Today was a good one for me. I finally settled with the solicitors (It was a deceased estate) and got my Avanti 11 home. It took 3 weeks to settle! It came with lots of parts and while looking through them I came across this letter.
The Saga of the 'Plastic Pickle', Bruce's Green Machine
Over twenty years ago I decided to sell off all of my "Drag Racing" and get a "Machine" before I settled down. I didn't expect to have that 'dream car' 20 years on and half a world away but here I am and here "she" is, still with me. RQB 1717 was finished in December 1971. The present "firemist" green paint and Tan interior are as close to the original as we could restore them here. She was the first Avanti sold to the public with a factory sunroof and only the third car built with one, according to Nate Altman, who started Avanti Motors. She was also built with a high performance 1971 drive train but with a 1972 body and custom interior design.
After much pleasure, a few headaches, and many cross country excursions I left her behind with my family for what was supposed to be a year or two "down under". That was in January 1975!!
The next eleven years included four trips back to the U.S., on again off again attempts to sell her or bring her over negotiations on several occasions with"OZ' customs until in December 1986 we 'limped' down to the docks in Philadelphia with only the back brakes working in the snow!!
If she seemed a "basket case" in the "states" she was even worse when I had to push her out and winch her onto a trailer in Melbourne in March 1987. The paint and interior were shot but worse was to come. The starter and alternator were "Melted". It seems there had been more attempts to pinch her. ( At least two other attempts in the "States" that we know of were partly successful)
Since that March I have, with the aid of friends and family (and much patience and many $$$) attempted to "bring her back"
REBUILT/REFURBISHED and/or REPLACED including;
starter, alternator, voltage regulator, air conditioner, heater, motors for rear fan, heater fan, electric windows, sun roof, and wipers: entire wiring loom, radio, speakers, distributor, ignition,engine rebuild, exhaust, transmission, front/rear suspension, steering box, arms,links, front and rear springs/shocks, tacho, speedo, gauges, clock, wiper pivots, brakes, calipers, power steering, locks, seals, upholstery, interior, carpets, paint, ETC and of course the conversion to right hand drive.
The license plate "PICKLE" was a gift from my wife, Jennifer for our anniversary just prior to getting "OUR" roadworthy in September of 1989.. The "Plastic Pickle" has been my everyday car since then and is the oldest "One Owner" that I................
That was were the letter finished. Bruce left the car in the care a friend and returned to USA about 2003. I think that he returned several times and was reunited with the car and unfortunately passed away in 2010.
Now starts a new chapter for the 'PICKLE'
The Saga of the 'Plastic Pickle', Bruce's Green Machine
Over twenty years ago I decided to sell off all of my "Drag Racing" and get a "Machine" before I settled down. I didn't expect to have that 'dream car' 20 years on and half a world away but here I am and here "she" is, still with me. RQB 1717 was finished in December 1971. The present "firemist" green paint and Tan interior are as close to the original as we could restore them here. She was the first Avanti sold to the public with a factory sunroof and only the third car built with one, according to Nate Altman, who started Avanti Motors. She was also built with a high performance 1971 drive train but with a 1972 body and custom interior design.
After much pleasure, a few headaches, and many cross country excursions I left her behind with my family for what was supposed to be a year or two "down under". That was in January 1975!!
The next eleven years included four trips back to the U.S., on again off again attempts to sell her or bring her over negotiations on several occasions with"OZ' customs until in December 1986 we 'limped' down to the docks in Philadelphia with only the back brakes working in the snow!!
If she seemed a "basket case" in the "states" she was even worse when I had to push her out and winch her onto a trailer in Melbourne in March 1987. The paint and interior were shot but worse was to come. The starter and alternator were "Melted". It seems there had been more attempts to pinch her. ( At least two other attempts in the "States" that we know of were partly successful)
Since that March I have, with the aid of friends and family (and much patience and many $$$) attempted to "bring her back"
REBUILT/REFURBISHED and/or REPLACED including;
starter, alternator, voltage regulator, air conditioner, heater, motors for rear fan, heater fan, electric windows, sun roof, and wipers: entire wiring loom, radio, speakers, distributor, ignition,engine rebuild, exhaust, transmission, front/rear suspension, steering box, arms,links, front and rear springs/shocks, tacho, speedo, gauges, clock, wiper pivots, brakes, calipers, power steering, locks, seals, upholstery, interior, carpets, paint, ETC and of course the conversion to right hand drive.
The license plate "PICKLE" was a gift from my wife, Jennifer for our anniversary just prior to getting "OUR" roadworthy in September of 1989.. The "Plastic Pickle" has been my everyday car since then and is the oldest "One Owner" that I................
That was were the letter finished. Bruce left the car in the care a friend and returned to USA about 2003. I think that he returned several times and was reunited with the car and unfortunately passed away in 2010.
Now starts a new chapter for the 'PICKLE'
Attached Files
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