June 1, 2025

We’re Giving Away a Turbo Audi 80 Quattro – The Most Underrated Classic Audi Ever?

Let’s be real – the 1987 Audi 80 Quattro B3 isn’t topping most dream car lists. But for us, it’s always been an underrated gem. With rally-bred DNA, quattro all-wheel drive, and a lightweight chassis begging for boost, it has everything it needs to be special.

So we’re bringing it back to life. And soon, we’ll be handing the keys to one of you.

Why the Audi 80 Quattro B3 Deserves Respect

Launched in the late ’80s, the Audi 80 Quattro B3 was the quiet sibling in the Audi performance family. It didn’t have the flared arches or iconic rally pedigree of the UR-quattro, but under the skin? It has a true four-wheel-drive system, bulletproof build, and a chassis that handled far better than its image suggested.

It came with modest power (around 110 hp from a naturally aspirated 1.8L), but the grip, balance, and composure were way ahead of its time. This was Audi’s answer to slippery mountain roads and sketchy Nordic winters. In short: it had all the right bones, just not the boost.

Audi driving fast on a dirt track, with blurry background.

That’s why we love it. It’s the perfect underdog story. The overlooked one. And that’s exactly what makes it the perfect platform for a proper revival.

The Build: A Turbocharged Comeback Story

We’re Grumblo – a bunch of gearheads who couldn’t pass up a good story. We found a tired 1987 Audi 80 Quattro sitting in Finland. It had already been swapped with a VAG 1.8T 20V turbo engine – one of the most beloved engines in the Audi/VW tuning world – but everything else needed love.

Originally, we grabbed it as a cheap AWD winter beater. But when the snow didn’t come, we saw a new opportunity: build it right and give it away to someone who’d appreciate it as much as we do. Jape driving on the highway with the red Audi 90 Quattro

Inspired by our friend Jape's legendary Audi 90 5-cylinder project, we kept our focus on clean, functional upgrades that respect the car’s original vibe while massively improving how it drives. No over-the-top kits or flashy nonsense – just "OEM+" goodness with proper power.

Quattro being prepped in the paint booth

We started with a proper €5,000 respray to erase decades of wear and sun-faded paint. Today, the car wears Daytona Grey – an iconic Audi shade that gives it a clean, factory-plus look. The paintwork was done by Automaalaamo Salmi, who absolutely nailed it. Three weeks of prep were needed to bring the rough old shell back to life. The end result is out of this world.

Audi 80 Quattro B3 being painted Daytona Grey

Audi 80 Quattro with a fresh coat of Daytona Grey paint

Now the real fun begins – bringing the performance, sound, and soul to match the fresh new look. We’ve also teamed up with a very special partner – a true TYP 89 guru, who’ll be revealed soon. Stay tuned... It’s about to get exciting.