The Audi Fox shipped to US soil with a 1.6-liter inline-four able to a paltry 81 horsepower. It was by no means meant to be a quick automotive, however that didn’t trouble the proprietor of this uncommon Avant variant. Jonathan Yost is aware of a easy recipe to make a gradual automotive cool.
“I meant to maintain it old-fashioned… principally unique. And, after all, get it as little as attainable.” Good man. Ditch the ‘s’, and switch gradual into low.
In 2017, Jonathan flew north from the Los Angeles space to Oakland, California to select up the automotive from a VAG fanatic, solely to seek out out as he drove residence later that weekend that the engine was working poorly resulting from a burnt exhaust valve. Whereas this speedy disappointment may go away a bitter style within the mouths of some, it didn’t deter Jonathan from his final objective of turning his previous and barely run-down wagon into one thing particular.
After spending a decade at Lamborghini wrenching on uncommon European automobiles, a little bit exhaust valve wouldn’t get in Jonathan’s means. So, one new cylinder head later, it was time to dive into the aesthetics.
The wagon “had seen higher days and had been repainted right here and there through the years,” Jonathan says, which was rectified by a contemporary coat of its metallic Marathon Blue, a shade from Audi’s ’76 paint palette.
Inside, a shiny Eighties-vintage wood Nardi steering wheel pairs effectively with the shift knob and manufacturing facility woodgrain trim.
Whereas Jonathan went to nice lengths to personalize the Audi — including a couple of touches from Lamborghini alongside the way in which — it’s nice to see a lot of its unique character and allure remains to be maintained.
I like the textures on automobiles from this period, and it’s spectacular to see how effectively the supplies have held up. On that be aware, a alternative dashboard and door panels had been sourced to tidy up the cabin, and a Pioneer stereo has been added together with a subwoofer.
Jonathan must construct a {custom} air suspension setup from the bottom as much as get the automotive to sit down how he wished. No off-the-shelf air experience kits existed for the chassis, however, like that pesky exhaust valve, this wouldn’t get in the way in which of his imaginative and prescient. Shocks designed for a Volkswagen GTI had been mated to modified strut housings, and twin Viair 444 compressors are linked to twin Specialty Suspension tanks that reside, unsubtly, within the trunk. A custom-built panhard bar helps within the dealing with division.
The air suspension performs properly with face-mounted BBS RF wheels measuring a small however acceptable 15×6 inches. It’s typically tempting to run bigger and bigger wheels as experience heights get decrease, nevertheless it’s refreshing to see that Jonathan didn’t succumb to this.
Low-profile Euro bumpers additional tidy up the outside, and you could have already seen that the facet strips, facet markers, and antenna had been shaved for a clear easy end throughout the large flat physique.
On this kind, albeit at a stock-like experience peak and with manufacturing facility wheels and steering wheel reinstalled, Jonathan’s automotive was utilized in an Audi business for the RS6 Avant. You may watch that by hitting the play button above.
After conserving and driving the Avant for a couple of years, Jonathan ultimately offered the automotive. He moved on to different tasks together with a 964 and a 993, which he finally become a Porsche 911 GT3 RS that’s at present paired with a modified Honda CR-X. He’s additionally moved on from his job at Lamborghini, selecting as a substitute to wrench on exotics for his personal firm, Yost Auto Tailoring, in Costa Mesa, California.
Regardless of being surrounded by supercars all day, Jonathan says he nonetheless has a tender spot for the Avant. “I want I nonetheless had it, it’s simply such a particular, distinctive automotive that you simply by no means see on the street.”
Trevor Ryan
Instagram: purposebuilt_trevor
www.purposebuilt.media
