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Germany
Motor Cars
1970s

Audi 50

Audi 50

Production period:

1974-1978

Class :

Motor Car

Body versions :

hatchback

Engines:

1.1–1.3 liters (37–44 kW)

Length:

3512mm

Width:

1560mm

Height:

1344mm

wheelbase :

2335mm

curb weight :

685-700kg

 

The Audi 50 is a small car with front-wheel drive . The Audi NSU Auto Union AG vehicle (internal: Type 86) was manufactured from the summer of 1974 to mid-1978 and sold only in Europe. 

History

It was largely identical in construction to the less well-equipped VW Polo I , which was built from 1975 to 1981. Both models were produced on the same line at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg by Audi NSU Auto Union AG at the former NSU factory in Germany and at the giant Wolfsburg plant by Volkswagen.

The Audi 50 took only 21 months from the draft to the first production vehicle. On October 26, 1974, the Audi 50 was presented to dealers.The car was offered as a three-door hatchback with a 1,093 cc (66.7 cu in) petrol engine, producing either 37 kW (50 PS; 50 bhp) or 44 kW (60 PS; 59 bhp) for the LS and GL models, respectively. 

 The car with a displacement of 1093 cc was available as the Audi 50 LS with 37 kW (50 hp) and was designed for regular gasoline . With better equipment it was called the Audi 50 GL , had 44 kW (60 hp) and the higher-compression engine needed premium petrol.

  • PERFORMANCE:1,092 cc
  • max power (DIN): 50 hp (36.8 kW) at 5.800 rpm
  • max torque (SAE): 56 1b ft. 7.7 kg m (75.5 Nm) at 3,500 rpm
  • max engine rpm: 5,800
  • power-weight ratio: 30.2 lb/hp (41 'lb/kW), 13.7 kg/hp (18-6 kg/kW)
  • acceleration: 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 9.6 sec
  • consumption: 37.2 m/imp gal, 30.9 m/US gal, 7.6 1 x 100 km.

In August 1976, the Audi 50 GLS replaced the previous GL. The LS could now also be ordered with the more powerful 60 hp engine.

  • PERFORMANCE: 50 GLS
  • ENGINE compression ratio: 9.5:1
  • max power (DIN): 60 hp (442 kW) at 6,000 rpm
  • max torque .(DIN): 62 1b ft
  • max engine rpm: 6,000
  • power-weight ratio: 25.2 lb/hp '(34.2 lb/kW), 11.4 kg/hp (153 kg/kW).

From August 1977, an engine with a displacement of 1.3 liters (1272 cc) was installed in the more powerful variant with 44 kW.

With simple equipment and a smaller engine, the VW Polo came onto the market in the spring of 1975 as an economy version of the Audi 50. Its engine produced 29 kW (40 hp) from a displacement of 900 cm³, the stroke had been reduced from 72 to 59 mm. Instead of an automatic starter on the carburetor , as in the Audi, there was a manually operated choke . As standard, the Polo only had drum brakes , also on the front axle, and cross-ply tires .

More powerful engines and better equipment were not offered for the Polo until the following year. At the beginning of 1977, the Polo, which was still in production, was joined by the Derby notchback variant , which was also developed by Audi in Ingolstadt .For strategic marketing reasons, the VW Group removed the Audi 50 from its model range in July 1978 after only four years and 180,828 units had been produced. metallic paint and sunshine roof as options. 

Production numbers

180,822 of the Audi 50 were produced: 

Year

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

number

22,146

84,343

53,536

15,584

5.213

 

Categories
Audi
Title
Audi 50 Typ 86 (1974-1978)

Description

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Technical

Technical
  • Audi 50 Typ 86 Technical details and specifications (1974-1978)


    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 91.93 in, 233 cm
    tracks: 51.18 'ln. 130 cm front, 51 in, 131 cm rear
    length: 138.80 in, 353 cm
    width: 61.42 in, 156 cm
    height: 52.90 in. 134 cm
    ground clearance: 4.17 in, 10.6 cm
    weight: 1,510 1b, 685 kg

    ENGINE:1,092 cc
    location front, transverse, slanted 15° to front
    4 stroke; 4 cylinders, in line
    66.6 cu 'in, 1,092 cc
    compression ratio: 8.2:1
    cast iron block, light alloy head
    5 crankshaft bearings
    valves: overhead, in line, thimble tappets
    camshafts: 1, overhead, cogged belt
    lubrication: gear pump, full flow filter
    1 Solex 35 PICT-5 downdraught single barrel carburettor
    fuel feed: mechanical pump
    water-cooled
    electric thermostatic fan.

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: front
    clutch: single dry plate gearbox
    mechanical; gears: 4, fully synchronized;
    ratios: 1st 3.454. 2nd 2.050, 3rd 1.347, 4th 0.963, rev 3.384
    gear lever location: central
    final drive: hypoid bevel
    axle ratio: 4.266

    CHASSIS
    integral
    front suspension: independent, by Mc-Pherson, lower wishbones, anti-roll bar, coil springs/telescopic damper struts
    rear: independent, longitudinal trailing radius arms, coil spring/telescopic damper struts. (GLS) rear anti-roll bar.

    STEERING
    rack-and-pinion
    turns lock to lock: 3.50.
    turning circle (between walls) : 31 ft.

    BRAKES
    front disc (diameter 9.43 in, 23.9 cm)
    rear drum; lining area: front 16.3 sq in, 105 sq cm, rear 29.3 sq in, 189 sq cm. total 45.6 sq in, 294 sq cm.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    12 V
    36 Ah battery
    490 W alternator
    Bosch distributor

    © Motor car History

    Specifications 

     

    Audi 50LS

    Audi 50 GL 

    Audi 50 GL or GLS with 44 kW 

      

    (from 08/1976: Audi 50 GLS)

    from 08/1977

    Engine:

    four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine; Water-cooled with electric radiator fan, light alloy cross-flow cylinder head , cast iron engine block, crankshaft with  five bearings, camshaft driven via toothed belt, rocker arm

    Displacement :

    1093cc

    1272cc

    Bore × Stroke:

    69.5×72mm

    75×72mm

    Mixture generation:

    a Solex downdraft carburetor

    Compression:

    8.0:1

    9.3:1

    8.2:1

    Performance at 1/min:

    37 kW (50 hp) at 5,800

    44 kW (60 hp) at 6,000

    44 kW (60 hp) at 5,600

    Torque at 1/min:

    75.5 Nm at 3500

    83.4 Nm at 3500

    93 Nm at 3500

    Drive :

    Fully synchronized four-speed gearbox , front-wheel drive

    Body:

    Self-supporting all-steel body, tank capacity 37 liters

    Suspension:

    front: MacPherson struts with wishbones and stabilizer
    rear: torsion beam axle (“coupling arm axle”), telescopic shock absorbers , coil springs

    wheelbase :

    2335mm

    turning circle:

    9.6m

    curb weight:

    685kg

    Dimensions L × W × H:

    3490×1560×1304mm

    Top speed :

    142 km/h

    152km/h

    154km/h

    Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 

    15.4s

    13.5s

    12.9s

    Consumption per 100 km:

    7.3 L regular petrol (91 octane )

    7.6 l premium petrol (98 octane )

    8.3 L regular petrol (91 octane )

Service
  • Audi 50 Typ 86 Maintenance and Service Guide (1974-1978)


    fuel: 91 oct petrol
    oil change engine: 5.3 imp pt. 6.3 US pt, 3 1, SAE 20W-30, change every 4.700 miles, 7,500 km
    gearbox and final drive 3.2 imp pt, 3.8 US pt, 1.8 1, SAE 80 or 90
    greasing: none.
    fuel tank: 7.9 imp gal, 9.5 US gal
    width of rims: 4.5"
    tyres: 135 SR x 13. or 145 SR x 13

    © Motor car History

Manuals

Download: Workshop manuals Tech Guides exclusive to registered users.

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