Sometimes it’s exceptionally apparent when an automaker misses out on releasing the car that should have been. And sometimes there’s enough desire for that car that folks take things into their own hands, which is exactly has happened to create this 2 door Audi RS in a time when the RS was just coming to existence.

Based off an Audi Coupe Quattro, this build makes use of a perfectly fine platform and fills it to the brim with the things you’d actually want in the coupe. From the 3B 20VT sourced from Audi directly which was then dressed up for a bit more power, to the Koni coil overs and upgraded brakes, this is the car Audi should have delivered. Plus the interior is prime early 90s with wood paneling on the dash and enough buttons and switches to keep you busy for days making small adjustments.

I had been eager to cover this car since the day I met the owner, Patrick, when he joined us for an off-road drive in his Cayenne and he mentioned he was working on this project. Part of picking up a car like this means picking up all the quirk and intricacies that weren’t previously sorted, which means having to make heads or tails of what was done and what wasn’t, what is worth fixing and what’s worth redoing entirely, and conversely, what’s not even worth the work to consider. When I asked what he would do differently if he were to take on the project from the beginning himself his quick easy answer was “fix the AC”, which living in Georgia is a valid want.

We finally were able to link up once the car was road worthy and spent some time shooting in Atlanta on a humid, muggy Monday just before lunch, and I kept finding myself asking “Why didn’t Audi just offer this to us?” Given the attention this car gets every where he goes with it, I’m not alone in that sentiment, and the enjoyment that everyone gets from seeing the car is one of Patrick’s favorite parts of owning the car. I took the chance to ask a few more questions about the car and whats in line for it, and I’m happy to say the future for this build will be to continue getting it fully sorted and road worthy so it can continue to be enjoyed at its full potential.

I suppose hind sight is 20/20 and perhaps Audi would do things differently if they could go back and try again.  Maybe they would have offered this from the rip, both as the option we did get and a slightly sportier coupe, but if they had, we wouldn’t have folks seizing the opportunity to build these for themselves and create what has the possibility of being the ultimate expression of 90s Audi potential.

The full build details provided by Patrick below:

• 3B 20VT swap
• OEM RS2 6-speed trans
• JE pistons, Carrillo rods
• Ported/polished head by Techtonics
• Balanced crank, 7A flywheel & cam
• RS2 MAF, injectors, airbox, intercooler
• K26 hybrid turbo
• RS2 exhaust manifold
• TIG-welded 3” stainless exhaust w/ cat
• Adj. FPR (RS2 spec)
• OEM RS2 bumper, mirrors, headlights
• Porsche fogs/signals
• Rieger rear & skirts, SGI lip
• B4 front end
• Momo Hella wheel, RS2 knob/boot
• OEM RS2 bumper, mirrors, headlights
• Porsche fogs/signals
• Rieger rear & skirts, SGI lip
• B4 front end
• Momo Hella wheel, RS2 knob/boot
• Battery relocated under rear seat (OEM S2 box)
• 5-lug S2 hubs
• Porsche 996 C2 front calipers, B5 S4 rotors
• Koni/Ground Control coilovers
• RH 18” 2-piece wheels
• S2 shift linkage, 4000Q driveshaft