Am I Missing Something?

[Martin Mc]

Hello folks,

I've just acquired an apparently low mileage (45k) 480S which I plan to bring back to roadworthy condition over the next few months. So far, the issues I am aware of:

1) Front nearside indicator / driving light cluster needs repair or replacement
2) Passenger side window regulator requires replacement (many thanks to James C for his fantastic help with this already)
3) Minor repair required to drivers side rear wheel arch / sill (ok, I still have to investigate this and it may be more extensive than on first sight)
4) Other bits missing - rear boot carpet, passenger door card, front wheel centre caps

The car runs and stops, albeit somewhat lumpily - its last MOT ran out in Sept 2014 and it looks like it has been standing out since. A good service should sort this out. Overall it is in good solid and very very clean condition. I'm looking forward to running it, as I've never had a black 480 before. Interior is particularly pleasing, with firm seats, heated fronts working, no saggy headlining and both pop ups work smooth and rude like new.

My first mystery is, having had a look under the bonnet, it feels to me like there is something missing from the rear right hand side, behind the airbox and next to the suspension turret (when looking at the engine bay from the front). Have a look at the pic below..(not sure how to make a drop-box image display, so have posted a link as well)



https://www.dropbox.com/s/5rxrgupwql9da ... D.jpg?dl=0

Does anyone have any ideas? Is there something missing, or is it just a case that the S is a lower spec than other 480 variants, hence no aircon, turbo etc...

Cheers for any thoughts!

Martin

[balto8]

In that hole there should be the ABS pump unit (if the car is fitted with it) and the aircon dryer (also if fitted). Otherwise you see the non-ABS servo brake cylinder, which I believe I see in the image.

[doingitsideways]

On the Turbo (mine at least) that's where the abs accumulator/reservoir is.

[Martin Mc]

Ah, that might explain it - looking at the 480S specs, I don't think it was fitted with ABS.

There are various holes on the suspension turret however, suggesting something may have been there in the past, although I suppose these could be templates used for all variants.

Many thanks for your input both!

Martin

[balto8]

Something like this

[Martin Mc]

Hmm, if that is the aircon unit plus air intake for the turbo, then no, I'm not missing either of those, as these weren't fitted to the S variant.

I'm really pleased to have got hold of a basically sound car, requiring some basic restoration to bring her back to the road, even if it is an entry level model. Apparently there are less than 30 of these on British roads!

Cheers!

Martin

[glasgowjim]

you wont have aircon , its easy to tell look at the heater control unit in the centre of the console if there are 2 horizontal slider controls you have no air con , 1 slider aircon.

You wont have abs either .

so nothing missing then.

[Martin Mc]

I've also seen a good few examples of under-bonnet configurations by trawling the web / ebay etc, so am coming to the conclusion that no, nothing is actually missing, That the car doesn't have either aircon or ABS is actually good news, because both of these can be problematic as a car ages. Much better to have simple servo assisted brakes and a straightforward fan and heater matrix arrangement I think

It looks like I might be looking for a windscreen though I know these are as rare as hens teeth, so it will probably be one of the last items to get done, more than likely once the rain stops (2023 or something).

Thanks all for your contributions.

Martin