Hardtop convertibles – called coupé-cabrios across the pond – are commonplace enough these days that seeing one out on the road, as nifty as they are, isn't such a novelty anymore. Long before the first-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK, before the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Spyder, but significantly after the Ford Skyline Fairlane, a German garage by the name of Treser chopped the roof off the rally-bred Audi Quattro coupe and fitted a fully automatic retractable hard-top. Only 39 were made, of which only one was reportedly made in right-hand drive (apparently for a British customer), and that vehicle is on sale now on eBay.
In addition to the trick roof, which disappears in 20 seconds below a hard boot-lid at the touch of a button on the b-pillar, Treser also tinkered with the engine, coaxing 250 horsepower out of the turbocharged inline-five.
The seller claims the car cost £41,144.25 new, but as of when this here article was written, the bidding was at £7,645.01. For all the juicy details, check out the auction by clicking here.
[Source: German Car Scene via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HotRodzNKustoms @ Apr 26th 2007 3:20PM
It makes me laugh when I hear people touting hard top convertibles as the newest greatest gadget even though Ford had one several decades before anyone else did.
aman @ Apr 26th 2007 4:21PM
how many of these did Audi make?
Don @ Apr 26th 2007 4:35PM
That is SO cool.
Spaceweasel @ Apr 26th 2007 4:37PM
You did read that part where it says "significantly after the Ford Skyline"?
Quattrofan @ Apr 26th 2007 4:52PM
what a terrible thing to do to an urQuattro.
C'est Raoul @ Apr 26th 2007 5:07PM
Ugly with the top. Otherwise, pretty nice from the front corner. Nice machine. But I wonder I would not prefer an original one.
I think it's good deal (for now, 25 bids and 6 days to go!). Very unique, great history, and based on a legend car. That's a true collector item that will appreciate.
Sean @ Apr 26th 2007 5:14PM
Interestingly it was Peugeot who had the first folding hardtop - a 1934 401 Eclipse, pretty thing even by todays standards.
BartMack @ Apr 26th 2007 6:41PM
I bid $12...
nagmashot @ Apr 27th 2007 1:17AM
# Audi produced 11,452 Urquattro...
salguod @ Apr 27th 2007 12:56PM
Ford's was the SkylinER, not the Skyline.
Lucas @ Apr 27th 2007 9:01PM
I'd buy that in a second.