• This early 'B' Chassis car is confirmed by Audi as one of the very first Quattros to enter the UK
• Built on January 30th 1981 and arrived in the UK on April 1st 1981 confirmed by Audi
• Documented as the 17th Quattro registered in the UK
• Our vendor has spent around three years fully restoring this example to what he calls "faultless condition"
• Absolutely stunning in Saturn Bronze. Immaculate throughout. 88,940 miles indicated
• Supplied with previous MOTs and a folder full of photos of the three-year, ground-up restoration

The Audi Quattro may not have been the first 4wd production car (that honour belongs to the 1966 Jensen Interceptor FF), but its place in history is assured. Thanks in no small part to its enormous rallying success, the Quattro popularized all-wheel drive, and is now regarded as one of the most influential and important sports cars of the 1980s.

The brainchild of Jörg Bensinger, an Audi chassis engineer, development work was started in 1977. Three years later the finished product was released. Although the floor-pan had much in common with the 80 and the running gear was largely taken from an Audi 200, the Quattro used a manual centre differential lock (operated by levers next to the handbrake) to govern the 197bhp and 210lb ft power outputs delivered by the 2.1-litre in-line five cylinder turbocharged engine.

The relevance of this stunning ur-Quattro is it's place in the timeline of Quattro history. It's an 85-B VIN number car that is recorded by Audi as having been built on January 30th 1981 and arriving at Audi-UK on the first of April. With the early-production 'B' chassis cars starting at 900 051 this car, numbered 900 501 is undoubtedly one of the first 500 ur-Quattros built. Initially registered as HMW 916W, Audi have confirmed that it's one of the first 17 UK cars so it has an historical importance for anyone interested in timelines.

The car itself is simply stunning having been the subject of a three-year, ground-up restoration by our vendor to what he calls "faultless condition" and we would find it hard to disagree. It's finished in Saturn Bronze, a rare colour and very attractive and the interior is a combination of dark brown hard surfaces with the seats in a Rose Bronze fabric with striped 'Zebra' centre panels, echoed in the headliner. The indicated mileage is 88,940 and the history file contains some older MOTs and a folder full of photos of the restoration.

All in all this is a very impressive Audi and whether you choose to use it or just admire it, as a very early car it may well turn out to be a rather sensible investment.