Audi 100 SE

[Tex1]

In 1974/75 I purchased a new, tourqoise blue, Audi 100 SE.  It had a vinyl top with manual sun roof and auto transmission.  However, I cannot find any reference to the SE model anywhere on the internet, does anyone know why?

[Steve Q]

15 hours ago, Tex1 said:

In 1974/75 I purchased a new, tourqoise blue, Audi 100 SE.  It had a vinyl top with manual sun roof and auto transmission.  However, I cannot find any reference to the SE model anywhere on the internet, does anyone know why?

Welcome to the forum, you'll find the members on here are a friendly and helpful bunch 🙂

That is unusual that you've not found anything on Google. If i remember rightly the common models in the UK in the early 70s were LS and GL. LS being top of the range (my grandad had one of those).

I think later on S for the coupe and CS was added in the 80s but there was a 5E, CD CE and L in the late 70s.

But I think you're right, Audi first used the SE badge was in 1970s here's a 1976 brochure on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233195447736

Can't find any info older than 1976 unfortunately. 

SE badging was also used extensively on the next generation Audi 100 in the 1980s and think the SE trim ran from 1983-1991. Picture of the next generation 100 SE on a J plate but was a 1991 model. 

Link to the 5E brochure which was fitted with a five cylinder engine. There's a brochure for on on eBay. Obviously the 5E is very close to the SE badging. Makes me wonder why they used 5E. 

Here's the link to the later 5E brochure if you're interested:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302277902095

Please see attached picture of a 100 5E and the next Audi 100 see model. 

Hope I've helped and not bored you to death. Please note I don't have any connection to the eBay sellers of those brochures. 

Cheers

Steve

 

[Tex1]

Thanks Steve,   The picture on the brochure is the exact car, except I don't see the sun roof.  When I bought it in 74/75 it was the first time in production, it stood on a rotating carousel in the window of the dealership.  I had had three previous 100 LS's and I bought the SE as soon as I saw it.

I don't think that they made too many, cos when I put it up for sale in Warrington ( moving to Texas), a guy came all the way from Germany to buy it, which in 1976 was a big deal.

[Steve Q]

1 hour ago, Tex1 said:

Thanks Steve,   The picture on the brochure is the exact car, except I don't see the sun roof.  When I bought it in 74/75 it was the first time in production, it stood on a rotating carousel in the window of the dealership.  I had had three previous 100 LS's and I bought the SE as soon as I saw it.

I don't think that they made too many, cos when I put it up for sale in Warrington ( moving to Texas), a guy came all the way from Germany to buy it, which in 1976 was a big deal.

Hmm I wonder if the sunroof was an add on by webasto or Britax. Clearly a very rare car. I wonder if it's still around? 

[Tex1]

Never realized that until, out of nostalgia, I looked for a picture online, couldn't even find a response to SE and that's why I posted here. It was bought from me by a sixty yr old gentleman who gave me a full rough day going over it.  He even paid the local Audi dealer to put it on the rack where he checked the whole of the underside.  I treated as my beautiful baby and I'm sure he did, but who knows what happened next.

Pretty sure it was all factory, the dealership was a small operation who just moved cars in and out, I'm pretty sure that they would not have been involved in any after market operations.

[Steve Q]

4 hours ago, Tex1 said:

Never realized that until, out of nostalgia, I looked for a picture online, couldn't even find a response to SE and that's why I posted here. It was bought from me by a sixty yr old gentleman who gave me a full rough day going over it.  He even paid the local Audi dealer to put it on the rack where he checked the whole of the underside.  I treated as my beautiful baby and I'm sure he did, but who knows what happened next.

Pretty sure it was all factory, the dealership was a small operation who just moved cars in and out, I'm pretty sure that they would not have been involved in any after market operations.

Very odd you couldn't find a picture, but hope I've helped. D you got the answer you were looking for 🙂 

Would hope it survives but the 100 model is so rare now. Only ever seen one or two in the flesh. Such lovely looking vehicles too. 

[Tex1]

Thanks for your help Steve, I now think of the car in a different light.   I'll just tell you a final story then I'll leave you in peace.  In 1970 my business partner and I had been in business for two years and we had hoarded every penny we made for expansion.  At two years we had our first serious meeting with our accountant and he said, If you don't spend some of this money soon the government will take it all, go buy you a new house and cars.  When we left the accountant we discussed cars, my partner wasn't into them, but when I said, Audi's are nice, he said I like them too.  We drove straight to the dealership, walked onto the showroom floor and said to the salesman "We'll take those two" and wrote him a check.  I took the 'Coral' and my partner took the 'Mustard Yellow'.  That started my love affair with Audis - wonderful.

[Steve Q]

8 hours ago, Tex1 said:

Thanks for your help Steve, I now think of the car in a different light.   I'll just tell you a final story then I'll leave you in peace.  In 1970 my business partner and I had been in business for two years and we had hoarded every penny we made for expansion.  At two years we had our first serious meeting with our accountant and he said, If you don't spend some of this money soon the government will take it all, go buy you a new house and cars.  When we left the accountant we discussed cars, my partner wasn't into them, but when I said, Audi's are nice, he said I like them too.  We drove straight to the dealership, walked onto the showroom floor and said to the salesman "We'll take those two" and wrote him a check.  I took the 'Coral' and my partner took the 'Mustard Yellow'.  That started my love affair with Audis - wonderful.

Never feel.yku have to leave me in peace. Always happy to help 🙂 What a great story. Ironically my grandad was often told the same thing by his accountant in the 70s/80s hence why he bought an Audi. Amongst other vehicles such as an Opel senator, Ford granada, new Ford escort mk2 for my dad etc. 

What was your business if you don't mind me asking? 

And what car do you drive now? 

Cheers

Steve

[Tex1]

We are both mechanical engineers (retired), started with a design company from home, moved to offices, then moved into petrochemical construction - that's what we were naively saving our profits to start.   Partnership dissolved in 1976, emigrated to Texas and spent the last forty years as a Corporation Vice President and engineering project manager.

Currently I have 2019 Cadillac CTS and 2018 Ford Expedition.

Supposed to fly into London June 1st to leave on Rhine Cruise on June 3rd, don't think it's going to happen.  Unfortunately it's all paid for and I foresee a fight to get a refund !

[Steve Q]

Very nice, does sound like an interesting career. The CTS is a nice car. And regarding your holiday I think you'll be lucky. We have another 3 weeks of lockdown here at least. I can't see us being back to normal till September to be honest. 

Cheers

Steve