Review: 76897 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1
Posted by CapnRex101,
Speed Champions traditionally focuses upon modern supercars, although historic examples have also become available and maintained an excellent standard. The newest addition to this selection looks exceptional, closely resembling its celebrated source material.
76897 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 offers some magnificent details, taking inspiration from the powerful Group B rally car. Its unusual shape and bright colour scheme are immediately recognisable, exploiting the increased size of new Speed Champions sets and their improved realism. This set should certainly prove enjoyable!
Minifigure
Drivers accompany each Speed Champions vehicle and the Audi contains an appropriate minifigure, sporting branded racing overalls. The colour combination of yellow and white looks superb and I like the red, grey and black stripes which decorate either side. Exactly the same colourful bands appear repeatedly across the Audi Sport Quattro S1.
Intricate stitching is also printed here and the light bluish grey gloves look nice. Unfortunately, the helmet lacks decoration but the double-sided head underneath seems reasonable, appearing quite cheerful on one side while the other expresses fear. An alternative reddish brown hair element is also provided which is welcome and this minifigure comes with a black wrench.
The Completed Model
Angular bodywork is integral to the design of the Audi Sport Quattro S1, contrasting with many other Speed Champions vehicles which are heavily reliant upon curved slopes. This model therefore looks impressive and measures 16cm in length, exhibiting wonderful detail when compared with the original rally car. Furthermore, its yellow and white colour scheme differs substantially from any earlier models.
This vehicle appears exceptionally accurate when viewed from the side, featuring realistic proportions and continuous lines through the bodywork. In fact, the only area that noticeably differs from its source material is the transition between the roof and the rear spoiler. This structure should be slightly steeper but I believe it might be difficult to improve without compromising the shape of the roof.
Dark bluish grey light clusters are connected to the model and their arrangement looks perfect. They can be removed easily though if you prefer, as shown on the packaging. I like the square headlights and the Audi emblem is formed by a sticker between the lights. The distinctive air dam is marvellous too, closely resembling the triangular spoiler which appears on the original vehicle.
Stickers are certainly important to the aesthetic of this rally car, although that is inevitable given its original design. For instance, three stickers are applied on each side, forming the yellow stripes that decorate the actual vehicle. The bonnet component is printed though and displays wonderful detail, including various air intakes beside bands of red, grey and black which match the driver's overalls.
Black 1x2 slopes represent air intakes on both flanks and the number five also adorns either side, identifying this as the rally car which won the 1985 Rallye Sanremo. Certain advertisements from the original vehicle have been omitted but I appreciate such authentic detail. However, the pronounced wheel arches are not entirely accurate and the studs along the edge of the roof also seem slightly awkward in my opinion.
Removing the roof reveals ample space for two minifigures inside. This model is constructed around the new chassis component which appears in each of the 2020 Speed Champions sets and is ideally designed for the driver and a passenger. Unfortunately, the steering wheel is accordingly offset but that detracts very little from the interior design.
Printed 2x3 wedge plates are situated behind the seats, featuring the same colourful bands as the bonnet. The rear windscreen is opaque but looks brilliant, particularly since other Speed Champions models have often required stickers here. Moreover, black 2x2 angled tiles form the rear section of the side windows and the resultant shape seems authentic. I like the curvature of the bodywork behind the rear wheels too.
The enormous spoiler is another requisite feature of the Audi Sport Quattro S1 and its shape looks quite realistic on this model. The combination of rounded and angular surfaces is excellent and I like the number plate sticker positioned below the spoiler, corresponding precisely with the aforementioned winner of the 1985 Rallye Sanremo! Additional stickers form radiators across the back, just above the tiny exhaust which looks perfect.
Overall
The famous Audi Sport Quattro S1 is among my favourite rally cars and this rendition of the vehicle includes extraordinary detail, surpassing almost any other Speed Champions set. I love the unusual angles of its bodywork and the attractive colour scheme, both of which are replicated with remarkable accuracy here. The rear profile seems notably appealing and stickers have been integrated effectively, alongside some printed elements.
Increasing the size of these Speed Champions models has definitely enabled designers to improve their authenticity, although minifigures now seem quite small beside the vehicles. Nevertheless, that compromise is justified in my opinion and I think the price of £17.99 or $19.99 is reasonable, given the scale and quality of this design. For those reasons, I would highly recommend 76897 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your opinion of the set in the comments below.
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34 comments on this article
Some thoughts on the figure:
A. They should have included two. This is rallying, where's the co-driver?
B. That secondary face is pretty much perfect for a Group B monster.
The newer clear plastic TLG is using looks weirdly frosted.
It seems designed by me.
"Ugly, Ugly, Ugly"
@Speed_champions_fan said:
"Some thoughts on the figure:
A. They should have included two. This is rallying, where's the co-driver?
B. That secondary face is pretty much perfect for a Group B monster. "
Agreed on both points. Now, where's the competition? I would like to see one of those mid-engined 'superminis.'
Awesome car model.
Not too keen on the bumper or the back. The headlights are a bit off. How much is it?
It's not the LEGO designers' fault that the model has turned out as an eyesore; not when the original thing is gopping.
Good review though!
I feel like there's some growing pains kn these new 8 wide sets. Like the Ferarri and the black Lambo being very unforgiving with minifigure headweareach minifigure here has to raise their door side arm over the base of the windshield. (EDIT: Trying again, they also fit in you have the offending arms all the way down. Still can't make it look like they're holding the wheel with both hands though)
That said, plenty to like. I still love how we can now fit two figure in these, and this Audi even has a proper handbreak. The shape is definitely an 80's boxmobile, but there's enough shaping and texturing that it doesn't at all feel boxy because the set design is lazy. The driver position is good too, on some of these cars they've felt really far forwards conpared to the windshield.
The stickers are also remarkably restrained for a racing car. Probably the era of racing (and the printed bonnet does a lot of the legwork here), but holding the Audi in my hand, I'm mentally comparing it to the Ford Focus WRC car, which conformed to the SC stereotype considerably.
It would be nice with a picture of the printed pieces only. And the figure is waaaay out of proportions to the car. It was on my wanted list, but not anymore. Thanks for the review tho.
You should definitely include photos of the car in real life so that we can have side by side comparisons between the model and the car.
I loved building this model too and think its a great representation of the actual car. I attended what was known as the Lombard RAC rally many times in the 80s just to see this fire breathing, popping and banging monster. It looked a real handful at times. For those of you that are interested, the missing stickers would have been for HB cigarettes, which TLG would of course, not endorse.
@bananaworld said:
"It's not the LEGO designers' fault that the model has turned out as an eyesore; not when the original thing is gopping.
Good review though!"
Well, if the original thing is gopping, TLG should pick one les gopping!
Easy to make an escort out of this maybe even a Mexico , as an Audi it looks great ,wish it had a co-pilot ,8wide is making trucks looks stupid
As a kid, I used to LOVE watching rally special on TV with these incredible cars hurtling thru the trees.
I’m not a fan of the new 8-wide SC’s, but I’m going to have to get this one. (It will just have to be displayed far away from all the 6-wides!)
I like almost everything in this model, except for the - too many - studs on the roof. That might ruin an otherwise superb set.
In my opinion, studs até intended to hold parts together, more than to be seen. This new, larger SC scale would make a great excuse for TLG to give an extended use to their 6x6 tile.
Probably one of the ugliest sets the line has ever produced. BUT, 29119 and 29120 are finally available in yellow so I'll forgive it.
I'm not even on the fence with 8 studs, but I'm not totally agains it either. It's just there wasn't anything I liked in this wave. I'll wait for the summer sets to decide.
This is the best Speed Champions set yet, simply because the original looks like it was made out of giant Lego bricks to begin with :)
One of the best Speed Champions sets ever (beside the green Ford Mustang Fastback, imho)! Definitely my must have Lego set 2020. And probably the only Lego set I´´´´´´´´´´´ am going to buy in 2020.
I'm thinking of modifying it into a Quattro A2 by getting rid of the oversized air dam and spoiler.
Great review! I’m hoping they keep the group B rally theme going as all that era of car were so boxy they’re perfect for Lego! Lancia delta next then maybe a Peugeot T16, Renault 5 turbo, Metro 6R4. I’ll buy them all :-)
I think people are really showing their ages here in this topic. The people who were old enough (like me) to have seen the pretty much insane Group B rally cars in action (either on TV or even in real life) love this set, and the younger people seem to hate it.
Fact is, this model is pretty acurate to the real Audi Sport Quatro S1, and in my personal opinion, is the best out of this years 8-wide Speed Racers! Having seen this one, I'd love to have Lego make a Peugeot 205 T16!
Beautiful rendition of a legendary old school car! (And more accurate than the recent Ferrari or Nissan IMHO.) Lego should pick such classics more often.
here you can see Audi Sport Quattro S1 in real form - https://a.d-cd.net/8046ad1s-1920.jpg
"Increasing the size of these Speed Champions models has definitely enabled designers to improve their authenticity"
I wish that were true but this set is the exception. Most SC sets that are 8-wide don't really look any better or any more like the source material. They're almost, to a number, ugly inauthentic representations that makes one wonder why they bothered changing the scale in the midst of the line, making them too wide for City streets yet not really making them look any better. The GT-R is a prime example. This Audi is an exception.
@alldarker said:
"I think people are really showing their ages here in this topic. The people who were old enough (like me) to have seen the pretty much insane Group B rally cars in action (either on TV or even in real life) love this set, and the younger people seem to hate it.
Fact is, this model is pretty acurate to the real Audi Sport Quatro S1, and in my personal opinion, is the best out of this years 8-wide Speed Racers! Having seen this one, I'd love to have Lego make a Peugeot 205 T16!"
Well, I'm a young person and I certainly love it! 80s racing cars were the best! Group C in 2021 please!
I've just been watching a video of the 1985 San Remo rally referred to in the review. This one:
https://youtu.be/ucCcUVcPadk
Definitely one for watching with the sound turned right up. And clearly crowd safety was a secondary concern in those days..
p.s. this video features a lot of the car this set is modelled on: https://youtu.be/U4K6r4CjchI
What a brute
I’m head over heels for Speed Champions, and I know dick about cars really. Other than the fact that they generally have four wheels and go from point A to B. I rely heavily on these reviews for technical education about specificity relative to a particular vehicle, and BS delivered once again.
The only thing that visually trips me up on this one is the roof. I’m not an over the top SNOT guy (hey...OTPSNOT?) but the two rows of studs on either side of the roof are very distracting to me, and I don’t know why they are in this build. Perhaps because of all of the extra lines created by needing so many individual slopes in so many spots, the eye gets taken to so many things. I dunno...
Awesome set and minifigure!
To anyone who says this is ugly: get a life!
It may not be a beauty, but that was never its point.
This to me is the most awesome Speed Champions set ever. The most realistic, the most accurate. And for anyone who was a Rallye-fan as a kid in the Eighties like myself, this car is a legend, just like the Monte Carlo Mini or the Lancia Delta Integrale.
If anything the Lamborghini Urus is ugly as hell.
@EvilTwin said:
"p.s. this video features a lot of the car this set is modelled on: https://youtu.be/U4K6r4CjchI
What a brute"
Perfect. Thanks for finding and posting that vid. Really shows how well TLG captured this car's form and styling!
Love the added realism of all the studs on the roof.
/sarcasm
I bought 2 about 2 weeks ago, so excited! Cannot wait to build one soon.
First of all, the Audi sport quattro S1 was a very innovative car that was the first 4WD rally car ever and completely changed rally racing. Second of all neither the set nor the real thing looks bad and I think it looks much better than minis and peugeots and other rally cars that people make a big deal about.
(The Urus doesn't look ugly)