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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-Q
(MARK ONE)
[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
      OF 1934

      FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2001.

                                       OR

[ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
     SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM  _____________________ TO
 _____________________  .

COMMISSION FILE NO. 33-2462

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III
                        A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

<Table>
                                                      
                      CALIFORNIA                                  33-0139247
            (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
            INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                  IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

 23041 AVENIDA DE LA CARLOTA, LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA              92653
       (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                   (ZIP CODE)
</Table>

                                 (949) 462-9300
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)

     INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS
REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE
REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO FILE SUCH REPORTS), AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH
FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS.  YES [X]  NO [ ]

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   2

                                      INDEX

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III




                                                                   PAGE NUMBER
                                                                   -----------
                                                                
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data


Balance Sheets at June 30, 2001 (Unaudited) and
     December 31, 2000                                                   3

Statements of Income for the three and six months ended
     June 30, 2001 and 2000 (Unaudited)                                  4

Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended
     June 30, 2001 and 2000 (Unaudited)                                  5

Notes to Financial Statements                                            6


Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
         Financial Condition and Results of Operations                   9


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                               11


SIGNATURES                                                              12



                                      -2-
   3

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III

                                 BALANCE SHEETS




                                                  JUNE 30,         December 31,
                                                    2001              2000
                                                 -----------       -----------
                                                 (UNAUDITED)
                                                             
                                     ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:
     Cash                                        $   229,839       $   230,275
     Receivable from General Partner                  70,188            69,017
     Deposits                                          1,000             1,622
                                                 -----------       -----------
        Total current assets                         301,027           300,914
                                                 -----------       -----------

RESTRICTED CASH                                       97,291            97,291
                                                 -----------       -----------

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST:
     Land and improvements                         4,405,966         4,405,966
     Buildings and improvements                    2,954,959         2,954,959
     Machinery and equipment                       1,522,922         1,522,922
                                                 -----------       -----------
                                                   8,883,847         8,883,847
     Less--accumulated depreciation                2,962,356         2,905,737
                                                 -----------       -----------
                                                   5,921,491         5,978,110
                                                 -----------       -----------

                                                 $ 6,319,809       $ 6,376,315
                                                 ===========       ===========

                        LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
     Payable to Limited Partners                 $    39,627       $    34,067
     Accounts payable                                 15,059            15,979
                                                 -----------       -----------
        Total current liabilities                     54,686            50,046
                                                 -----------       -----------

OBLIGATION TO GENERAL PARTNER                        577,510           577,510
                                                 -----------       -----------

PARTNERS' EQUITY:
     Limited Partners                              5,726,265         5,786,836
     General Partner-Del Taco, Inc.                  (38,652)          (38,077)
                                                 -----------       -----------
                                                   5,687,613         5,748,759
                                                 -----------       -----------

                                                 $ 6,319,809       $ 6,376,315
                                                 ===========       ===========



                          The accompanying notes are an
                  integral part of these financial statements.


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   4

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III

                              STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                   (UNAUDITED)




                                       THREE MONTHS ENDED          SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                            JUNE 30,                   JUNE 30,
                                       2001          2000          2001          2000
                                     --------      --------      --------      --------
                                                                   
REVENUES:
     Rent                            $203,933      $192,383      $396,910      $370,965
     Interest                           2,383         3,049         5,867         5,360
     Other                                450           475         1,125         1,083
                                     --------      --------      --------      --------
                                      206,766       195,907       403,902       377,408
                                     --------      --------      --------      --------

EXPENSES:
     General and administrative        14,836        12,464        38,766        35,460
     Depreciation                      28,311        28,311        56,621        56,621
                                     --------      --------      --------      --------
                                       43,147        40,775        95,387        92,081
                                     --------      --------      --------      --------

        Net income                   $163,619      $155,132      $308,515      $285,327
                                     ========      ========      ========      ========

     Net income per limited
        partnership unit             $   3.42      $   3.24      $   6.45      $   5.97
                                     ========      ========      ========      ========



                          The accompanying notes are an
                  integral part of these financial statements.


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   5

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (UNAUDITED)




                                                             SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                 JUNE 30,
                                                             2001            2000
                                                          ---------       ---------
                                                                    
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net income                                                $ 308,515       $ 285,327
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation                                            56,621          56,621
     Increase in receivable from General Partner             (1,173)         (5,938)
     Decrease in deposits                                       622              --
     Increase in accounts payable and
        payable to limited partners                           4,640           1,410
                                                          ---------       ---------

           Net cash provided by operating activities        369,225         337,420
                                                          ---------       ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Cash distributions to partners                             (369,661)       (343,238)
                                                          ---------       ---------

Net decrease in cash                                           (436)         (5,818)

Beginning cash balance                                      230,275         208,334
                                                          ---------       ---------

Ending cash balance                                       $ 229,839       $ 202,516
                                                          =========       =========



                          The accompanying notes are an
                  integral part of these financial statements.


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   6

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                  JUNE 30, 2001


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying financial statements, some of which are unaudited, have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements and should therefore be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Registrant's annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. In the opinion of
management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary
to present fairly the partnership's financial position at June 30, 2001, the
results of operations and cash flows for the six month periods ended June 30,
2001 and 2000 have been included. Operating results for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2001 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for the year ending December 31, 2001.

NOTE 2 - RESTRICTED CASH

At June 30, 2001, the partnership had a restricted cash balance of $97,291. The
restricted cash is a death and disability redemption fund. Such fund is
maintained in an interest bearing account at a major commercial bank. A limited
partner has the right, under certain circumstances involving such limited
partner's death or disability, to tender to the partnership for redemption all
of the units owned of record by such limited partner. The redemption price will
be equal to the partners capital account balance as of the redemption date. The
death and disability fund was established in 1987. The fund was limited to two
percent of the gross proceeds from sale of the limited partnership units.
Requests for redemption made after the funds in the death and disability fund
are depleted will not be accepted.



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   7

                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                  JUNE 30, 2001


NOTE 3 - NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNIT

Net income per limited partnership unit is based upon the weighted average
number of units outstanding during the periods presented which amounted to
47,331 in 2001 and 2000.

Pursuant to the partnership agreement, annual partnership income or loss is
allocated one percent to the General Partner and 99 percent to the limited
partners. Partnership gains from any sale or refinancing will be allocated one
percent to the General Partner and 99 percent to the limited partners until
allocated gains and profits equal losses, distributions and syndication costs,
and until each class of limited partners receive their priority return as
defined in the partnership agreement. Additional gains will be allocated 15
percent to the General Partner and 85 percent to the limited partners.

NOTE 4 - LEASING ACTIVITIES

The partnership leases certain properties for operation of restaurants to Del
Taco, Inc. on a triple net basis. The leases are for terms of 35 years
commencing with the completion of the restaurant facility located on each
property and require monthly rentals equal to 12 percent of the gross sales of
the restaurants. There is no minimum rental under any of the leases.

For the three months ended June 30, 2001, the nine restaurants operated by Del
Taco, for which the partnership is the lessor, had combined, unaudited sales of
$1,699,436 and net income of $94,528, as compared to $1,603,188 and $73,485,
respectively, for the corresponding period in 2000. Net income by restaurant
includes charges for general and administrative expenses incurred in connection
with supervision of restaurant operations and interest expense.

For the six months ended June 30, 2001, the nine restaurants operated by Del
Taco, for which the partnership is the lessor, had combined, unaudited sales of
$3,307,581 and net income of $182,471, as compared to $3,091,375 and $100,526,
respectively, for the corresponding period in 2000.



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                       DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                  JUNE 30, 2001


NOTE 4 - LEASING ACTIVITIES - CONTINUED

For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2001, the East Valley Blvd.
restaurant in Walnut, California reported net income of $35 and a net loss of
$2,352 as compared to net losses of $425 and $2,830 for the corresponding period
in 2000.

For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2001, the East Gale Blvd.
restaurant in Puente Hills, California reported net losses of $2,032 and $3,768
as compared to net losses of $2,856 and $6,529 for the corresponding period in
2000.

For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2001, the West Sepulveda
Blvd. restaurant in Los Angeles, California reported net income of $651 and
$1,122 as compared to net losses of $1,750 and $9,203 for the corresponding
period in 2000.

NOTE 5 - TRANSACTIONS WITH DEL TACO

The receivable from General Partner consists primarily of rent accrued for the
month of June. The June rent was collected on July 10, 2001.

Del Taco, Inc. serves in the capacity of general partner in other partnerships
which are engaged in the business of operating restaurants, and three other
partnerships which were formed for the purpose of acquiring real property in
California for construction of Mexican-American restaurants for lease under
long-term agreements to Del Taco, Inc. for operation under the Del Taco trade
name.

In addition, see Note 6 with respect to certain distributions to the General
Partner.

NOTE 6 - DISTRIBUTIONS

On July 18, 2001, a distribution to the limited partners of $183,600, or
approximately $3.88 per limited partnership unit, was approved. Such
distribution was paid on July 20, 2001. The General Partner also received a
distribution of $1,855 with respect to its 1% partnership interest.


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   9

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The partnership offered limited partnership units for sale between February 1986
and June 1987. 14.7% of the $12 million raised through sale of limited
partnership units was used to pay commissions to brokers and to reimburse the
General Partner for offering costs incurred. Approximately $9.5 million of the
remaining funds were used to acquire sites and build ten restaurants. In
February of 1992, approximately $281,000 raised during the offering but not
required to acquire sites and build restaurants was distributed to the limited
partners. One restaurant was sold in November 1997.

The nine restaurants leased to Del Taco make up almost all of the income
producing assets of the partnership. Therefore, the business of the partnership
is almost entirely dependent on the success of the Del Taco trade name
restaurants that lease the properties. The success of the restaurants is
dependent on a large variety of factors, including, but not limited to, consumer
demand and preference for fast food, in general, and for Mexican-American food
in particular.

As described in Note 2 to the Notes to the Financial Statements, the partnership
has a death and disability redemption fund totaling $97,291 at June 30, 2001.
Investors should contact the General Partner with all questions regarding the
eligibility of a limited partner or the estate of a deceased limited partner to
participate in the redemption fund.

Results of Operations

The partnership owns nine properties that are under long-term lease to Del Taco
for restaurant operations.

The following table sets forth rental revenue earned by restaurant for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2001 and 2000:




                                                      THREE MONTHS ENDED           SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                           JUNE 30,                    JUNE 30,
                                                      2001          2000          2001          2000
                                                    --------      --------      --------      --------
                                                                                  
Rancho California Plaza, Rancho California, CA      $ 32,193      $ 31,494      $ 61,512      $ 60,405

East Vista Way, Vista, CA                             19,223        19,675        37,716        37,691

Plaza at Puente Hills, Industry, CA                   12,992        12,333        25,619        23,993

4th Street, Perris, CA                                28,131        26,705        53,899        50,654

Foothill Blvd., Upland, CA                            24,333        23,836        48,977        45,897

East Valley Blvd., Walnut, CA                         12,588        11,664        24,676        23,038

Lassen Street, Chatsworth, CA                         29,809        27,417        58,232        53,002

Hesperia Road, Victorville, CA                        27,831        24,125        53,385        47,100

W. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA                   16,833        15,134        32,894        29,185
                                                    --------      --------      --------      --------
        Total                                       $203,933      $192,383      $396,910      $370,965
                                                    ========      ========      ========      ========



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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS - CONTINUED

The partnership receives rental revenues equal to 12 percent of gross sales from
the restaurants. The partnership earned rental revenue of $203,933 during the
three month period ended June 30, 2001, which represents an increase of $11,550
from 2000. The partnership earned rental revenue of $396,910 during the six
month period ended June 30, 2001, which represents an increase of $25,945 from
2000. The increases in rental revenue are directly attributable to changes in
sales levels at the restaurants under lease.

The following table breaks down general and administrative expenses by type of
expense:



                                                           Percentage of Total
                                                    General & Administrative Expense

                                                          Six Months Ended
                                                               June 30,
                                                         2001           2000
                                                      ----------     ----------
                                                               
Accounting fees                                           65.07 %        60.17 %
Distribution of information
   to Limited Partners                                    34.93          39.83
                                                      ----------     ----------

                                                         100.00 %       100.00 %
                                                      ==========     ==========


General and administrative costs for the six month period ended June 30,
increased from 2000 to 2001 due to increased costs for income tax preparation
and annual audit fees.

For the three month period ended June 30, 2001, net income increased by $8,487
from 2000 to 2001 due to the increase in revenues of $10,859 which was partially
offset by the increase in general and administrative expenses of $2,372. For the
six month period ended June 30, 2001, net income increased by $23,188 from 2000
to 2001 due to an increase in revenues of $26,494 which was partially offset by
an increase in general and administrative expenses of $3,306.

In accordance with recent U.S. Government regulations, the partnership is
required to file annual K-1 income tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service
electronically beginning in 2002 for the year ending December 31, 2001. In order
to comply with this regulation, the partnership will incur additional costs to
lease software to 1) prepare the tax forms electronically and 2) maintain the
underlying partnership database.

The General Partner and outside consultants are evaluating available software
and expect to select a software package in the third calendar quarter of 2001.
Estimates of additional general and administrative costs to lease the software
range from $2,000 to $9,000 in 2001 (the conversion year) and range from $4,500
to $7,500 in each subsequent year.


                                      -10-
   11

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the six months ended June 30, 2001.





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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                        DEL TACO RESTAURANT PROPERTIES III
                                        (a California limited partnership)
                                        Registrant

                                        Del Taco, Inc.
                                        General Partner



Date:  July 31, 2001                    /s/ Robert J. Terrano
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Robert J. Terrano
                                        Executive Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer


Date:  July 31, 2001                    /s/ C. Douglas Mitchell
                                        -------------------------------
                                        C. Douglas Mitchell
                                        Vice President and Corporate
                                        Controller



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