A 2001 Audi RS4 Avant in Nogaro Blue is not something you see every day. In fact, this is apparently one of only 3 examples with this spec, federalized with a US title, and also the star of a full review by Doug DeMuro.
Daddy Doug is one of the biggest fans of performance wagons in America, the owner of an RS2 in this exact color. And he said this RS4 was his favorite car ever to be listed on the auction website Cars and Bids which he owns. It sold for $91,000 and has an interesting story that didn’t end with the auction.
Its new owners spent the next few months trying to get the car back into stock condition, exactly what such a rare car deserves. There were some obvious things, such as the Aragosta coilovers and a cat-back exhaust system, plus the brakes didn’t seem OEM.
The first Audi RS4: forbidden fruit
Nogaro Blue is, according to DeMuro, the best color for an RS wagon. It dates back to the RS2 and was recently used on a special-edition RS6 Avant. The previous seller stated that this left-hand-drive French-spec wagon was purchased from Tokyo of all places. It was titled in the United States in July 2021, where it can be considered an exotic because Audi never sold an RS4 wagon. In case you’re wondering, it’s federalized but hasn’t been through the California CARB certification process.
The B5 is the very first generation of the Audi RS4 Avant, built from 1999 until 2001 (6,030 units produced) as a hotly anticipated successor of the RS2. It was based on the regular A4 Avant but featured wider tracks, lowered suspension, and an all-mighty engine upgrade.
The twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 was based on the one in the S4 but was modified by Cosworth with custom aluminum heads, enlarged intake ports, two large intercoolers, and a couple of BorgWarner K04 turbos. It made 375 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, sent to the permanent AWD system through a 6-speed manual.
Full detailing process
Japanese imports are famous for their excellent condition, and this RS4 looked great from a distance. However, detailing specialist AMMO NYC was tasked with fixing a lot of the issues which kept this from being a true gem.
The front bumper had been crudely repainted with overspray showing up on the surrounding fenders. This polished right out, as did the water stains on all the windows. How often do you see windows being polished? The headlights were also looking a little tired, while the leather interior received a respray, bringing it back to excellent condition without needing new upholstery. We just loved seeing this old Audi, which somehow manages to combine carbon fiber trim with a cassette player in a very unusual car.
