Audi only built 217 examples of the Sport Quattro, but only one of them is believed to have been delivered to Japan. This is it.
Japanese collector Yoshikuni Okamoto first took ownership of the car and accumulated just over 7000 kilometers (approximately 4350 miles). Okamoto’s touches can …
Here I thought the antennas were for some high-tech rally equipment or something.
Nope. Just for a TV.
In reply to Colin Wood :
Yep, every rally car needs a TV in the dash for, you know, navigation purposes.
I was attending one of the later Chimney Rock Hill climbs. John Buffum and the Audi U.S. Rally team were there with Quattro S1s, making a reported 600 horsepower. Buffum had made several lackluster runs and was seemingly not in contention, behind some very hot hill climb specials and formula cars.
On his last run the announcer cautioned spectators to stay clear as John was going to let it hang out. Holy Sh*t... WHAT AN UNDERSTATEMENT! I was sitting near turn 5, traditionally one of the most dangerous/difficult turns where the biggest, wildest, crowd gathered. We heard a noise and echo from down the hill that can only be described as a large and very pissed off giant hornet, with a pop off valve screaching with every shift. We were looking at each other, puzzled. A few seconds later Buffum comes roaring into sight, sliding off the pavement onto the shoulders, tearing out grass and drifting up onto the nearly verticle bank (I mean a real steep, dirt bank about 15 feet high, where they graded away earth to make the road). Think world of outlaws on a speedway high bank, except on dirt, in a four wheel drift, pointing nose down at about 4 o'clock throwing dirt, rocks and dust in giant rooster tails. He gathered it up, flicked the rear and switched back the opposite direction, a couple more tach outs, shifts and blow offs and he was gone. The turn 5 crowd, normally boisterous (drunk), was momentarily silent, then burst into a great roar. Cheering and high fives all around. I had been going to Chimmney Rock for many years and I had seen some talented drivers letting it hang out at the "Rock" but never had I - or anyone I'd wager - seen a display like this before.
In one fell swoop Buffum jumped into 3rd place just a few tenths of a second behind second place, certainly the win was within his grasp with another run! But no! It was not to be, that was the last run. What a let down. But, John Buffum and that Quattro gave me one of my best automotive memories.
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