1. Maguire, Brendan. "Not Quat." Eurotuner Aug. 2005: 75-76.
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This article was published in the August 2005 edition of Eurotuner, a magazine for European car enthusiasts. Eurotuner has since been incorporated into
European Car magazine, which is still published today by TEN: The Enthusiast Network, a division of Source Interlink Companies, Inc.
Not Quat
by Brendan Maguire
"Nice quattro" is a comment often heard by the owner of this '84 Audi Coupe GT. It's easy to see
how one could be confused. You see, this isn't a quattro (commonly referred to as an "Ur-quattro" or
simply "Urq"); it's front-wheel drive.
This is the story of the Urq's lesser-known sibling, the Coupe - the 2WD, non-turbo version -
which shares a similar body (without the fender flares and bumpers). Rated as an excellent-handling car
in its day, the Coupe was always overshadowed. But tucked away in Antioch, CA, this particular Coupe
GT gets the TLC more commonly reserved for more sought-after sports cars.
Jason Lyons bought the car in 1996 with insurance money after his '79 Audi 5000 was totaled.
Purchased bone stock, he always saw potential in the Coupe. After using it as a daily driver for a few
years, Jason yearned for more power, and in 1999, he was introduced to 2Bennett Audimotive in Davis,
CA. The company specializes in Audis new and old, and Jason decided a 2.2 MC1 Turbo swap (220hp
stage one) would be a good idea, so he threw down a deposit to add his name to the six month waiting
list
Installing a new engine - with its custom intercooler, aluminum radiator, chip, wastegate, Delrin
A-arm bushings and Jamex lowering kit - was just the beginning. A 2.5" custom exhaust was also
included to let the new motor breathe. A Quaife differential was installed to help keep the wheels from
spinning, while inside, Recaro Trend seats were fitted and the rears were trimmed to match. Other
interior mods included a late-model Coupe dash, Audi Sport Steering wheel and custom gauges.
On the exterior, Euro H1/H4 headlights and smoked tails were added. But Jason's greatest coup
happened when he found a rare Kamei X1 body kit on the internet in new old-stock condition. With a
fresh coat of Tornado red paint, the kit was modified to fit the US-spec bumpers, and the car was
immediately transformed.
New brakes were also in order, so Jason opted for RPI's Wilwood calipers and 11" Brembo discs
in the front, with 16v calipers and Brembo discs in the rear. But that's not all. The list goes on and on,
with the most recent upgrades being 2Bennett coilovers using Koni and Eibach parts, plus 17" ASA AR1
wheels. And he's not finished there; Jason hopes to work on his stereo system and is even
contemplating a switch to 034 EFI to squeeze more power out of the car.
In a time where shows are packed with Mk4s and A4s, it's nice to see something different, and
the Coupe is a welcome change of pace. Besides all the compliments Jason receives about his ride, the
Coupe has won first place in major shows along the West Coast, including Dubwars, Waterwagens and
New Dimensions, where it picked up "Best of Show" in 2002. So if you ever get the chance to inspect a
great old-school Audi, before you blurt out, "Nice quattro," take a look at the license plate. It may read
"Not Quat."