How could I pass up this highly unlikely rig, posted at the Cohort by staxman, and shot in Seattle. Not only has the Quantum become increasingly true to its definition by becoming so rare, but to see it hooked up to an Airstream is just highly unusual. Well, it is a “Bambi” Airstream, but still. For our non-American firends, this is obviously a VW Passat MkII, curiously named “Quantum” in these parts, to keep the Rabbit company. But then VW has always had a rather odd relationship to America.
And what about the Quantum’s ability to tow? Not quite as bad as it might seem, actually. The gas engine version had the 2.2 L five cylinder, with somewhere between 100-115 hp, depending on the exact year. And traction would certainly not be a problem, with the Audi’s AWD system. These Passats were largely Audi 80’s under the skin, with their long noses and longitudinal engines sticking out front. The 1.6 L turbo-diesel four was also available, with 68 hp, although I’m not sure that was available as a Syncro in the US. Perry Shoar did an excellent write-up of these cars here.
The first “Bambi” Airstream was a 16 footer that came out in 1961. The Bambi name came to be applied to all of the single axle Airstreams. This one looks like it might well be from the late 60s or early 70s, and is possibly an 18 footer. But I could well be wrong. The only question left is whether this combination is still roadworthy. The Airstream, no doubt. The Quantum? Maybe.
I remember the VW Quantum. I’ve never owned one, nor have I ever driven a VW Quantum, but I used to know some people who had some. I used to know a teacher who had a Quantum Syncro wagon when I was a boy. I found it more attractive than the Audi Quattro.
Just hope the clutch holds up, especially taking off up a really steep hill.
Towing a camper this size in Europe is not at all uncommon. Hopefully mechanically the car is in better condition then it’s paint. Although they do both have matching faded silver patina.
If it’s in good shape and driven properly, it should be up to the task, but it will be slow on long, steep climbs.
In Europe the Airstream’s axle would be more centrally located as well, as their laws concerning weight distribution and maximum speed allowed are different.
More detailed info on the differences and reasoning here:
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tow-me-down-1609112611
Good article, but I wonder why equalizer bars were not mentioned in the article, They give the ability to shift some of the tongue weight to the front axle, resulting in better balance. They really help a lot for towing stability.
Here’s a 1987 VW Passat Variant 1.6 CL (72 hp) with a manual transmission. Registered towing capacity 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs), regardless the type of trailer. Single axle / tandem / tridem / drawbar…you name it.
In the US owners manual I have for ’86 and ’89 Jetta, both do not have any listing at all for towing weight. No accessory hitch from VW available. Aftermarket class 1 (up to 2000 lb with 200lb tongue limit) hitches are sold for the Quantum and syncro.
VW in the US did not recommend towing. Our ’87 b2 Quantum came with 110 hp 2.2, 115 hp 2.2 if syncro. ’82 was 1.7 79 hp, ’83 was 2.2 110 hp or 1.7 79 hp or 1.6 TD 68 hp. ’84 only were 2.1 100 hp. ’85-’88 were 2.2 110hp or 115hp if syncro except 85 wagon (non syncro) had 1.8 88 hp engine.
A confusing assortment of engines.
2.2’s were 110 hp or 115 if syncro. The ’84 only 2.1 was 100 hp.
I just searched for a VW Passat Mk2 for sale (and found the one above), and then checked its plate on the official Dutch registration website for motor vehicles. There it was: 1,200 kg towing capacity. Tongue weight limits are not -as in never- registered.
In 1991 I saw a Peugeot 405 diesel (possibly turbocharged) pulling a caravan, maybe a bit smaller than that Airstream, on the M1 motorway somewhere between London and Edinburgh.
Maybe it’s an automatic, far better for starting up with a lot of inertia to overcome.
But any car of that kind of size of any age pulling an Airstream seems kind of pointless. It might work, but something bigger would be far better. And with that level of wind resistance the mpg with a bigger vehicle isn’t even that much different.
The Quantum Syncro (and Audi 4000 quattro) were available only with a 5-speed stick shift.
Was it imported from Germany or Brazil like the Fox? In Brazil as both Passat Mk I and II were available for a while, the MK II was named VW Santana and the Variant was called VW Quantum too.
Germany. I seriously doubt the Syncro versions, which required some major changes to the floor and such, were ever built in Brazil. Also, were the diesels available in Brazil back then? The Fox was the only VW ever imported from Brazil to the US.
Hi Paul! That’s true, the option was short in Brazil for both ethanol and gas. VW-BR made cars for diesel only for export. Although this generation of the Passat was made in Brazil ever since 1984, some units were also imported from Germany, VW also exported to Germany some units of the Brazilian sedan re-styled in the early 90’s with the Audi 100 nose.
Paul, I’m not sure I understand your implication that the Quantum name for the US was somehow related to the Rabbit name. I always thought the previous Dasher name was more Rabbit-like in its silliness. Though when it was finally named Passat here I wondered if that would go over well, or sound too “foreign”, but I guess after 20+ years it’s as accepted as “Camry”. I’d forgotten just how long the front overhang was on these cars. Almost “cab-forward” in a sense.
Related only in that it was a unique name for NA, and apparently in some other countries, but not in Europe.
VW had an odd habit of playing name games. Remember the return of the Rabbit (Golf Mk5) in 2006 or so?
About 1989, the future Mrs. JPC’s 1 year old Accord got pelted with hail. She thought about replacing it, and I gleefully led her on a tour of local car dealers. I took her to a VW dealer to show her the Jetta, and she was instantly drawn to the lone Quantum on the lot. Fortunately for me, she decided to keep the Accord.
Had she bought a Quantum, how different my life would have been. She would have either left me or I would have been stuck maintaining the thing.
The aero 84 Audi 5000 Avant might have been a more appropriate companion for this Airstream.
This generation had such a long life in China, apparently using the ex K car 2.2 engine. I wonder if they ever got the wagon. I only remember seeing the sedan when I was there.
Most of the Audi 100s in China were assembled using original Audi engines, few of them came with Chrysler 2.2 L4 with modifications under the local brand.
Police agencies in China bought quite few wagons, while retail versions are pretty rare.
When I had my ’75 Fox, I got a lot of parts for it off of Quantum’s and Audi 4000’s, as they were stacked like cord wood at the wrecking yards in the mid ’90s. In fine VW tradition, lots of interchangeable parts in the Fox/80 family, despite the 10+yr age gap.
Quantum Syncro was never available with the diesel, at least as far as North America is concerned.
I had the chance to drive one last year that had an Audi 1.8T swapped in at Bridgestone’s Steamboat Springs Ice Driving track. It was quite interesting and fun (and fast) but quite a bit more tail-happy than similar Audi 4000 quattro sedans, probably due to the extra weight in back due to the hatchback and more glass area. I’ve long wanted one of these…
That sounds like my dream car! Unimpeded visibility, check. Perfect ride height, great seating and ideal driving position: check. Radio located high in the dash, easy to operate: check. DeDion independent rear suspension: check. When you pull the Lock knob for the differential, on a dry road, the car tracks down the road with great stability, like it’s a tracked vehicle.
I’d buy one of these, so equipped, over anything VW sells today.
Engine pic…
And the rest…
Drive it until it dies, then buy another beater.
Single axle Airstreams can also be Caravels. The main difference is the Caravel is a 17 footer vs the Bambi’s 16 ft. The difference is mostly in the larger bathroom in the former.
I’d say this is actually a Caravel, which were only made from 1965-1969.
I’m a bit of a vintage trailer enthusiast. I own three early 1970s campers, including an aluminum “Airstream Vintage Kin” 1973 Travelux 29′ that I am currently doing a body-off restoration on. It’s a lot of work, but there just aren’t that many of them left.
Proportionally, I think that’s the longest stock front overhang I’ve ever seen. I think the only thing that could top it would be a Pierre Cardin Cadillac Eldorado.
I think this car must have the worst overhang ratio ever, even worse than the Caddy Eldo or the ’80-’83 Lincoln Mark series. It looks awful!
What exactly is wrong with max front overhang?
Besides a 5000 pound 430 cubic inch engine car would hardly notice an Airstream attached behind.
Regarding the proportions, it’s mainly a question of what would look best on a given car. If you take the wheel well opening and superimpose that opening in front of the actual wheel well, I think 100% or more of that would fit between the bumper and the leading edge of the wheel opening. That makes for a bit of an ungainly proportion and is out of balance with the car overall…it’s just too long a space and the eye expects to see the wheel placed far more forward to look balanced. The Connie you posted…from a full on side view, it looks like maybe only 50% of the Continental’s wheel well would fit in front of the actual wheel well. With its long hood and a long space between the leading edge of the front door and trailing edge of the wheel, altogether it’s an attractive car…I don’t think anyone has ever said otherwise of a ’62.
The Eagle Premier also had a long front overhang:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-outtake/cc-outtake-eagle-premier-a-roadworthy-example/
It has to do with the engine placement on these–Longitudinal inline 5 with almost the entire thing hung in front of the front axle. Not sure why Audi did it that way; I presume it was easier to make the Quattro versions with a longitudinal engine, and it was easier to adapt said longitudinal engine to the front wheels with it that far forward?
In any case it did result in a “nosy” car. The C3 5000 had a similarly long overhang, but it was a much longer car overall plus the aero styling helped hide it.
My first Cohort photos to become the basis for an article! Thank you! 🙂
The diesel, BTW, wasn’t available as a Syncro. I had one for a while, and it was very slow (2500 lb, 68 hp). I’m sure a diesel Syncro, if there’d been such, wouldn’t have been able to pull the skin off a bratwurst.
You’d be surprised what it can pull. I just think back to the days of the VW T2 and T3, the Mercedes W115 and W123 with naturally aspirated diesel engines and many years later a 60 hp Ford Escort 1.8 diesel panel van.
I once hauled a Uhaul with my friends sportster and my honda. Big mistake and I no longer allow myself to think of vws and trailers in the same thought. Sure would like to see the rv hitched to the back of my 4runner no matter what the name might be. No desire to see the car anywhere close to my driveway. The last vw/trailer I allowed myself to look at twice was a 70 something beetle with a very lightweight 5th wheel trailer attached to the roof.
If you are interested, try here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpwH9WeVEfU
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Quantum Syncro, especially in wagon form. Love those alloys too. But it does seem an odd tow rig. How much would a little guy like this weigh, I wonder? A buddy of mine bought a ’77 Airstream Argosy 24 last year, and promplty decided his ’87 FJ60 Land Cruiser didn’t have enough beans to tow it comfortably. So he went out and bought a ’91 Suburban with a 454 as a dedicated tow rig. I know a 24′ would weigh a good bit more than a 16′ like this, but the FJ60 also has a 65 lb-ft torque advantage on the Quantum!
Those alloys, which came on a number of different VWs at the time, are known as “snowflakes.”
Rare here in Austria and is a minor collectors item on account of Quatro mechanics. This series Passats represents another VW known here for its reliability, somehow lost when it was Americanized. I keep bumping into them on the countryside from time to time, usually owned by farmers and the like.
So far, no one has mentioned the weight of an Airstream Bambi… so Iooked it up. The current Bambi Sport model weighs 2860 lbs dry and empty, before adding any food, gear or water. The recommended hitch weight is 350 pounds.
Towing that kind of load with a 100 hp engine should provide approximately the same performance envelope as a VW minibus full of hippies, so yes, it’s possible, but not safe or enjoyable. You can see in the photo that the rear end dip has jacked the car’s nose higher. But how far would you get?
I owned a Quantum Synchro, and an Audi 4000Q with the same powertrain. I really loved that platform. With a perfect driving position and every amenity I desire, I wouldn’t mind owning and driving one today, but I’m well aware of their fatal flaw. There really wasn’t adequate room to fit the five-cylinder engine without losing half the radiator. On one side of the engine bay was the long engine block; on the other side, an odd, square radiator. Mine would hit the hot zone of the temp gauge every time I drove up the mountains on a hot day. And I never dreamed of towing a trailer with it.
And FYI: If you seek a lightweight camp trailer that can be towed by a car, the Airstream dealer is a bad place to look. They use a heavyweight construction that runs 50% heavier than a comparable fiberglass trailer like the Casita, Escape or my own Scamp. I tow the Scamp with a Tiguan, which is no larger than the Quantum, but offers at least twice as much power. It’s as easy to tow as a bike rack, though the MPGs do go down.
Everyone who tows a trailer like this reports 18 mpg on the highway, whether you’re using a Subaru or a pickup truck.
I went by the car today, and it’s acquired a collector-car license plate. I’ve never known it to move an inch since I first became aware of it.
I drove past this today. For the first time since I spotted the rig, the Quantum Syncro was there, but the trailer wasn’t. Stay tuned.
At some point a few months after my October 5, 2020, post I saw the car headed west on NW 80th St. at 12th Ave. NW. I spotted it a few more times at the location where I took the photos, and then it was gone.