1984 Audi 4000S Quattro Is Today's Bring a Trailer Pick

• The Audi 4000S Quattro was an all-wheel-drive rival to the likes of the BMW 3-series.
• The turbocharged Ur-Quattro coupe was quicker, but the 4000S sedan still offered plenty of rally-style thrills from its naturally aspirated inline-five and locking differentials.
• This is a rare, well-preserved example with just 50K miles on the odometer.

Picture this: It's a weekend in 1984, and you've just finished re-watching the VHS of Michèle Mouton rallying highlights that your cousin sent you from Europe. You look outside, where a sudden rainstorm is slashing down in sheets. Your neighbor with the convertible Alfa-Romeo is keeping it tucked away, plans for a Sunday drive dashed. You, on the other hand, grin as you grab the keys to your Audi sports sedan.

1984 Audi 4000S Quattro 5 speed side

Back in the mid 1980s, drivers seeking a European sports sedan could choose a BMW 3-series or a Mercedes-Benz 190E, but the Audi's all-wheel-drive capability let you live out your rally-racer dreams. This '84 Audi 4000S, up for auction on Bring A Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is a genuine Quattro complete with a five-speed manual and locking differentials.

1984 Audi 4000S Quattro 5 speed rear

This car can justly be credited with establishing Audi's bona fides in the U.S. market. Yes, the Ur-Quattro coupe preceded it, but that car was more than twice the price when new. A credible rival to the German sport sedans mentioned above, the 4000S got a unique-sounding 115-hp 2.2-liter inline-five, boxy styling by straight-line master Giorgetto Giugiaro, and a willing chassis.

1984 Audi 4000S Quattro 5 speed engine

Reviewing the car when new, Car and Driver summed things up thusly: "The Quattro, for all practical purposes, eliminates the need to listen to the weather report." Possibly a front-wheel-drive Audi would be just as good in California or Arizona, but if you lived in Seattle, Detroit, or New York, then the 4000S Quattro was your Teutonic chariot of choice.

As it happens, this one hails from Michigan. It has just 50K miles on the odometer and is in wonderfully original shape, apart from a period-correct Kenwood stereo and trunk-mounted CD changer. The exterior is not without a few flaws, but this appears to be a well cared-for machine that's ready for a driver. Prepare to geek out over the light-up differential locker panel and the subtle "quattro" script worked into the rear defroster.

1984 Audi 4000S Quattro 5 speed interior

Because of its all-weather capability, many of these early Audis succumbed to the harsh winter elements. This one is a rare exception. Take it home, and be sure to affix your Michèle Mouton bumper sticker.

The auction ends on June 18.