US-edition

[ambrozie]

I want to see more picture and specifications about the "US-edition"

[Dommett]

Very smart - I would love to have that interior - the black and grey is so dull.

[Murf]

tan leather = yuck

[catgroom]

I know what u mean Murfers!

I'd only like it with a Dark Green shell or a black one,maybe Paris blue..

Am I right in saying that it was destined for the US market and didn't make it? It must have been at the last minute if they put in the interiors and rear side repeater thingies!

I bet the US ones would have been well slow,emissions wise! Sod that!!!

[johnd]

I thought the 480 was actually designed for the American market........and never made it there.

More the better!!

John

[coyote1980]

LOL I took that picture It's a very nice car! I almost bought it, but when I called the person selling it to find out how much she wanted for it it turned out the car had just been sold.... For something like 1300 euro! AAaaahhhh, I would have payed 4 times that perhaps!! Did need some work, airco and bumper edges etc. but still you would have a one of a kind 480

[Patrick 480 Turbo]

who do I have to kill for that interieur

[pol]

A beige cow?

pol

[Joolz]

looks kinda weird with the black steering wheel and dash, bet its a bugger to keep clean........

[Bramdeman]

I'll kill a whole hurd for that interieur! and i'm a vegtarian!

Looks realy nice i think!

[catgroom]

Hey Pol,
We get beige cows up here in fucking Norfolk man cos of all the rotten rubbish the farmers put in their chips!!!!

AHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

[AdamG]

I need more information on this!! Wow

[WillC9303]

I need more information on this!! Wow

Funny you should ask that, as I've been planning on making a dedicated thread documenting the U.S. prototype and its differences for a while now but haven't got round to it.

Several prototypes were made for the U.S. market, but only one complete car survives in a private collection in the Netherlands - a 1987 Turbo Auto in Burgundy Metallic which has never been registered and has just 87km (~55 miles) on the clock

Changes over EU spec:

• Orange DRL Lens instead of clear

• Functioning marker lights front and rear (On EU cars they are just dummy reflectors)

• Almost entirely beige interiors including seatbelts and carpet with the option of either beige velour or beige leather (the latter is rather revolting looking)

• The Turbo was going to be the only available engine, but it's not clear to me whether it was intended to be manual as well or automatic only.

• Rear bumper number plate cut-out shortened to cater to the smaller license plates.

• The blank switch next to the heated seat buttons was intended for the U.S. market as a central locking switch, as this is a requirement in some states.

• If you look closely on the front wing, you can see the U.S. protos lacked a side indicator repeater.

• Rear marker lights red instead of amber!

In the early '00s another 480 Turbo surfaced with an all-beige leather interior. It is unclear as to whether this was a proper U.S. proto or just a test mule for the beige interior. It sold for a 1-2k Euros (?) and its whereabouts are unknown. Other U.S. parts such as the orange DRL units and the aforementioned beige interior parts have surfaced throughout the years and ended up in private ownership. I do know of a guy in the Netherlands who owns an almost complete interior.

I've a bunch of pictures as well as a short & grainy video of the '87 prototype taken from a documentary - however it's in Dutch if anyone wants to translate it!

[WillC9303]

Silver Turbo with the leather:

[WillC9303]

[AdamG]

Wow, Will mate, what a case study you’ve got! Everything I wanted to know and MORE! Thank you so much, very entertaining read and some great images too!