This is how Henk has been protecting his Audi 100 against the rust monster for 44 years

The Audi 100 5S from 1979 was selected brand new by the now retired Henk and never ended up in anyone else’s garage. We say deliberately selected, because not a penny went to the dealer. “That was a great adventure,” says 76-year-old Henk, who was active in shipbuilding for years and also renovated and resold houses. “In 1979 I was renovating a house for someone who was in the car trade. I earned good money with that, so it started to cost me a bit. At one point the question was whether I coincidentally needed another car. Well, I was interested in that. I also had an Audi 100 at the time, but from the first generation, and it rusted away under my ass. I could see potential in a new Audi. No sooner said than done, I finished that house and at one point there was a brand new, white Audi 100 in front of my house, with alloy wheels. The stock markets remained closed, of course. That new 100 had a five-cylinder, because I wanted a bit of power under the hood, especially because of the caravan we had bought. The previous Audi had some difficulty with that, but the new 100 5S with the caravan on the hook, you could easily pedal to 100 km/h.”

Wife had another car, Henk kept his Audi 100

That turned out to be the prelude to a long relationship, because although another car was added every now and then for Henk’s wife, he could not say goodbye to the 100. “Why should I? After a year or so it was no longer worth anything and I would have gotten it anyway.” The Audi remained with Henk, even after the sale of the caravan. He didn’t drive many kilometers anymore, because he lived a stone’s throw from his work. And when he needed a car, it was usually easier to take the second car. The 100 still had to spend the night outside. “I didn’t have a garage until 1988, but fortunately the rust has stayed away quite nicely. I have suffered damage once; During the repair I immediately had the car additionally treated. That probably helped. And when I started building a block of garages in my street, I used the Audi as a construction hut. That worked fine.”

5S, a five-cylinder with carburetor, the version with injection said 5E.

Since 1988, 100 has been in a garage

The construction job was completed in 1988 and as a thank you for the services provided, one of those garages was reserved for the 100. “A warm and dry shelter helps against the ailments of old age and that also applies to the car,” says Henk. “I leave it in the winter anyway, because brine is poison for those old cars. The Audi is also cleaned regularly and receives regular maintenance. Last year it seemed like I would have to say goodbye to it after all. The engine was running poorly and when I took it to my garage they shrugged their shoulders. “Henk, we really can’t do anything with this anymore,” was the answer. Well, that made me really sick. But I’m not one to be pigeonholed. I came across an address in Friesland via the Audi club. Contacted and the garage owner thought it was a great story, a car that is over forty years old and only one owner. So off the Audi went, on an ambulance and back on its own wheels. It wasn’t free, but the car ran like a charm again. I am happy that the 100 can go back into the future.”

Cat stairs on rear window

The Audi has been slightly modified over the years. For example, a sunroof was added, real Audi rings appeared on the side and a so-called cat step on the rear window. “You’ll never see that again, will you? I think that’s wonderful. A while ago it blew off on the highway. I immediately anchored and picked that thing up. Thank God no one had driven over it yet.” Such a window covering certainly fits in with the times, but that does not apply to the modern radio and the enormous boombox in the back. A boom box? At 76? “I like a strong bass in the car. Then we come straight to my next hobby, because I am a big fan of Armin van Buuren. As you can imagine, his music doesn’t really work on original radio. This is better, now the windows almost vibrate out, wonderful. Normally I don’t miss Armin’s performance. I follow him everywhere in the Audi, all over the country and also abroad if necessary. I even went to Miami.”

The sunroof was added later, as were the louvers on the rear window.

For those who say that Henk should better sit behind the geraniums, he has an important message: “My children are doing well, I have worked all my life, I am still healthy, so as long as I can, I will enjoy it very much.” of life. More should do that.”

Speaking of enjoyment: it’s time to feel how a 44-year-old five-cylinder behaves in the present. First I go for a spin with Henk, who has of course become completely fused with his car. Then we can enjoy that interior for a while. Brown plastic, thick orange carpet, a border of fake wood across the entire width of the dashboard, large, clear clocks and a real four-speed gear lever from the floor. Welcome to another era, this is really back to the seventies.

Henk has been using the Audi for 44 years, yet it only has 150,000 kilometers on the clock. “That’s not entirely correct, because sometimes the counter doesn’t work, but it’s not much more than this. I have never used it to commute to work, so the odometer reading does not increase very quickly.”
Then we can get behind the wheel of the regal Audi for a while. That’s a bit of a switch. Literally, because the old four-speed gearbox can be operated flawlessly, but it does take some time to do so. It’s just a matter of calmly disconnecting everything and inserting the lever calmly, and everything goes smoothly. And how beautifully that old five-cylinder engine still rotates! There is no unrest and at idling speed you hardly even notice that the engine is running at all. Quiet cruising is the motto with this car, but if you give it some gas, an old 100 still wants to take off. Nice that it is possible, but it is not necessary. Henk prefers to turn up the volume knob of the radio. “Enjoy, right?”

This story was previously published in AutoWeek Classics 06 2023.