The owner of this 1974 Audi 80 has done an admirable job of preserving what is a highly obscure model seen in very limited numbers today. With a clean body, slim European-market bumpers and period-appropriate phone dial wheels, there’s a lot here to like. It is an automatic transmission example, but you weren’t going anywhere fast anyway. Find it here on eBay with a somewhat ambitious $7K Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.
The 80 was also known as the Fox in the U.S., as seen here. I’d love to know how much of this car remains original versus what was restored, as it’s rare to find one in such a high state of preservation. It’s not a surprise to find one of these in California, where it seems likely a retired professor or heiress likely kept it for grocery runs and little else. The chrome bumpers really do help the homely coupe appear more elegant than it has any right to.
Interiors were likely a high-zoot affair compared to other entry level cars, with high-grade upholstery and door panels. The automatic is a huge disappointment, but a surprising number of Audis from this era were equipped this way, likely because more economy-minded customers could find a close relative at a local VW dealership. No obvious blemishes are noted, though the seller acknowledges this was at one time equipped with A/C and the system is long gone.
Engine-wise, these were economical, front-drivers with engine options ranging from 1.3L to 1.6L, paired to a three-speed automatic. The seller discloses there is an oil leak, and that the temperature and fuel gauges do not work. Despite the preserved body and interior, there’s a limited market for these cars and I suspect the $7K ask is simply too strong. $4K or slightly under seems like a reasonable bid to me.
I am Not Audi fan but regardless its from 1974 its an original classic !
I love it! Always liked these little Audi’s. My favorite was the 4000, but this is a nice car, but Not for me, I need the third pedal.
Nice….but those wheels……..
Haha, that’s the only thing I like about it. Well, not everything… I like the grille and headlights. Otherwise it’s a FWD automatic, and it’s yellow.
It’s got potential, though. If I got it cheap, I’d scrap the engine and drivetrain and swap in the powertrain from a Subaru WRX. And, by all means, paint it a different color.
Think its 3k over priced given the jobs needing done and a new set of later Audi wheels
At least the door mirror is where it SHOULD be – on the DOORSKIN. & you really don’t need one on the passenger door.
Tho, what is the purpose of those unopenable vent windows for the front doors? & those are HUGE ones! I don’t get it. They should instead be on the rear of the REAR side windows, so that the front parts of THOSE could roll down too!
Roof should be lower too.
I would have to laugh about the comments made here about cars like this. People don’t accept them for what they are but rather stayed all kinds of things that I find wrong with them. The vent windows for instance, at that time almost every car had them, this Audi is not unusual in that regard and action they were quite effective in providing cooling circulating air.
The same thing applies to the wheels etc., those were very stylish in that era and nobody in their right mind would consider replacing them back then. As far as ripping out the entire drivetrain and putting in one from a Subaru, if that’s what you want just by the Subaru!
This and most of the cars posted here are classics in their own right and should be viewed in that sense instead of trying to find 57 ways to change them.
By the way, I did have a 68 Audi Fox and it was an excellent car. I had the larger engine in the manual transmission and it was a very strong running automobile. Audi was also very good at supporting the vehicle at time. I had a internal shaft break and go thru the block after the car was out of warranty yet Audi covered the entire replacement. In many ways I wish I could have that car back again today.
I had the VW version. It was A YELLOW 1974 VW Dasher, sunroof, automatic with air. Easily the worst new car I ever bought. Would not drive till it warmed up. Noisest car on the road I ever owned. We traded in a perfectly good 1971 Olds Cutlass for this piece of crap. Why, Why, Why. Gas crisis was the reason. Got less than 18 mpg around town.
My dad bought a 73 when Audi first brought these into the US. It was an interesting car to drive. It was carbureted and when Audi added fuel injection for the 76 model year, he traded it in for a new model. That car was a blast to drive as the fuel injection made it a very quick and drivable car. With the 4 speed, it had no trouble lighting up the tires and chirping between 1st and 2nd. Yeah, I was an abusive young driver! The automatics were dogs though and wouldn’t consider this one unless it had a manual.
I remember the fox/dasher. Audi came into the country like all the others – econobox. They go upscale for the profit or die (or do both & still die – Saab).
Ck the Koreans, Italians, etc…
One went the other way – MB just went dwn hill quality wise…
I have always liked these too, as they came from the factory. By the very early 80’s, these were great used cars and a foot in the door to the yuppie car market. I would say that’s true, along with the BMW 2002’s and 70’s Volvo 240’s. I also liked the Audi 4000’s, the Quattro Coupè, and even the original 5000’s. But I was a coming-of-age driver from that period. Seems a little high in price too. But if someone had one of these long ago in their youth, and has been looking everywhere for one that isn’t a rust bucket, they’ll probably be willing to pay to get one this clean to modify to their hearts content.
I used to own one of these and it also was an automatic! It was a good car, handled great as well. The one pictured here is probably a late ’73 build, because it looked like it had a carb. Mine was the K-jetronic fuel injected. The thing I notice missing are the rubber inserts on the bumpers. The Fox’s twin is the VW Dasher. One good thing about the Audi Fox’s steering was delightfully light even without power assists. The price for this one should be $2500-$3000.
My 74 Dasher had a carb. The root of most of the drivability problems.
I had a 74 Dasher automatic with a Carb. The carb created most of its drivability problems.
Fox aka the Audi VW Dasher. And I still desire both cars.
I always wanted a first-gen 1968-76 Audi 100, especially the two door fastback. I’d be happy with the coupè or the four door too. Just a great time in Audi manufacturing, in my opinion.
I remember one of the magazines (Car & Driver?) doing a feature on these, all about adding aftermarket upgrades to create what they called the “Fox Lux.” Its most notable feature? A phone. Mounted on a pole sticking up between the front seats, that could be pivoted front to back. I thought that was really slick, but I was 13 or so.
I always told my kids that I would buy them their first car. I would spend $100.
After they had rebuilt the car I would approve them getting a driver’s license. I found this car at a tow yard for $100.00. It had Bilstein shocks and struts, front and rear sway bars, 13X6 Boranini steel wheels and a Momo steering wheel. It only needed a new ignition switch (electrical portion only) and a 16″ piece of fuel line. I then drove it home. As you can see it was a gray market car. Actually produced in early 1972 but titled as a 1973. My daughter started on the car when she was 14. The car was completely gutted down to the shell with the entire interior redone, body and paint, the engine overhauled with a 1.8 block and fuel injection head, (still used a Weber carb.) over hauled the brake hydraulics, built a mandrel bent 2″ exhaust system and installed a 5 speed from an Audi 4000. I never did anything for her. I would help, advise and front cash at times when needed. (she always had to pay me back) She got a job at a body shop to pay for the paint and ended up working there from age 15 all the way through high school and college. The car did see some serious use and is presently being treated to up upgrades. (Her next car was a VR6 GTI and now drives an A4 turbo 6 speed.)
The picture was the day completed. Only it soon after received 16″ wheels and very fat tires.
Good quality time spent with my daughter in the garage. We now have a special bond.
That’s a very nice build, I very impressed and jealous. A few questions if you don’t mind. Was the 5spd a direct fit or did it need help, I guess the same goes for the engine too Is that a Kamei front spoiler, I’ve just got a line on new one in De. Do you know if the front sway bar was stock or aftermarket, I’ve just sourced a rear for my B1. I’ve given up on sport springs, they seem long gone for a B1
I fit a five-speed from a VW Quantum in my ’78 Fox, to go with the 1.8 liter I pillaged from an abandoned VW GTI Mk I that was in my neighborhood. The transmission just touched the top of the tunnel so I had to cut that back a bit.
Side shot
Hi David, First of all that was 16 years ago. So my memory may be a bit cloudy. On the engine we actually found an Omni 1.7 and had it bored. The later style cylinder head (fuel injection ports) with the side water outlet between cylinders 3 and 4. I devised plugs for the injector ports using bolts, washers and injector o-rings. We also installed a hotter camshaft from one of the aftermarket companies specializing in VWs. (I don’t remember who) The engine just bolted up with no problem. The transmission just bolted up also. But I seem to remember that we had to swap the CV/transmission output flanges from the original transmission so that CV joints would bolt up. (I think that the original CV bolt pattern was different maybe a smaller diameter. The shifter required a very minor modification that I don’t remember what it took. I believe that I had to use the Audi 4000 shifter box, but I am not sure. I do remember that I did modify the shifter to make it a shorter throw. The spoiler, if I remember correctly, is from a later model Audi 5000/200 that is narrowed down to fit. The seam lives behind the front license plate holder. (which is why the plate holder is on the car. Because in Nevada we are not required to display a front plate on older cars.) The front and rear sway bars were aftermarket (they were on the car when purchased) but there was an Addco receipt in the glove box. The car passed the sniffer test for smog, got 28 mpg on the highway and was a little rocket! My daughter really enjoyed the car, which is why she still has it and is fixing it up again to drive at times. (Even though she is a teacher, a wife and a mom now.)
Also, the water bypass hose from the top water outlet to the water pump provides too much water to bypass the radiator. So a restrictor plate was installed between the cylinder head and the water outlet, (1/2″ hole) and a restriction was placed in the hose with a 5/16 hole. The water outlet on the back of the head that also has a 1″ outlet was then routed to a “T” above the restriction and below the water outlet. This accomplishes two things. It forces more coolant to flow completely through the cylinder head. (Instead of only circulating coolant only through the front half of the engine. Which is why you see head gasket failure between cylinders 3 and 4 where there is not a lot of coolant moving through there on the older carbureted engines. And why VW moved the water outlet from between cylinders 1 & 2 to between 3 & 4.) And secondly, It forces more coolant to flow through the radiator. The second smaller outlet on the back of the head, use for the heater hose. The factory change (water outlet change) is ok for normal street use. But for hard use in warmer climates or racing applications this modification must be done to keep the engine cool and for head gasket life. This tip was provided to me by Bertil Roos who used to build the engines for Formula Super V. He did the head work on my Scirocco Pro-Rally car. I pounded the daylights out of that car and the cooling fan almost never came on. (It had a 180 degree thermostat)
Goodluck on your build.
I almost bought a new 1976 “Silver Fox” edition but the price was just about
$6,000 to I bought a used 1973 Fox (in Agate Brown). Good car overall but the dealer network was horrible and I eventually took them to small claims court and won.
59,00 Miles, completely stock, never stored, completely sorted. Trifecta, 2 door, gas, 4spd….
I think I’m limited to minor upgrades for now because I’m in California and they are crazy about smog inspection. If it’s not OBD they have to do visual and more to certify. Looking into it I see I could see a referee but I don’t know if that would work with engine change. Luckily I have some nice canyon roads in my back yard so some handling upgrades will help a lot. If anyone has knowledge of what I can get away with in CA I’d like to hear it. Maybe I can register in Nevada ):
I am no California expert. But I believe that because of the age of the car that you are exempt from smog inspection. (over 25 years old) So anything goes.
Good luck!