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nbb350
14-06-2011, 04:32 PM
As I was walking out of my FLAPS yesterday, I saw this sitting in the parking lot:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/nbb_garage/IMAG0362.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/nbb_garage/IMAG0364.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/nbb_garage/IMAG0363.jpg

I hung around outside until the owner came out and the first thing he said was "It's based on a Volkswagen Beetle!" I replied with "I know, I'm building a Sterling!" He recognized the name...probably something only a fellow kit-builder would do!

The owner says his car is a 1970 Amante built on a squareback chassis with an 1835 sandrail engine. His brother in law's father bought it new, built it and then it eventually sat for 25 years. The current owner did a frame off restoration and still has yet to refinish the interior (it's complete, but not "show-quality").

He said the aluminum slotted mags came with the kit (i was drooling and wishing I had them - they have a big "S" on the center cap!) and that he had NO idea where the glass was sourced from!

EDIT: the owner also said that it was made in Southern California, the company was only in business 1968-1970, made about 80 completed bodies, and he thinks that only about 15-20 cars survive.

letterman7
14-06-2011, 04:59 PM
I always thought they were interesting kits. There was one for sale near me for $400.00... I probably should have grabbed it. I like the style right up to the rear arch, then it's all too long for me. What I was going to do was recreate the Deano-Soar laker car that used this body style, but with aero aids on it that smoothed the lines a little more. Good question on the glass; I think it was Porsche based if memory serves.

Nic
14-06-2011, 06:01 PM
Nice car, love the color. I see what you mean Rick about the rear overhang. I guess it was done to cover up the engine bits better. And what makes the engine a "sandrail" engine? Was it just pulled from a sandrail or is the a specific config done for them?

thestevie
14-06-2011, 08:22 PM
Reminds me of my 240Z a little.
I like it.

Spacenut
14-06-2011, 10:01 PM
Mmm, that is nice. The rear overhang is an inevitable consequence of a rear engine, but apart from the narrowness of the body it hides its origins very well :thumbup:

Both the colour and the choice of rear light clusters remind me of an early Chevy Camaro, and the fastback styling owes a lot to the contemporary Aston Martin DBS. I'm trying to imagine what Porker supplied the glass - both the front and rear screens look too angular to be from a 911, unless the context of their use changes the look considerably...

In spite of their (often deserved) reputation for poor quality, I still prefer the kit car shapes of the 1970s to anything produced today :cool1:

Lauren

CyCo
15-06-2011, 04:09 AM
Very cool, never seen or heard of them before. I'd own one!


:afro: