a part restored Avante kit car - The Avante is a rare VW Beetle based GT race car styled kit that was designed and manufactured in the UK. This example comes with V5, 0n a 1968 Beetle based chassis, and has previously been used on the road so there should be no issues with use on the roads again (and no undesirable "Q plate" either!) Following some internet research, there are reputed to have only been about 50 of the Mk1 model made and 94 Avante's MK1, Mk2 and Mk3's in total production. From what I could also find out probablly only half that number remain today, and only 17 are on the Avante internet register, so this is not a car that will come up for sale often.
Although this is a kitcar it is a far better designed and manufactured product than a lot of the other kits out there, it has for example a full steel leg/foot protection cell which doubles up to incorporate the door mounting points so no floppy door hinges with this setup. There is also an in built rollover bar inside the roof/body which is hidden from view to keep things neat and provide the upper seatbelt mounts. The body has been professinally restored and repainted in Classic Gulf racing colours of Bright blue and orange by a VW restoration specialist, who has turned out a handful of show winning and magazine featured VW's.
My Avante wears a matching set of rare Zoron wheels from Rocket Racing Wheels in the USA (I have not seen another set of these wheels in the UK, and I do have a thing about collecting rare and unusual VW wheels). These wheels also have the set of matching centercaps, but look good either with or without the caps. The Tyres are part worn low profiles on the front and a Pair of brand new Cooper Cobra white letter tyres on the rear. The car has a lowered adjustable front beam with a full front disk brake conversion using many new parts, the gearbox and rear axles and rear brakes are also present and have been renovated where needed.
I have decided to sell the car with my road/race spec engine which will be supplied with the car in this listing, it is a dual relief case 1600 based engine with many upgrades to include-
• oversize barrels and pistons to give 1700cc capacity
• ported and polished reconditioned genuine VW cylinder heads (not inferior aftermarket far east reproductions)
• heavy duty single valve springs
• Very rare vintage (believed to be Okrasa or Saur and Sohn) hi-ratio rocker arms on matching vintage competion spec shafts and fitted with swivel foot tappets
• twin Kadron carbs with both cage filters or polished ram pipes.
• matchported mainfolds
• custon made bellcrank linkage
• vintage Claudes Buggies hd oil pump with logo'ed cover
• hd silicon plug leads and chrome Genuine Speedwell lead seperator
• vintage aftermarket performance 009 spec distributor
• santana power pulley
• j tubes
• brand new un-run Bugpack turbotrip exhaust system
and lots of other performance bits and bobs.
The Avante needs some repair/welding on chassis floors, I had planned to replace these with alloy panles for light weight. The interior trim, seats, head lights etc also require fitting to complete the car (most all of these parts are present with the car) or suitable to make into another project. The car also comes with a full set of Smiths gauges speedo, rev counter, fuel, oil pressure, volts, amps, (some of which need fitting as are additions to the car) and a period steering wheel. I would say the caris 85% complete to being motable and fully road useable so would be a straightforward project to have completed for the start of next seasons shows and race season should you wish to compete in either with the Avante.as it will make a fantastic track car or a genuinely headturning roadcar. I also have the car advertised elsewhere so don't wait until the last minute to bid and risk missing this great opportunity to purchase a fantastic winter project. This is a genuine sale is due to a recent house move and needing to devote my spare time and cash to the new house resto and not the four VW resto projects I currently own.
If you require more photos then email and I can send some including some of the restoration so you can see who much has gone into the car, and what a good deal it is!
I'm looking for £2,500 for all the above or would consider a straight swap for a bay window to similar value.
