[urq] Gray Market UrQ

[wbremer]

It's not in the registry I maintain, but the '85 instrument cluster in an
'84 dash could reflect the DOT requirements for an imported gray-market car.
There is a 1983-vinned gray-market urq in the registry I maintain that also
has a 120 mph speedometer.  As other listers (with a lot more experience
than me) have noted, the cruise is uncommon in a Euro-spec car, as is,
perhaps, the full leather interior, including the roof liner, as well as
A/C.  Most of the "grays" that I've seen or recorded are early 1981, 1982
cars; very few later-year cars were "grays."  This is the only 1984
gray-market that's been reported to me.   What is its color?  Looks like
Mars Red to me, and the only red colors I've heard of for 1984 are Titian
Red and Tornado Red, (and frankly, I'm not sure of the precise shade
differences).  It's certainly possible to modify the front and rear bumpers
and trim for a Euro look, but why would someone spend the money to convert a
rare '84 sloped headlight treatment to an '83--unless DOT required the '83
quad headlamps for approval and then they were replaced with the Euro
lights?  It's also curious that the car is reported as "inactive" and stored
for the past 15 years but it has a more recent August CA plate in it
(perhaps from another car for road testing purposes???); plus it appears to
have the US (or Swiss) rear license plate area (which could have been a
DOT-required change.  As least the new owner will benefit from the later
fusebox.  It would be interesting to see a close-up photo of the VIN stamped
on the body in the engine compartment and a close-up of the Euro door column
plate or sticker.  I'd be suspicious of any sticker, as I believe that any
gray-market car that has been Federalized (to say nothing of
California-ized) must have a permanently attached (with rivets) plate
showing the importer and VIN.  Any interested buyer should get the original
DOT & EPA documents and also check that it really is legal in CA and/or any
other state in the US.  It looks to me like the interior shows wear
consistent with the low miles, but a fully documented "provenance" of the
car and its Federalizing is essential for the asking price.  If it's
authentic, price may not be excessive (we should be happy if it's
reasonable), but the collar sure doesn't match the cuffs, as many have
observed.

-----Original Message-----
From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf
Of AF
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 9:50 AM
To: Steve Mills
Cc: urq
Subject: Re: [urq] Gray Market UrQ

120 mph speedo says you're right. 

Andrew Finney
1985 urq

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 20, 2012, at 4:46 AM, Steve Mills <s.b.mills at gmail.com> wrote:

> The cluster has been replaced, so the mileage is not verifiable. It's a
late (85-up) cluster in a car with the 84-only dash, which shouldn't happen,
plus it's a 120 MPH speedo (instead of 140) with the upshift light (yellow
arrow, center of cluster) which means it's out of a 4KQ or CGT.
> 
> And yes, that's some of the worst overspray I've seen in a while, plus
missing the rain tray, upper rad cover, etc. Still looks like a clean UrQ,
but definitely overpriced given the issues.
> 
> Steve
> 
> On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 11:10 PM, AF <afinn1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> The gray market seems to fit, but buyer beware. Talk about
> overspray........
> 
> http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3283319861.html
> 
> andrew Finney
> 1985 UrQ V8
> _______________________________________________
> Audifans urq mailing list
> Manage your list connection: http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/urq
> http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
> 
> Pictures/Polls/Database at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/urquattro/
> 
> 
_______________________________________________
Audifans urq mailing list
Manage your list connection: http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/urq
http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information

Pictures/Polls/Database at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/urquattro/