By 1995, it really seemed that the large fast executive sedan was leaving the U.S. for good. The E34 BMW was replaced in 1997 with the E39, but there was no word of an M5. Indeed, the 540i was considered so close in performance to the outgoing M5 it seemed BMW wasn’t planning one. The era of hand-constructed M-cars was over. The 500E had also left us in 1994, with the W124 chassis also on its way out. That legendary car and chassis still haunts the dreams of many enthusiasts both in and out of the marque. For Audi, it was also the end of an era with the demise of the turbocharged inline-5, an engine that had defined the company’s success in motorsport as well as the unique individuality of the brand. That motor last appeared in the United States in the 1995 Audi S6, like the other super sedans a high water mark for the brands whose memory would not be easy to shake. Now over two decades after its introduction in the 1991 200 and 1992 S4, the 3B/AAN motor is still a growing legend amongst Audi fans. Many of these super sedans were used hard and well over their life, providing countless memories of effortless overtaking and miraculous drives through snowy conditions. For those who haven’t yet experienced the great C4 chassis mated to the phenomenal motor that the WRC helped to create, time hasn’t run out. There are still good examples of the C4 chassis floating around, and unlike good examples of the E34 M5 and W124 500E, they’re quite affordable. Take this black over grey S6 for example:
