RE: '86 ur-q & 'ZZZ' VINs

[quattri <quattro@acacianet.com>]

Very interesting! Thanks for the confirmation on no AoA officially imported US-spec DOT/EPA 86 ur-qs.

Your post and another a few weeks ago peaked my interest on something else ur-q. Someone posted that VINs with 'ZZZZ' in them mean that it is a Euro-spec auto. This sounded very familiar so I went out and checked - sure enough, my 85 ur-q has the 'ZZZ' in the VIN, but it is US-spec. (I am pretty sure about this) 

What gives? 
Does 'ZZZ' in the VIN really mean it was intended for Urrup? 
Anyone else have a US-spec ur-q with the 'ZZZ' VIN?

Thanks,

-glen

I recall this same thread more than once in the past couple of years. 
One response that I heard from Audi was that one went to Canada (the one
being rebuilt?) and that one found its way into the US via England that
was, for all intensive purposes, a North American car.

If so, that could be the one that I bought from a friend in California,
BUT it turns out that it was the LAST '85 produced.  After talking to
the original owner, this story emerges.  He was asked in Ingolstadt if
he wanted it to be an '85 or '86 because it was an '86 (the beginning of
the run, perhaps), but told that they would charge him less under the
'85 price list.  He chose the lower cost.  That may be the source of
some of the confusion.  And yes, Glen....it has the digital dash, as I
noted in a post two weeks ago trying to track down parts for, or a
replacement of, said dash.

However, I agree with Glen from our past discussions that this car is
grey market.  I know that it had to have the door beams and a catalytic
exhauset installed stateside and the VIN is definitely NOT North
American (VIN #WAUZZZ85ZFA901331).  But it could still be one of the
sources of confusion.

The tragedy of the trip to Ingolstadt, however, was that he turned down
a Sport Quattro offered at an unbelievable price.  Remember, this was in
the days of strongest dollar in recent memory, so think nearly a half
price sale!

Steve
--
Dr. Steve Marinello
Corporate Engineer
Newpark Resources, Inc.
3850 N. Causeway Blvd., Ste. 1770
Metairie, LA 70002
504/838-8222