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Buying an avanti

I've found an Avanti in one of those little fenced in junkyards and am trying to convince myself to buy it. Its in a million pieces, the paint has been taken off and it has been outside in New England for about four years. The pieces are "all there". I've read about how expensive cheap Avantis are, but I have no brain and no fear. Other than going broke, which is possible even without buying this, is there any reason to absolutely not buy it? Does the sun tear up the plastic on a car with no paint? If the hog troughs are completely rusted will it break in half when I try to move it? If the frame is rotted away, is there a Lark frame or something I can replace it with? Although it is "all there", is there something irreplaceable if the guard dog carried it off?

Thanks Bill (bored and his life has no meaning and he needs a project while he waits now a second year for his body man to paint his Speedster) Clark

Reply to
Bill Clark
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What I tell my customers and friends.. Fun ain't cheap Cheap ain't fun This ain't a cheap hobby Life is way to short to worry about why you shouldn't do what ever you think will make you happy... Tell the kids to get a REAL GOOD job as daddy isn't leaving them anything, he is going to spend it all... BTW, you already have a Speedster so you know most of this... Studebaker George

Reply to
Studebaker George

Buy it, and part it out. if you are thinking of saving it, just stick bamboo under your fingernails, it'll be less painful in the long run.

If you want to restore it, set aside maybe 30K to get you started:

Bill Clark wrote:

Reply to
John Poulos

Get it CHEAP if you can. If you can't, don't buy it. That's my advice FWIW. You'll probably have to assess if it's worth restoring after you get it rather than before. You may get lucky and it's a runner with just assembly, but there may be a reason it's in the junkyard, and a full mechanical overhaul combined with a cosmetic resto (and let's not forget the possibility of frame/hog trough rust) could get pricey.

I believe the frame can be made from a Lark V-8 frame if you transfer over the X-member (so heavy it can't possibly rust away) and the rear tubular x-member (available repro for cheap) not sure if other mods need to be made or not. Still, that sounds like work.

nate

Reply to
Nate Nagel

Fire your body man, I would have 20 months ago. Finish the Speedster. Not a hint of

Reply to
PatSkelly

My advice:

1) Buy an Avanti that's already done. 2) Spend another 2 - 3K on 'little things', like re-doing the 'already done' engine. 3) Send me $5K for my sage advice. 4) With the rest of the money you would have spent polishing that turd, go on a 3 week European vacation. Fly first class, stay at 5 star hotels. Rent expensive women.

Bill Clark wrote:

Reply to
Pat Drnec

fits:

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Reply to
GTtim

Why go to Europe?

Yer dollah will go much fahthah in the Far East and the wimmin are mo' appreciative...

JT

Pat Drnec wrote:

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

I know - just got back from Thailand. (huge G)

The subject, however, was wasting money, not getting value....

Grumpy AuC> Why go to Europe?

Reply to
Pat Drnec

Did you do any work for the railroad there?

JT

Pat Drnec wrote:

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

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