1991 Infiniti Q45 Base VH45DE V8 Only 135K Original Miles Good For Restoration

1991 Infiniti Q45 Base Description

Hi, and thanks for looking! This auction is for a first generation 1991 Infiniti Q45 base model, with the 4.5 L VH45DE engine with less than 135,000 original miles. This car was bought new in Greensboro, NC, I think, and has been here in Southwest Virginia for the last 20 years or so, where it was not driven very often. There has been at least three owners or so. The most recent owner besides myself parked the car after it started having issues with the engine running rich, and then it sat for about 3-4 years. When I bought it, it was not running very well and covered with tree residue. It had a very worn set of regular AC spark plugs installed which have been replaced with a set of Denso iridiums. Due to the misfiring plugs, it had burned up the passengers side cat, which then disintegrated and plugged the resonator, causing it to run worse. I had the resonators removed and had new pipes installed. I also changed the oil, air, and fuel filters. It now runs much better and I have put about 500 miles or so on it just driving around town and other short runs where it doesn't need to get above 60 mph or so. The engine still runs rich, but not rich enough to cause black smoke. I think this is somehow related to the transmission not shifting past second gear. I have noticed that the cooler it is outside, the better it runs. I have had the car to four different shops and neither one thought there was anything wrong with the transmission, but nobody can tell me what the issue is with the engine. I have installed a computer set from a 94 model to get rid of the second gear start nonsense. I feel like the engine problem is knock sensors and/or leaky injectors since it still has the original style. Car does come with the owners manual, full service manual, and original holders for those.
The body is pretty clean, some door dings and scrapes, but it still looks pretty good! I think the drivers side front fender has been worked on at some point because the paint looks slightly different in the sun, plus one of the hood hinges has been replaced. May have been a deer hit? The sunroof works, as do all the windows. The AC was working well but I think the blend door is stuck since now I can only get hot air out of it. The drivers side power seat does not work correctly Not sure what the issue is. I was able to take the switch out of the door, unplug it, and plug it back in, and get it to move long enough so could get my 6'4" body situated better. This car does have the memory seat system with electric tilt and telescope wheel. There is no stereo or speakers, previous owner installed aftermarket equipment which he then removed before he sold the car. The back shocks are terrible. A hard bump will bounce all over the place. Its going to need a set of performance coilovers or some new shocks from Infiniti (why does nobody sell standard shocks for this car??? - I even emailed Monroe about it) All in all, its a 28 year old car, it has issues for that simple fact. As I mentioned earlier, it passed VA state inspection with new front rotors and brakes, fixing the exhaust, and a battery hold down. I also changed the starter and started relay. I have been driving it almost every day, it will start right up and hold a steady idle and has no trouble moving around on its own. The mileage will continue to go up a little bit as I will continue to drive it around town every other day or so. Eventually it will need new tires as the ones currently on it have good tread but have some dryrot from sitting. A set of bigger wheels ( I nearly bought some maxima wheels for it) would fix that problem plus make tire choices easier and cheaper.
Due to a bankruptcy (having two small kids, a wife with a serious heart condition and who also has a mountain of student loans, is not a recipe for financial gain, let me tell you!) I just can't afford to put any more money into the car, or much of anything else right now, and probably for the next several years. So, it has to go! Sold as-is, has faults as described above or as pictured.
I can't remember the last time I saw another one of these cars. They are extremely uncommon in this area as there were no close Infiniti dealers at the time it was sold, which is another reason nobody can figure out how to work on it. The older ones seem to be very rare.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!I would be happy to help with transportation arrangements, however you wish to accomplish that. I may even be able to deliver it if I can find a suitable trailer big enough (U haul?) Contact me for a quote. I will generally only deliver east of the Mississippi. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere, as long as you don't get out on the interstate with it. Second gear will run about 4000 rpms at 55-60. I've had it out as far as 40 miles from home on windy mountain roads with no issues. This car is located in Radford, VA, zip code 24141, just off I-81 exit 109.