Here She Is: Photos & Update
 

Ok, so heres a few photos I took today.
Before I gave her a quick wash:
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0438.jpg

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0436.jpg

After her wash, still green though in places around rubbers:
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0495.jpg

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0498.jpg

Interior:
http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0448.jpg

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_0449.jpg

Ok so today we made sure the engine wasn't seized, we manually turned it and it turns so thats good!
Connected a charged battery and as soon as the battery fired up, the horn was on all the time, so took battery off and disconnected horn (wiring issue?)
Put battery back on, most electrics work, apart from the rear demister is always saying its on? (again wiring issue?)
Turned the key a couple of times, the water pump kept making a noise, so disconnected that, still no response from engine.
We then searched around for the starter motor, only did we find it after jacking the car in the air, then we discovered its going to be a big job to get out the starter motor to have a look!

So were saving that job for another day as it looks like we will have to take drive shaft off and other bits to even gain access! Anyone taken of a starter motor before?

Heres the frustrating bit for me though, I am no mechanic so always have to rely on my dad and I don't want to keep troubling my Dad as he has plenty of his own car projects to be getting on with, just wish I was a pro when it came to engines, all I keep doing is watching videos on Youtube which I find is helping with getting me some knowledge when it comes to engines and parts!

So may possibly need to replace starter motor depending on what its like when we finally get it out!
Thanks and that was just a quick update.
She came up nicely with a quick wash removing most of the green and leaves from the body work!

That looks really good! No, it looks a fantastic time-warp example!!

The seats with the pale blue stripes remind me of my first (1988 model) 480: I think it was only the white ones (which mine was) and the pale blue ones that had the blue stripes - the others (IIRC) had red...And I am jealous of your full set of genuine carpet mats - I am missing the driver's mat for mine!

The horn going all the time could well be the alarm. That is what it does: sounds the horn continuously. Is the central locking working properly? Maybe a micro-switch is stuck somewhere.

Unless it is really different on the early models the starter motor isn't hard. Did mine on my GT recently. No need to remove drive-shafts. Raise front end of car, remove the heat shields above and below, and that should give you the necessary access. Don't forget to disconnect the battery first!

Noted re your comments about mechanical skills. You'll find lots of help on here if you search and then ask, and also the 480 Europe website and forum has a wealth of information. Also, get a Haynes manual - they are far more focused on the 440/460 but they do help, and there are lots going cheap on e-bay these days.

Have fun and keep us posted!

David

Is it a turbo model? If so it is normal for the electric water pump to run on for about 30 seconds after the ignition is switched off - longer if it is very hot.

Good luck!

Starter motors cheap enough:
See here

Unless it's a turbo, its straightforward to swap.

Edit: just watched the video; Not turbo!