US Spec CA 85 QPIII

OK I will keep the thread going for the 81 and the 86 QPIII (and don't know how to amend the title) but this new car seems to be of interest so I will update you all.

I was searching for parts and saw this car offered on ebay and thought it looked good. I had specific representations from the seller about the car and spoke to the mechanic and broke all my rules and bought it unseen. The price was not excessive.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I decided to keep the car in California and get it ready for Concorso Italiano. Much later speaking to the old owner I got the more complete history of the car. THANKFULLY the car is a great example but not as described by the seller (strange that). However, as a good example with full history it deserved being put back in place.

The "perfect" interior needed the headlining fixed, all the wood redone and even replaced around the shifter. Exhaust was fully rusted open and blown and I was advised that any SMOG done by the seller just could not have been done. Full tune up parts etc etc as you will see on the pics below.

Anyway, the car was not quite ready for Concorso due to the exhaust issue so we have to decide to keep it in CA for next year, sell it now that it is mostly sorted or ship it to the UK.

More later

Here are the pictures from the sale:
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A few more
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Photos from the sale ad
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85 QPIII
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Yes a bit rougher but mainly the cadmium had eroded and the headers were shiny. The rest was actually pretty good. I will post some engine bay pictures showing the work done.
New cavis, plugs, belts, hoses, repainting of valve covers and new CAD plating. I could not get the two air cans plated as they would not do them as the platers felt they would fill with the fluid. Yet some of you have had it done. Would like to do it anyway but will it impair function? I was thinking of plugging the holes with wax or something that can keep out the liquid used in the plating process.
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Wood was redone as discussed on another thread. I posted instructions on doing this there so wont repeat again here but a lot of work to do the dash!!
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Wood as redone. It took a while to find someone to take on the wood refinishing but it was done to a very high standard by Madera Concepts. It required new veneer to the piece surrounding the gearshift which they were able to match perfectly. I am happy with their work and quick turnaround.

Madera Concepts
Automotive Wood Restoration Specialists - Since 1982
Exotic Wooden Dashboards and Interior Trim Components
55 - B Depot Rd.
Goleta, CA. 93117

805-962-1579 7am to 3:30pm PT Mon - Fri

Visit our website: www.maderaconcepts.com

Or email us: [email protected]
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There were supposed to be no issues with the exhaust and a fresh smog test paid for. However the car had a shot exhaust system. I had leftover new Stebro US pipes in the UK that I could not use and shipped them over and bought a new rear set from STEBRO. Very poorly done system arrived from them with some holes in the welds but we could work with it. The headers were leaking and a new set (used) was sourced from MIE. Oddly these were a different length so we tweaked the pipes.

As I wanted to keep the car legal for CA, I tried to source CATS but had no luck and was really getting the runaround. Lots of drama but I finally sourced on google a set of Magnaflow listed for the 1982 QPIII and argued that this was essentially the same motor and exhaust. After a week or two we got approval to put these on so sourced 4 cats and had them installed. It was in the shop the day of the Concorso Italiano so we came very close to making it there.

I tried to post up a video of the finished system working but it is too big. Any ideas how to do that?
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Finished exhaust.
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New Headers prior
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Well here is how it arrived. Dusty and looking quite sorry for itself and I was prepared to be disappointed but underneath the dust a good car. Lots of issues that were not disclosed but most of these are required consumables (belts, hoses etc) and exhaust. I will work through the balance of the mechanicals and then tidy up a few remaining cosmetic points.

These include:
-new headlight surrounds sourced NOS
-new side marker lights
-new rubber bumper expansion joints
-replacing two interior door handles that broke removing the doors (replating these also along with a few chrome bits)
- new A/C control backing which was broken - sourced a used backing part for this
- Brakes gone through as needed
-New oil sending unit which had failed
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I bought this one in May with a view a fixing a few things prior to the Concorso Italiano in Monterey. I am based in Europe but have some family in CA so get there fairly often. I was initially looking for a parts car as many parts were stolen from my 86 when it was getting painted at St Georges Coachworks near London but this one was way too nice and I was able to source parts from Joedro and MIE.

The car was only owned by the seller since January - he was not a very nice person IMO and he bought the car from a long term owner who sold it with proceeds donated to a Cancer charity ( a Dr in California). He had bought the car from a famous fashion personality near San Fran. He had a host of bills and obviously maintained the car well although he only used it for weddings and the odd run to keep it going - hence his desire to sell it. I believe he was discouraged at the potential selling price and didn't face this by using the charity route.

 

Hmmm - I really like the car but not sure about the sense of a CA approved car in Europe. Options:
1. Sell the car with the key work done
2. Keep the car in CA and go to the Concours next year
3. Ship it to me and use it here selling another car.

Still undecided........

 

I am on the site getting all the information from the real experts! Amazing how many people have a few of these cars going and are doing all the work or most of it themselves.

 

So many of them have gone this way. I was wondering how many really were left? Of the 300 odd 5 speeds most have been stripped for the ZF gearbox which is common with Aston Martins and used for racing.

I have heard of 2 in the US - one on the East Coast and one that Kerry at MIE knew about that needed rebuilding. I saw another wreck advertised in SA when I bought mine that was beyond saving as the bulkhead below the window was fully rusted out and it had been open to the elements. I have seen a few others. 1 in Germany and 2 in Italy. I venture perhaps 10 to 30 5 speeds remain???

 

Hi I will just add up my spend in the last few weeks to see. Will send you a pm in due course.