1981 (yeah really) Audi 4000 diesel mystery

[Christopher G. Mason]

Hello folks,

I ran across a rare car to say the least. A real 1981 Audi 4000 
diesel.... except there is one problem, its a car Audi technically never 
built! They only imported diesels for MY1982-83. I confirmed the VIN is 
indeed from a MY1981 car, heck it even decodes the car as having a 1.7L 
GAS engine. FMVSS sticker on the door jam lists 01/81 as the build date 
and matches the A-piller and trunk build sticker VINs. Another 
interesting thing, the EPA emissions certification sticker in the engine 
bay is for a MY1983 *turbo* diesel engine. Did I mention this car was a 
5-speed? If its indeed a turbo, this would likely make it rarer then any 
UrQ as I don't think anyone has seen one equipped with a 5-speed (it is 
listed in the EPA fuel economy charts for 82 and 83 though). Right now 
I'm trying to get the engine serial number from the owner (original 
owner no less!) to confirm if its indeed a turbo and find out when the 
engine was built. I can only come to the following possible conclusions:

1. Its one heck of a flawless engine swap. Every diesel specific part 
seems in place.

2. Audi for some reason had a leftover MY1981 chassis in the factory and 
decided to stuff a MY1983 diesel engine in it and sell it. Hey, a long 
shot but possible.