Bucking 4KCSQ Resets Clock!?

[Peter Tengstrand <hvta2@mediaone.net>]

The other night while driving home in my '87 4KCSQ it started to buck.
Not hesitate but buck. Just once, every few minutes - randomly. The
strange thing is I noticed it reset the clock (computer) on the dash but
everything else seemed to be working normally. In fact there was no
light flicker or any other abnormal behavior - the LED's in the center
console didn't even blink and the radio continued to operate.

I got home okay and the next morning I able to  get it started but
barely keep it running - so I drove my other '87 4KCSQ to work :-)
(always keep a spare Quattro on hand). Anyway, I got a chance to look at
the car last weekend and it started and ran fine! What gives? I started
driving it again but after a few days the same thing only much less
frequently.

One last bit of info, I haven't had to put new gas in it since this
bucking started  - I don't know if that maters but I thought I'd mention
it.

I look to the wisdom (and hard earned lessons) of the list.

Cheers,
Peter
2 x '87 4KCSQ