Fantom avanti

[paintim613]

Pardon my later post about the car being called a Studebaker. If you think this show is bad, watch Extreme Auto Hunters. Nice people with bad scripts.

[Paul K.]

These guys are overrated. I was biting my tongue with my last comment but they worked on my friends car and it was disappointing. My friend had finished a cross-country trip and his car ran well the whole way. One month later his brother took it last winter to store it and left it with these guys to do some work. Last spring my friend called me after picking it up and barely making it back to D.C. saying the car was knocking, pinging and overheating. Fantom did a tune-up and had the timing WAY advanced and the carb WAY lean. Spark plugs were white.

Even the so called old car specialty shops don't know how to make an engine run well.

[Bob Andrews]

Finally watch the show last night.

I found it interesting that the owner and a buddy built a kit car, and based on that they decided they wanted to try to start a restoration business. This was with literally no experience or knowledge. So they bought a relatively unpopular car with no ability to assess the condition; spent $58,000 (!) on parts; and had no idea really where to even begin.

Recently I had a guy bring me a 1971 Camaro. He decided to restore it on his own; how hard could it be? He stripped it down, bought new replacement quarters, and proceeded to weld them in himself. He got them both welded in, but had a little warpage problem where they met the roof and asked me if I could look at it. I did and told him I could fix it. In the meantime, I noticed that the doors were nowhere to be seen long story short, I told him to make sure the doors fit, and surprise, the doors would not shut. He just laid the quarters in place and welded, and the quarters were about three fourths of an inch too far forward. I was able to fix it by grinding open the quarter at the edge, cutting the post loose and moving it back, and rewelding. I fit all the body panels, including the trunk. He was thrilled, and was going to take it home and finish it. But now his interest and budget are shot, and it sits while he is deciding what to do with it. He asked if I would buy it, but I will not pay anywhere near what he's got invested. So limbo and unhappiness time it is.

This Avanti guy admitted defeat, and luckily he had the resources to bite the bullet and finish it out. Sadly, he would have been farther I had to part everything out and take his beating.

Unfortunately, I see this all the time. And just about never does the person have the stomach or the finances to just get it done.

At least it's a little easier if it's a car that will be valuable when you're done. This poor Avanti guy probably has a car that isn't worth 20% of what he spent.

[jclary]

Finally watch the show last night.


This Avanti guy admitted defeat, and luckily he had the resources to bite the bullet and finish it out. Sadly, he would have been farther I had to part everything out and take his beating.

Unfortunately, I see this all the time. And just about never does the person have the stomach or the finances to just get it done.

At least it's a little easier if it's a car that will be valuable when you're done. This poor Avanti guy probably has a car that isn't worth 20% of what he spent.

Great points, Bob. I've said before...the tuition in the "College of Experience"...often, is the most expensive education out there. Also, the most effective. These are the lessons not forgotten. Going forward, I suspect this owner will approach the work of "others" with much more respect than he did before attempting the project.

That is one of the best lessons from my restoration projects. Since I feel that I have done enough restoration work to have earned the right to judge the work of "others"....I do it with reluctance, and a much more humble perspective than before. I know we often pick apart Ebay offerings and work like the subject of this thread. But, I never have malice or ill will toward the builders.

The problem is that, with only the printed words of internet communication, it is easy to misinterpret the writers intent. Even with the expense of this car's build, I hope the owner recoups his value in enjoyment. That is where the value comes from most of the junk I own.

[Lenny R2]

I saw the show on the 83 Avanti & was more interested in the Electric
power steering I would like that for my 62 Champ pickup when my truck
is standing still I can hardly turn the steering wheel untill it starts moving.

[SN-60]

The electric power steering also fascinated me! The idea of having power steering and the ablity to easily turn the front wheels with the car at rest (and the engine off) is hard to comprehend. I wonder about the parts of the steering system that are not usually under extreme pressure...that now are...How will they hold up over time? I'd like to test drive this '83 Avanti!

[wittsend]

I just saw (the re-run) of this car/show. Ugghh... . It looks jacked up like it is going off-roading. The lack of bumpers only accentuates the proportions of a car that is (in my opinion) too long and too narrow (especially at the rear) and now, - too tall. Those wheels look like they are made for imports in another by-gone time period.
I realize it is another man's money and perhaps his dream. That still doesn't negate that for the dollars spent the end results just don't add up. He probably could have bought three really nice Avanti's and still "tricked them out" for the money he spent. Or he could have bought ten, marginal Avanti's and practiced on them until he was skilled enough to do the work himself. Perhaps most baffling is his wife just sat there and let him do it. If I had done that my wife would have likely removed an important, pendulent appendage!