DAS dropped off my '88 Avanti coupe today. Cosmetically it's a little 'edgier' than I expected but my son Michael is handy with a buffer and we will 'Lark Shine" the car tomorrow.
It's been baking in the California sun for 5 or 6 years so there are interior issues to deal with but conversely it's dry and mostly rust free underneath.
Things started off like they usually do when a new acquisition arrives. The shifter was flopping around and it took awhile to get the linkage to a spot that would allow the key to turn. The driver got it off the truck and in my driveway but I had to open up the console before I could start it or put it into park. Easy enough and when I saw the cable casing clip was off I was relieved. Even more so when I found it laying in the opening next to a couple of quarters.
I got it started, checked the fluids, put on my plates and backed it out of the driveway. I got 2 blocks and it died. 2 more times starting and dying and I made it back to my driveway. Figuring it was the gas filter I opened up the carb and I was right. Once a new filter was in it was off to the gas station.
The tires are so dry rotted, cracked and flat spotted it's hard to tell what the car will ultimately ride like but it definitely feels more like my El Camino than my Stude Avanti.
The dash looks better when you're behind the wheel than it does in pictures. The steering wheel is small and comfy and the view is sports car like from the driver's seat. Reminds me of a car I worked on when I had my gas stations, an ISO Grifo.
Some detailing will make this a good running 10 footer. One surprise, the wheels looked like they were painted silver like stock IROC wheels but when I cleaned a spot I found they were chrome! Yeah, there's that much dirt and oxidation on the car.
ErnieR
R2 R5388 @ Macungie 2006 __________________ 1988 PO's driveway Los Angeles
It's been baking in the California sun for 5 or 6 years so there are interior issues to deal with but conversely it's dry and mostly rust free underneath.
Things started off like they usually do when a new acquisition arrives. The shifter was flopping around and it took awhile to get the linkage to a spot that would allow the key to turn. The driver got it off the truck and in my driveway but I had to open up the console before I could start it or put it into park. Easy enough and when I saw the cable casing clip was off I was relieved. Even more so when I found it laying in the opening next to a couple of quarters.
I got it started, checked the fluids, put on my plates and backed it out of the driveway. I got 2 blocks and it died. 2 more times starting and dying and I made it back to my driveway. Figuring it was the gas filter I opened up the carb and I was right. Once a new filter was in it was off to the gas station.
The tires are so dry rotted, cracked and flat spotted it's hard to tell what the car will ultimately ride like but it definitely feels more like my El Camino than my Stude Avanti.
The dash looks better when you're behind the wheel than it does in pictures. The steering wheel is small and comfy and the view is sports car like from the driver's seat. Reminds me of a car I worked on when I had my gas stations, an ISO Grifo.
Some detailing will make this a good running 10 footer. One surprise, the wheels looked like they were painted silver like stock IROC wheels but when I cleaned a spot I found they were chrome! Yeah, there's that much dirt and oxidation on the car.
ErnieR
R2 R5388 @ Macungie 2006 __________________ 1988 PO's driveway Los Angeles
, 
101st Airborne Div. 326 Engineers Ft Campbell Ky.
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