If you pop on to the Audi USA configuration site, it’s easy to shake your head at how expensive it seems the range has gotten. The A3 is the cheapest product you can buy, but at $33,000 without options it’s hard to see how this gussied-up Golf is affordable.
Yet, relative to where Audis used to sticker, that price is downright cheap.
Take this 1987.5 Audi Coupe GT Special Build. At the end of the run, Audi sold approximately 850 of these B2/B3 hybrid Coupes to the U.S. market. While things like the suspension and basic body were unchanged, the Special Build got the NG-code 2.3 inline-5 that was seen in the later Type 44/C3 and B3 chassis cars with 130 horsepower. The gearbox was also unique to the Special Build, having beefed up drive shafts (for some unknown reason, as the existing ones were already overbuilt). The Special Build was also the only front-drive B2 to carry 4-wheel disc brakes – again, shared with the B3 instead. Inside, the Special Build got a special digital dashboard in a slightly different hue than the ’86 Coupe GTs with digital boards had. The interior fabric was updated to the Savoy Velour (also from the B3) instead of the B2’s Kensington Velour – this was signified by a triple stripe instead of a dual stripe. To help distinguish the limited cars, the exteriors featured a “dipped†look; window surrounds were body color as were mirrors and spoiler, and if you opted for Alpine White (L90E) the Ronal R8s were also painted body color. As with most later GTs, the Special Build came relatively loaded with few options, though most don’t seem to have the rear wiper selected for some reason. Sunroof, leather steering wheel, power windows, power defogging mirrors, cassette stereo and power antenna, cruise control and a trip computer were all standard. Only heated seats, a rear wiper, leather interior and an automatic transmission could be optioned.
The price for this “heavily optioned†exclusivity was $20,600, and you’d be hard pressed to leave a dealer for much under $21,000 after delivery charges. Inflation corrected from 1987 dollars to 2020 dollars, that’s about $48,000. A brand new A5 coupe starts at $44,000 today and has many more amenities standard. Is it any surprise that we see so many more luxury vehicles today than what we saw in the 1980s?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Audi Coupe GT Special Build on eBay
Year: 1987
Model: Coupe GT Special Build
VIN: WAUBE0855HA034495
Engine: 2.3 liter inline-5
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 247,000 mi
Location: Elma, New York
Price: No Reserve Auction
About this vehicle
This 1987 Audi Coupe is an original. The owner has had it for 5+ years. The vehicle runs great and is mainly used for car shows.
Seller’s Notes
Very clean all original 1987.5 Coupe SB. Stored indoors since 2002. No Winters. in the middle of a driving restoration. Many new parts. Fun to drive. 2 stone chips in front of hood. Small chip at bottom of windshield. small ding on roof and C pillar. Both should come out with PDR. Needs clutch master (included). Front drivers seat needs repair. Has regular Coupe seat in place. Only driven to shows the last 4 years. No longer driving it. Buyer arranges amd pays for any shipping.
So we have a pretty faded Tornado Red exterior with what appears to be grey velour, and the 2.3-liter inline-5 is hooked to the 5-speed manual here. As GTs went in the US, this is arguably one of the more desirable configurations. This one has the optional rear wiper, and unfortunately, that’s about all we can see. The exterior looks a bit rough, but then it’s all there – right down to the NLA grilles and reflectors.
The starting price is $3,000 for the auction, which is probably bold given the current condition and what appears to be a non-running status, if I’m understanding that correctly. Certainly it has needs. I think if you could snag it for $2,500, though, it’d be a fairly reasonable and fun-to-drive classic once you’ve sorted the issues.
-Carter