I really like those 80's but I think for that cash i'd have a newer Audi 90 20v Quattro - Also not keen on the naff MK3 golf alloys

Edited by morgrp on Friday 10th October 12:56

[fathomfive]

I like the later, rounded shape 80's, especially in Avant form from just before the A4 was launched. Seems a touch expensive to me at £800.

[Colvette]

What is the Golf up for, then? I might be interested in that at the right price!

[Patrick1964]

Ooh, I had one of these - C89 TLA, wonder if it still exists ? Fantastic car, bought it at seven years old with 42000 miles on the clock, sold it six years later with 136000 on, still going strong. Mine would see off 5 door 8V Golfs no problem, had a Boge handling kit on and drove really nicely. Miss that car......

Edited by Patrick1964 on Friday 10th October 13:10

[MDBRL]

Had two of these, and absolutely loved them both. Really practical but really fun as well.

[varsas]

Patrick1964 said:

Ooh, I had one of these - C89 TLA, wonder if it still exists ?

Not been on the road since March 2002 (not legally, anyway...)

[Oli S]

Colvette said:

What is the Golf up for, then? I might be interested in that at the right price!

PM me and we can discuss!

[shalmaneser]

Just out if interest really...

Is the 1.8 in the 80 a five cylinder? sounds like too small a displacement to me but it would be nice!

[Steamer]

Love it! Lots!

Always liked this era of Audis (even if they did look like a distant Germanic relation to a Deloreon... although I'm sure they didnt have much else in common!)

A great shed-of-the-week.

[GuinnessMK]

I had two of these too! A red one and then later on a silver one.

They were four pot motors BTW. Both of mine had the original alloys. This one looks to be missing the graphics on the sides, on the doors below the rubbing strips.

Mike

[hill79]

classicsforsale.co.uk doesn't seem to exist!

[davidpn]

shalmaneser said:

Just out if interest really...

Is the 1.8 in the 80 a five cylinder? sounds like too small a displacement to me but it would be nice!

Almost certain it's a 4-cylinder. The Audi 90s were 5-cylinder although I will stand corrected if someone more qualified says otherwise...

[infradig]

Don't dismiss all pre 80's Audi 80's as boring,in the mid 70's there was a 1.6 injection GT-only available as a two door and a competitor for the 320 and RS2000.
One day some,probably bearded, engineers took one of these and a Golf.....

[martync]

shame you didnt find this

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/718702.htm

much lower on the miles, so you know its got at least another 50k to go!

[Petrol_fumes]

Sorry guys i've trawled through 10 pages of Golf GTI classifieds but can't find the 16v featured here

can someone who knows post the link? if i stay on here any longer my boss will kill me!

[Gruppe1875]

Strong money for the 80!

I picked up a 1990 Audi 80 2ltr 16v Sport for £700, with 80k on the clock, mint car!

[New Scot]

I had a 80 quattro saloon with the 5 cyl engine (non-turbo'd version) for a year or so - it never seemed super-quick but would lose most cars on damp roads!

One sensational drive from the Skye ferry up to Ullapool in 1984: we lost a Scirocco, two 911s and a wild BMW batmobile replica!

Always liked Audis after that - had two A6 Avants (2.8q then 4.2q V8) before being converted to BMW again.

[Oli S]

hill79 said:

classicsforsale.co.uk doesn't seem to exist!

ahem, it may even be www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk

[VetteG]

I too had one of these, in red with the reg BSF 7B, wonderful car! A good set of Yokohama's limited the inherent understeer and brought out the best in its handling.

G