quattro Digest, Vol 3, Issue 90 - Re:Type 81 and 85 classifications

[Tom Nas]

"Larry C. Leung" <l.leung at juno.com> wrote:

>The Audi known in the US as the Fox was the 2nd gen Model 80
>in Europe, sometime in '74ish. It ended in '80 or '81. The type 81
>(US 4000) in 2-dr and 4-dr came in '82, so type 81's are NOT
>Foxes. The Fox chassis (haven't the bother to look up the # in
>Audiworld, not that interested, if you are, look it up), was also
>used for the US model Dasher, which ran about the same time.
>It was not as good a car as the slightly smaller A1 US Rabbit
>(nee Golf Mk.1) and Scirocco, but was significantly better than
>it's contemporary UrBeetle.....

OK, so I'm ever so slightly behind on reading my digests, so if this has 
been said before just ignore me-

-The Fox was the first-gen Audi 80, B1 or type 82. In Europe, it started in 
'72 and ended in '78 when the type 81 was introduced for '79 MY.

-There was an 'Audi 80' before this, it was a lesser version of the Super 
90. There was a family of cars with varying engine outputs and trim levels- 
the Audi (72 hp), the Audi 60, the 75, the 80 and the Super 90. These are 
generally considered 'pre-series' cars because they share few common parts 
with later models. The engine was carried over to the C1 Audi 100 (LS), but 
that's it.

Whoever thought of having the type 81 supercede the type 82 deserves a 
kicking, never mind the logic in the type 81/85 distinction. :-)

Tom