Updated: 19th July 2007 12:13pm GMT

Scale 1/24 Kit Manufacturer Tamiya Grade-up Parts Studio 27 Acu-Stion Scale Motorsport Year 1981 Driver Michelle Mouton (France) Event Acropolis Rally

The 1981 WRC Season saw the arrival of a car that forced the major manufacturers of the time to completely re-think there plans for rallying, this car was the Audi Quattro 4WD Turbo.

The car was unveiled to the world in March 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was the first 4WD car to compete in WRC and its success was immediate, finishing first in only it's second outing on the snow and ice covered Rally of Sweden, it went on to take the Constructors Championships in 1982 and 1984 achieving a total of 23 rally wins along the way. Not only was the car stunningly fast but it generated a distinctive engine note unlike any other at the time, indeed a press photographer at the 1981 British RAC Rally commented 'I did not need to wait until I could see the car, I could tell it was the Audi by the stupendous noise'.

The power behind the car came in the form of a 5 cylinder 2144cc engine, identical to the production models however added to it was a KKK Turbocharger which produced around 300hp, 100hp more than the road going version. The 4WD system was fixed so to compensate for the varying speeds of the road wheels during cornering or skidding 3 differentials were used, the centre and rear diffs could be locked or unlocked by the driver according to road conditions. In its first season the car was driven by Hannu Mikkola and Michelle Mouton, the latter taking 2nd place in the drivers championship in 1982.

My project is derived from the 1981 Acropolis Rally and is driven by Michelle Mouton. I decided not to incude the driver and co-driver figures and is essentially built 'straight from the box'. Further detailing was added using photo etch sets designed for the model and some scratch built items in the engine bay and interior.

Details added:

• Replaced plastic parts/decals with photo-etch as follows;
  Windscreen Wipers
  Mirror (internal and external) lenses
  Spotlight brackets
  Seatbelts
  Front Audi badge
• Added photo-etch & decals as follows;
  Front and rear towing hooks
  Spotlight support brackets
  Brake disks front and rear
  Front mesh (behind grill)
  Rear Spoiler intake mesh
  Windscreen brackets
  Driver Pedals & footrest
  Co-driver footrest
  Rear number plate
  Bonnet Rally plate & number
• Scratch built add ons;
  Cables for spotlights
  Rear Audi branded mudflaps
  Instruments and switches on centre console
  Gearlever, bracket & connectors
  Hose clamps
  Plug leads
  Coolant hose
  Kevlar decal on engine components
  Tyre valve and wheel balancing items.
  Ride height of car lowered sligthly

Progress & Completed pics