The replica Audi Quattro that’s entirely original

When is a car more than the sum of its parts? Possibly in the case of this remarkable replica of the Audi Quattro driven to third place by Hannu Mikkola on the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally.

Owner and Sport Quattro guru Jamie Small, who creates scratch-built replicas of the legendary Group B cars for a living, devoted a dozen years of his life to building this example for himself – and it’s so good that former Audi works driver and rally legend Walter Röhrl summed it up in one word: ‘Perfect.’

Small travelled the world from the Czech Republic to South Africa and from Poland to America in his quest for genuine Audi Sport ex-factory parts, with the sole aim of making his Quattro the best and most accurate replica in existence.

As a result, it features the bonnet and complete dashboard from Quattros raced by Röhrl; the co-driver’s seat used by Arnie Hertz and the KKK turbo from Michèle Mouton’s Pikes Peak hillclimb car.

Mikkola-related components also abound, including body panels, mirrors, the rear screen and the magnesium rear differential and six-speed gearbox from his 1000 Lakes car. And, to cap it all, the Quattro’s roof is signed by double British rally champion and one-time Quattro Sport driver David Llewellin.

“Only 20 original factory cars were built, and two of those have been dismantled,” says Small.

“My S1 is an exact rebuild of one of the two, car number 014, which was driven by Mikkola in the Monte Carlo Rally. It has been put together using the original, 250-page Audi Sport build manual for reference and I really think the fact that each part has its own story to tell makes the car a piece of motor sport history in its own right.”

Small says he was helped in the project by former Audi factory engineers as well as rallycross champions, who took over some of the ex-works cars after Group B rallying was abolished at the end of the 1986 season.

Important mechanical parts include an original S1 aluminium engine block and works cylinder head, an ultra-rare steering servo, boot-mounted alternator and drive pump and magnesium Alcon brakes (to name but a few).

And if that wasn’t enough, Small is selling the car complete with what he claims to be the largest S1 spares package ever offered: it comprises sufficient parts to build a whole other car worth, potentially, £450,000.

On top of that, the buyer will also get a Hannu Mikkola signed race suit and cap, the aforementioned Audi Sport build manual – and even a VW team van.

“It would be absolutely impossible to find so many original Audi Sport parts for sale anywhere in the world again – and there might not be another original S1 on the market for at least 20 years,” says Small.

This is surely the chance of a lifetime for well-heeled Group B rally fans to own a piece (or several) of history.

1986 Audi S1 E2 Sport Quattro

On sale with Jamie Small, Coalville, Leicestershire. Asking: £1m plus. 07511 674186

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