Lew Shucart's Avanti Restoration

[bezhawk]

First prime tomorrow!!



See more pix here: http://bez-auto-alchemy.blogspot.com

Brad

http://auto-alchemy.com

[Thomas63R2]

An Avanti being re-born, it will be beautiful. Take lots of pictures, it is always interesting to see the transformation taking place.

Thomas

Long time hot rodder
Packrat junk collector
'63 Avanti R2 4 speed

[fstst56]

bezhawk,

Where are you located? I'm 60 miles east of St Louis.
I'd like to get my Avanti trunk lid and passenger side
door aligned. My paint is OK for now.

fstst56

[stude53]

Hey, fstst56,

His profile says,

Location: Clarksville, MO

Hope this is helpful,


[img=left]http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/stude53/studesmall2.jpg[/img=left]Bob Feaganes (stude53)
53 Starliner Hardtop
Newton Grove, NC

[bezhawk]

Thanks for your interest, fstst56. I'm an hour north of St. Louis. Shoot me an email: bezhawk@yahoo.com

[bezhawk]

Added a few more pix of Lew's car on my blog.

[lschuc]

A little history here: This Avanti R-1250 is the first Avanti restoration attempt by Jon Myer. The original owner ran into a southern California highway bridge abutement and died. Jon Myer got the car, changed frames and mated the body back on the frame. Here's an original picture before Jon started his work, parked behind Jon's old house in the early 1970s in southern California.




It was originally the 15th black Avanti built, and the first black car with a black interior. The original owner from Pennsylvania had it painted in the dark gold color you see in the above photos.

The late Ron Hall towed it home to Chicago about the mid-1970s using a 64 lark convertible, now owned by former Turning Wheels editor Larry Swanson. He eventually sold it to another Chicago AOAI member and bought a white R2 Avanti that his wife drove, and later went on to Bonneville fame.

I bought it from the other Chicago AOAI member, partially restored it and put 18,000 miles on up to now, when Brad is doing a full restoration.
Lew

Lew Schucart
Editor, Avanti Magazine

[Thomas63R2]

Sad for the original owner, interesting owner history. I am always amazed when I hear of an Avanti that was totaled, then rebuilt. At the time it probably made more sense because new frames were available and the car wouldn't have a "salvage" branded title.

So when Ron towed it to Chicago it was not yet finished and running?

Thomas

Long time hot rodder
Packrat junk collector
'63 Avanti R2 4 speed

[lschuc]

Yes, Ron towed it to Chicago in about the condition you see it in Jon Myer's photos above.
Jon found a rust free, perfect frame from a 1961 Lark convertible beach car. The body was bad, but frame was perfect. He transferred all the unique Avanti brackets and crossmembers and put the body on the rebuilt frame.
Lew

quote:Originally posted by Thomas63R2

Sad for the original owner, interesting owner history. I am always amazed when I hear of an Avanti that was totaled, then rebuilt. At the time it probably made more sense because new frames were available and the car wouldn't have a "salvage" branded title.

So when Ron towed it to Chicago it was not yet finished and running?

Thomas

Long time hot rodder
Packrat junk collector
'63 Avanti R2 4 speed

Lew Schucart
Editor, Avanti Magazine