Are you a kit car fan? It’s a personal question. My answer flips back-and-forth between “No” and “Well, if it’s done right…” more times than I care to count. For instance, I dig this Fiberfab Avenger GT, but that’s because I can’t see the goofy rear body proportions in real life. However, even if I may loathe the way the rear fender arches cover up the back wheel, I also know this can be remedied with a staggered wheel and tire setup. So, do I like this Avenger kit car? I think I do. Check it out for yourself here on eBay where it’s listed for $13,999 or best offer.
Oh, how I want to swap that rear wheel setup out right now! This Fiberfab Avenger kit was one of the better ones, in my opinion, at capturing the “look” of the Ford GT40. Of course, that’s not surprising considering Fiberfab is likely one of the more experienced builders of kit cars in existence, and has a deep roster of desirable models sought out by both kit car fans and fiberglass fanatics alike. This Avenger kit is one of the later models, denoted by the door skins that go all the way down as opposed to being cut off by a rocker panel as it was on the earlier kits. While it’s impossible to tell from a monitor, the paintwork appears to be decent, but the seller claims it’s a 10-footer job at best.
The interior is in good shape overall, and the Fiberfab kits are clearly of a higher quality if only because they came with actual interiors. I feel that’s a dividing line between a company that has enough funding to package together some fiberglass body panels versus an enterprise that has the means to do that and create some dashboard and door panels to finish off the build the right way. Too often these kits barely hide the fact you can build it in your garage, and/or they barely mask the cheap VW underpinnings that many of them are based on. This Avenger looks tidy inside with exposed wiring kept to a minimum and a generally high level of fit-and-finish.
The seller claims these badges are rare, and I have little reason to doubt him; how long would you be searching for this finishing touch if they were missing? The listing does note a few quirks, including that the side windows don’t go down and that the floor panels will need to be replaced; in better news, it does have the super cool (and likely impossible to find) clear plastic headlight lens covers that will be included with the sale. Power is supplied by a Volkswagen engine and transmission of unknown origin, but assume it to have come from a Beetle, which makes whatever the largest engine this chassis can support an immediate project for the next owner – along with a new set of wheels.
My first car was a Devin. At 14 years old an X- Douglas Aircraft engineer gave his project to me. The Scaglietti design made me the only kid on the block having a “Ferrari” in my garage. HA!
Because no parts existed for the car, I had to fabricate EVERYTHING– windshield- seats, door latches and hinges- Etc-Etc.
Yes- not only a kit car fan, but also that project directed the rest of my life where I now find, procure, repair, restore and scratch fabricate the rarest Obsolete, Discontinued, and Difficult-to-obtain parts in the world that are worn by 1st in show cars at Pebble Beach annually. This “Kit Car” appears to be very well done. Congratulations on seeing the project through to this degree. Few made it this far! Very nice, and the builder is probably on to even bigger challenges. Great work!
Wasn’t there a better chassis available for these in-period? I seem to remember seeing one with a V8 and double wishbone front suspension.
I think that would be the Fiberfab Valkyrie. Essentially an Avenger with a purpose built space frame, using a Corvair transaxle and a Chevy small block. At least that is the only engine I ever saw in one.
I had one about 15 years ago. Mine was factory built with a tube chassis and Corvair drivetrain/suspension. Fun little ride and surprisingly well built.
Fiberfab made a good product (much thicker fiberglass then most kits), however I always felt the rear of these cars looked out and out of scale. You need a lot of “wheel” to fill out that wheel arches.
$14k with a VW engine, nope.
Jeff, You are again so correct in seeing and describing oddities to bring to attention to a buyer/seller or audience as this Avenger. Your comment, ” the goofy rear body proportions in real life.” is spot-on in my opinion.
My brother, Russ is credited for designing the body for Fiberfab so long ago, but the business owner, ‘Bud’ often put his ‘flavor’ into a design, and in the case of the Avenger (GT 12 and Valkyrie shaped bodies) Bud wanted (and got) the ‘goofy’ area described so clearly.
His ‘flair for wrong’ is usually detectable in all of the designs. You’re right again when filling the void with wheel and tire can mask (detract) from the elongated and hefty quarter panel back there.
Yes, so true about ” the flair for wrong” in so many fiberglass designs. Unless an exact copycat of the original, there is more often than not “Something” that is just visually wrong about so many designs. The elongated front fender arches somehow did not meld properly to the delicate open mouth on the Devin that appeared “Bent”. The Bradly GT was a bit of a shower-curtained bathtub. Many Cobra designs looked a little “Bloated”-fender flair wise. The Stutz Bearcat–well, audacious! Mercedes 500K, an imposter. On the other hand, the 356 Porsche fiberglass coupe doppelganger–probably one of the best fiberglass bodies ever produced! Then, the 300SL Gullwing- so nicely done that Mercedes shook off that coat-tail rider by destroying the molds! HA! Backyard designs–some winners, others –something to grow on you! I am currently involved in a Fiberglass Pantera. Again, a “One part at a time” car so well described in song by Jonny Cash! HA!
We restored/sold more than a dozen of these …Gt12 (VW Pan) Gt15 ( Tube chassis &Corvair 6) , both were rear engine and same body, … and several Valkyrie(s) ( 2×4 Tube , all Chev 327 V8 Corvair transaxle., and mid-engine) Valkyie body is DIFFERENT .. rear qtr behind the wheel is very short, as it’s wheelbase was lengthened for the mid engine.
ALL have cramped cockpits.
Some of the GR12’s on VW pans had Corvair 6’s , and would lift the front wheels off the ground from a dead stop.
Camera angle distorts the rear body shape…it actually is pretty good looking, and well proportioned.
What are the seats from. I am looking for a set of seats that would fit a Kellison J6-Panther and would recline to follow the roof line. Any help appreciated.