This is my other quattro, a real basket-case which I saved from a breaker.
Built towards the end of the 1981 model year, sometime in July, it was one of the first 90 sold in Britain, supplied in October 1981 by Massingberd Ltd of Harrogate to a customer from Stockport.
When I've finished rebuilding it I hope that it will look like this and then I'll take it back to Massingberds who are about 20 miles away to see if anybody remembers it.
It's left-hand drive and has the vacuum actuated differential locks that were introduced in May 1981 (not 1983 as often stated by 'experts'), replacing the cable operated units that were fitted to earlier cars. Although it has covered only 81 thousand miles so far, its had a hard life. In common with so many other left-hand drive vehicles used on British roads it has suffered more than its fair share of accidents. The right-hand side rear wing has been replaced and there are signs of repaired impacts in other places. Doesn't look too bad from this angle and distance does it? Just wait until you see the other side. The 'A' post has been pushed back and inwards by around 4 inches, badly damaging the bulkhead. Early quattros were not galvanised and this one is well rusty. I haven't found all the filler yet but I'm already looking at something like 6 months welding.
March 2002 update - I've now got it stripped down to the point that just the engine, gearbox and rear diff remain on the car. It hasn't been pleasant, just about every time that I've touched the car I've found more rust and more holes. I'm gradually coming around to the view that this is a waste of my time and money. To restore this car to a condition that I'd be proud of will take a lot more than I'd originally thought. I could buy a condition 'A' ready to drive example for less than half what I think I'll have to spend on this one, maybe if I hadn't had to rebuild the 88 I'd be more willing to put in the effort.
July 2002 update - That's it, I've had enough. The impact that pushed back the right-hand 'A' post has also bent the body out of shape and I've found an even earlier model in much better condition. This is now a no-brainer. Oh well, at least I've learn a bit about early quattros and I've got a good supply of spare parts.......
'Classics' magazine say 'You restore a quattro with your heart, not your head'. Well, my brain is back in charge here.
So where is it going?
{© IJH 2002}