Quattros to celebrate the big 4-0 at London Classic Car Show

By Lizzie Pope

| 21 Jan 2020

Classic & Sports Car – Quattros to celebrate the big 4-0 at London Classic Car Show

Few cars are as iconic and instantly recognisable as the Audi quattro and its 40th birthday will be honoured at next month’s London Classic Car Show with a special showcase.

The event is moving to Olympia for the 2020 edition on 20-23 February and a five-strong display will pay tribute to the quattro both as a road car and a rally star.

And for many the must-see car is likely to be the one pictured above – the 1985 S1 E2 that Walter Röhrl drove to victory at that year’s Semperit Rallye, and that Stig Blomqvist piloted to second in the 1985 Rally of the 1000 Lakes.

Blue 10V and super-late 20V will be on show at Olympia

Representing the roadgoing quattros are two cars that book-end its production run.

There’s an early, UK-spec, left-hand-drive quattro 10V from 1981, before right-hand-drive models had been developed.

This will be joined by an unregistered, metallic red example that’s one of the final 20V quattros built. It’s been owned by Audi UK from new and is one of two known RHD delivery-mileage examples.

Red ex-demonstrator and metallic pearl white 20V will also star

Indeed these and the other two cars showgoers will be able to see are all from Audi UK’s heritage collection.

Ready to celebrate the model’s 40th is a short-wheelbase 1985 Audi Sport quattro bought from Audi AG as a demonstrator when new, which will sit alongside a 1990 metallic pearl white quattro 20V. It should be quite a feast for quattro fans.

“As revered today as it was back then, the Audi quattro holds a very special place in the history of the Audi brand,” says Alex Fisk, Audi UK Digital PR Manager.

“Almost 40 years to the day since it was first seen by the public, we’ve chosen to celebrate the Audi quattro’s special milestone at The London Classic Car Show amongst its passionate visitors that share our love for this magnificent machine.”

And if you love the quattro, don’t miss the feature in our current (February 2020) magazine!

Find out more about next month’s London Classic Car Show and buy tickets here.

Quattro vs Integrale: Inside the February 2020 issue of C&SC

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