cortez query

[Jin]

hey up guys, newbie here,
My name is Justin and I've always been into kit cars, long story short I've recently been given an offer i can't refuse for my Quantum 2+2 (it wasn't even for sale.and I've no real desire to sell except this is a good opportunity) so despite spending around 5k in the last 4 years totally rebuilding and one- off modifying my Quantum it will now be passed on to allow me to own one of my other "must own one day" cars the cortez (or i believe it was just the 2+2 when launched? (I remember reading the which kit feature at school- dark blue iirc) and i also remember thinking it was pig ugly but the last 15 years or so have seen me fall in love with it and that brings me here,
Firstly if anyone wants to sell one or know of one please please let me know, anything considered,
also is there anything daft i need to be aware of prior to buying one, by which i mean mostly the construction of the body, i only found out the Quantum had steel beams laminated into the sills that were hollow themselves with a tendency to fill with water after i bought one, thankfully i was lucky so i filled the entire cavity with 2k structural foam and fiberglassed in as a precautionary measure, is there anything like this with the midas?.
My assumption is that it is a very strong composite monocoque?

Anyway its nice to say hi, hope to join you in ownership soon

[DavidL]

Hi Justin, and welcome...
None of the pre-Cortez Midas models have steel buried inside their composite structure, and I wouldn't think that the Cortez or Excelsior have either.

Surprised to hear that the Quantum does, I remember thinking it was an interesting car when it first appeared. Any pictures of yours, or details of the mods you've done to it? I suspect some of the forum members here might be interested - I certainly am, always keen to see other people's approaches to problem solving.

[benofbrum]

Hi Jin,
I have the very car which was featured in Which Kit. It was the factory demonstrator built by GTM. I am the second owner since and have owned it for about 6 years.I bought it a couple of years after buying an Excelsior (2+2 convertible)
It has the 16 valve GTI engine which is running perfectly. The only things not working iare the speedo and intermittant wipe. Since the gearing equates to 20mph per 1000 revs in 5th, it is easy to estimate speed.
The car uses the Metro subframes bolted directly onto a monocoque bodyshell and one or two club members have replaced the hydragas suspension with coilovers. All components are Metro, apart from the Astra rear lights.
The voices tell me one of the Midas's should go, since I also have on the road a Citroen Picasso and Suzuki Burgman scooter, but I cannot decide which one. They both have there virtues. A sensible offer might tempt me.
I am in Birmingham.

[Jin]

cheers guys

the full rebuild of my Quantum is here, put aside a week or so to read it though (i do tend to waffle on a bit)

http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... uild-diary

the car has many man modifcations, ill try to remember them

remote conrolled electric windows, not just a gimmick but needed o force the door glass into the hood side when leaving the car - no leaks whatsoever

http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... ic-windows

there is the sill stiffening / sealing mod i spoke abou, hen there is a whole hos of cosmetics

gauges inc AFR to aid carb tuning



rear




smoth in fill sierra boot panel, number plate re-located,

cusom led afterburner rear lights, (these cost over £300 in materials alone)
http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... ear-lights

centre exit exhaust (old recess and number plate lamp hole filled in with gel coat)
modified pug 405 boot spoiler turned into a diffuser http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... iler-front
lexus is200 boot spoiler modified to fit

again all is explained in explicet detail how i did eact mod on the forum

the front





custom clear side and indicator light units (was mk1 metro as standard) and now front spoiler

side,
custom wing vents made from pug 205 dash vents

http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... wing-vents





and most recently wheel arch extensions made from tile trims

http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... extensions




there is loads more i will have forgoten but please do ask questions if wanted,
im gonna miss it (and the 5k ive spent on it) but theres only one of me and so many nice cars to own out there...

P.S benofbrum ill PM you buddy

[Rich]

I've always liked the Quantum cars and that looks like a nice one.

[kelvink]

That's some nice tidy detailing on your Quantum Jin, well done

[Jin]

Thanks for the nice comments guys, it makes it all the more worthwhile, as much as I enjoy the cars I do enjoy the comunity sprit you get on some owners clubs and a bit of friendly banter helps,

I can't wait to get my grubby mits on a midas asap my head is all buzzing with ideas to keep me busy (though the wife will kill me if I get another basket case and lock myself in the garage for 6 months)
I thinking keep it a bit simple, restyled nose cone , side skirts , removable roof panel like the libra , do something with the Astra rear lights etc etc ,
I'll keep my fingers crossed

[kelvink]

Given the excellent job you did on the Quantum this should be well worth seeing. It'd be good to follow your progress if you get a Cortez and write it up like you did for the Quantum too. I keep looking at the Cortez and can't help but think there's a rather better looking car under there itching to get out. Totally agree on the Astra lights.

Good luck with getting the higher approval.

[Stuart]

I keep looking at the Cortez and can't help but think there's a rather better looking car under there itching to get out.

Another one for the portfolio perhaps? a shame about the steel in the originals though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quantum-2-2-M ... 2593069845

[Jin]

the Quantum’s aren’t too bad i suppose, It depends its on who built it and when, but the concern for me was this 4" x 6" steel beam is sat in a hollow cavity, the owners club recommend sealing around the filler pipe at the rear quarter to ensure water does not leak in (the pipe passes right through the bodywork cavity to the under side of the car) which is fair enough, what they fail to mention is on the inner sill the fiesta grommet (about the size of as dinner plate and a dinner plate would probably seal better than mine) is used and as its rubber perishes like mad, if I had pressure washer the under side of my car the drivers sill would have filled with water - not a nice thought, thankfully when I cut a 2" hole in the rear of each sill to inject with foam

http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... erproofing

thankfully mine were in perfect condition, this is good since (and what made me do it in the first place) ive heard horror stories of people drilling a small hole in the fibre glass in the sill area to fix something on and being confronted by a torrent of rusty water pouring out, I know of one saloon that has virtually no steel left in the inner sills (pull carpet up and it looks like someone has emptied a box of cornflakes inside) so this car must just be relying on the rest of the structure to hold it together, its doing so ok but the steel must have been required at some point as a good idea, the worrying thing is the steel is 3mm thick!!! That’s some serious rusting going on, Quantum cannot be faulted on the laminating quality and design but the "other" bits leave a lot to be desired.
For example the seat belt reel is located inside the rear quarter / sill cavity and reels out from the top, again if the hood were to leak badly at the rear of the door glass edge (which they do) there is another potential for disaster.

It will be nice to get my hands on a full fibreglass car so not have to worry about the dreaded tin worm

Can anyone tell me how they got around chopping off the roof to make the excelsior (think ive spelt that right)?
Surely the structure has been beefed up a bit?

Anyhow, I too agree there is a good looker underneath the surface and not too far at that, just the nose really and a nip and tuck here and there.....