Discussion
I have a bit of a quandary at the moment.
This is my Quantum 2+2.
It was parked up around 10 years ago with a minor engine niggle, but it was otherwise sound and MOT'd.
For a while it had a tarp over the top, but this seemed to be trapping more moisture than it was deflecting so for the past eight years or so it's been sat there as you see it now. Back in the summer of 2011 I put a spare battery on it, drove it up and down the farmyard a couple of times and then scrubbed off some of the lichen. It didn't feel like it was in the best of health, but it did go and stop.
And so we come to my quandary. The main structure is a GRP monocoque, but it uses a tubular steel front subframe and Fiesta running gear. Last time I looked (which was several years ago) there was quite a lot of surface corrosion on the subframe, but it didn't look structural at the time. If I leave it much longer, however, I fear the car will be beyond economical repair. So do I restore it or sell it?
I don't really have the time, space or hands-on experience to do the work myself. At the same time, this was the first car I bought and I have really fond memories of it; I'd hate to see it sold as a non-runner and then broken for parts.
Are there any Quantum owners on here? Anybody know what the parts situation is like for 2+2s?
The car lives at my parents' so it's ages since I've had a proper poke around. Last time I looked, it appeared to have survived remarkably well for something exposed to the elements 800 ft up on a hillside, but it is nearly a decade since it's been on the road and getting on for five years since it has run. Anyone like to hazard a guess at the scale of the restoration work required?
I'm hoping the front subframe can just be stripped down and repainted (don't know how easy it is to remove), in which case it might just be a case of stripping the braking system, inspecting all the brake/fuel pipes and giving it a service. Maybe. Possibly. Wishful thinking?
This is my Quantum 2+2.
It was parked up around 10 years ago with a minor engine niggle, but it was otherwise sound and MOT'd.
For a while it had a tarp over the top, but this seemed to be trapping more moisture than it was deflecting so for the past eight years or so it's been sat there as you see it now. Back in the summer of 2011 I put a spare battery on it, drove it up and down the farmyard a couple of times and then scrubbed off some of the lichen. It didn't feel like it was in the best of health, but it did go and stop.
And so we come to my quandary. The main structure is a GRP monocoque, but it uses a tubular steel front subframe and Fiesta running gear. Last time I looked (which was several years ago) there was quite a lot of surface corrosion on the subframe, but it didn't look structural at the time. If I leave it much longer, however, I fear the car will be beyond economical repair. So do I restore it or sell it?
I don't really have the time, space or hands-on experience to do the work myself. At the same time, this was the first car I bought and I have really fond memories of it; I'd hate to see it sold as a non-runner and then broken for parts.
Are there any Quantum owners on here? Anybody know what the parts situation is like for 2+2s?
The car lives at my parents' so it's ages since I've had a proper poke around. Last time I looked, it appeared to have survived remarkably well for something exposed to the elements 800 ft up on a hillside, but it is nearly a decade since it's been on the road and getting on for five years since it has run. Anyone like to hazard a guess at the scale of the restoration work required?
I'm hoping the front subframe can just be stripped down and repainted (don't know how easy it is to remove), in which case it might just be a case of stripping the braking system, inspecting all the brake/fuel pipes and giving it a service. Maybe. Possibly. Wishful thinking?
A Quantum Owner here...... Mine's a saloon, but the mechanicals are the same, only real difference is the front subframe. From what others have said, the subframe is fairly easy to repair or replicate (it's welded square tubes) - getting it off is by undoing nuts/bolts and cutting through a polyurethane bond ie sikaflex (use a wire or sharp knife?). Great little cars, and a dreadful shame if they get broken for spares, because they are such good, useable kit cars.
Thanks gents.
It's not so much a question of my heart being in it, it's practicality. I live 200 miles away from the car and I wouldn't have any means of transporting it up here or any space to store it/work on it if I did. Last year I became a dad and started my own business, so spare time is non-existent, plus money is in rather short supply.
The reason I'm reluctant to sell it is because I do have a lot of affection for that car. Even considered donating it to someone if it was on the strict understanding that they would restore it rather than break it for parts.
Would anyone care to hazard a guess at what it's worth in its current state? If the front and rear subframes are solid it could be a relatively minor job to put it back on the road, but Quantums never were very valuable (unfairly so in my book - the 2+2 may be very restrained for a kit car, but it's genuinely usable as a daily driver).
It's not so much a question of my heart being in it, it's practicality. I live 200 miles away from the car and I wouldn't have any means of transporting it up here or any space to store it/work on it if I did. Last year I became a dad and started my own business, so spare time is non-existent, plus money is in rather short supply.
The reason I'm reluctant to sell it is because I do have a lot of affection for that car. Even considered donating it to someone if it was on the strict understanding that they would restore it rather than break it for parts.
Would anyone care to hazard a guess at what it's worth in its current state? If the front and rear subframes are solid it could be a relatively minor job to put it back on the road, but Quantums never were very valuable (unfairly so in my book - the 2+2 may be very restrained for a kit car, but it's genuinely usable as a daily driver).
If you really want it to go to a good home (and I know I'd feel the same) it will be worth contacting the Quantum Owners' Club - A younger member may have the time to restore it. I'd suspect (without MOT) only £750 -£1500 unfortunately. If you put it on the bay or similar it'll just be broken for someone to make a profit. I'd like it myself, but too many toys already!
It is a shame as they were fine cars and if it has a hold on you, you have some options. There are companies who will do the work for you on the subframe and the mechanicals are just Ford so anywhere will fix that. Try to find a lock up near to you and join a local kit car club, you will be amazed at how people want to help
Value wise I would say top whack £500, running ones with MOT are less than a grand on Ebay so you have to be realistic as it will need quite a bit of work.
Value wise I would say top whack £500, running ones with MOT are less than a grand on Ebay so you have to be realistic as it will need quite a bit of work.
spaximus said:
Value wise I would say top whack £500, running ones with MOT are less than a grand on Ebay so you have to be realistic as it will need quite a bit of work.
Yeah, I fear that's probably about right.I think the first thing is to get a better idea of the condition. My dad is far more mechanically minded than I am and it's sat in his yard, so I'm going to ask him to have a poke around and assess what actually needs doing. Like I say, I was amazed how well it had stood up to the elements last time I checked, so it could be simply a job of freeing up the brakes (don't even know if they've ceased) and giving it a service.
Why not pay somebody to restore it for you? If money's tight you can get them to do it bit by bit and at least you'll get an honest appraisal of what needs doing. Bound to be a small garage near your parents place who'll come and have a look and give you an idea of what they can do and cost etc. Maybe have a look in a classic car mag for a local restorer?
ColinM50 said:
Why not pay somebody to restore it for you? If money's tight you can get them to do it bit by bit and at least you'll get an honest appraisal of what needs doing. Bound to be a small garage near your parents place who'll come and have a look and give you an idea of what they can do and cost etc. Maybe have a look in a classic car mag for a local restorer?
This is the sort of work we do but hearing the OP say funds were tight I didn't come forward.Even a small amount of work such as service, brakes, fuel system clean, new tyres etc. will burn way more than the market value without going anywhere near engine removal/subframe restore. None of the expected work is going to be particularly difficult (even the subframe) so a DIY restore would be cost effective. Taking it to a garage not so.
Steve
Decisions aren't always down to ££s though! What's it's value? well you could say £750 but that would only buy another like it - with maybe £1k spent on it the OP will have a car which will last a lot more years then any other for the same money. The parts (although thin on the ground in recent years) strangely seem to have become more available in the last year, and they are simple to fix and cheap to run. Contrast that with say a £1500 car which is 10 years old and has every electronic gadget about to fail, parts are expensive and in another 5 years it will be a pile of holes (is there such a thing as a pile of holes?)
Hi, Ex Quantum owner on here (think we spoke a lot years ago back when I owned mine)
I still miss my Quicksilver Quantum 2+2 and in some ways regret selling it as I had a lot of ideas for the car I never got to try. One of them was to turn it into a rally car! I'd always wanted to strip the interior out, stick a 4 beam light pod on and a little spoiler at the back, add a few stickers and then rag the s
t out of it on some mud!
Surely doing this and using it as a track car wouldn't be too much. Plus you don't have to worry about getting it through an MOT if its just going on the track..... if your parents live on a farm then you might find you have the ideal location for it to begin with.
I still miss my Quicksilver Quantum 2+2 and in some ways regret selling it as I had a lot of ideas for the car I never got to try. One of them was to turn it into a rally car! I'd always wanted to strip the interior out, stick a 4 beam light pod on and a little spoiler at the back, add a few stickers and then rag the s
t out of it on some mud!Surely doing this and using it as a track car wouldn't be too much. Plus you don't have to worry about getting it through an MOT if its just going on the track..... if your parents live on a farm then you might find you have the ideal location for it to begin with.
Jonty355 said:
Hi, Ex Quantum owner on here (think we spoke a lot years ago back when I owned mine)
We did indeed. How's things?
I enjoyed chucking the Quantum around on the road, but not sure it'd be my first choice as a track car. That also sort of taps into why I haven't restored it so far - not sure it would work for me as a daily driver these days, but it's perhaps a little tame to keep purely as a weekend toy. Determined to see it saved, though.
Fastpedeller said:
Decisions aren't always down to ££s though! What's it's value? well you could say £750 but that would only buy another like it - with maybe £1k spent on it the OP will have a car which will last a lot more years then any other for the same money. The parts (although thin on the ground in recent years) strangely seem to have become more available in the last year, and they are simple to fix and cheap to run. Contrast that with say a £1500 car which is 10 years old and has every electronic gadget about to fail, parts are expensive and in another 5 years it will be a pile of holes (is there such a thing as a pile of holes?)
the problem on "cheap" low value cars is, that you can all day buy a better one, for less money as you would need to invest into a project.and the better-one could be enjoyed from day1 of purchase. so its up to you saving a few hundred pound at the beginning but finally end hours, days , weeks spannering in your cold garage.
if its about spannering, search a project where your time gets finally also paid, means where the value from a project to a nice roadworthy car increases.
there will be THE day where you need to sell the car (family, children, new house)..and than it would pay-off having invested in the "right" car / project.
Chris71 said:
We did indeed. How's things?
Guessing you've not been to any of the Quantum meets then? Was wondering if my old 2+2 was still going (silver D352 ROH)
As for your car, I get what you mean. But if you had a tiny budget then would be fun to run it into the ground on track rather than just let her rot away for nothing. Let her going out with a bang if its not financially worth restoring her.
Jonty355 said:
Chris71 said:
We did indeed. How's things?
Guessing you've not been to any of the Quantum meets then? Was wondering if my old 2+2 was still going (silver D352 ROH)
As for your car, I get what you mean. But if you had a tiny budget then would be fun to run it into the ground on track rather than just let her rot away for nothing. Let her going out with a bang if its not financially worth restoring her.
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