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 sluggish automotive cool.
“I supposed to maintain it old fashioned… largely authentic. And, in fact, get it as little as attainable.” Sensible man. Ditch the ‘s’, and switch sluggish 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 search out out as he drove dwelling later that weekend that the engine was working poorly on account of a burnt exhaust valve. Whereas this speedy disappointment would possibly go away a bitter style within the mouths of some, it didn’t deter Jonathan from his final purpose of turning his outdated and barely run-down wagon into one thing particular.
After spending a decade at Lamborghini wrenching on uncommon European vehicles, just a little exhaust valve wouldn’t get in Jonathan’s approach. 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 over time,” 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 Nineteen 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 just a few touches from Lamborghini alongside the best way — it’s nice to see a lot of its authentic character and appeal remains to be maintained.
I really like the textures on vehicles from this period, and it’s spectacular to see how effectively the supplies have held up. On that observe, 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 take a seat how he needed. No off-the-shelf air experience kits existed for the chassis, however, like that pesky exhaust valve, this wouldn’t get in the best way of his imaginative and prescient. Shocks designed for a Volkswagen GTI had been mated to modified strut housings, and twin Viair 444 compressors are related 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 applicable 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 will have already seen that the facet strips, facet markers, and antenna had been shaved for a clear clean end throughout the large flat physique.
On this kind, albeit at a stock-like experience top and with manufacturing facility wheels and steering wheel reinstalled, Jonathan’s automotive was utilized in an Audi industrial for the RS6 Avant. You may watch that by hitting the play button above.
After holding and driving the Avant for just a few years, Jonathan ultimately offered the automotive. He moved on to different tasks together with a 964 and a 993, which he in the end became a Porsche 911 GT3 RS that’s presently paired with a modified Honda CR-X. He’s additionally moved on from his job at Lamborghini, selecting as an alternative 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 comfortable spot for the Avant. “I want I nonetheless had it, it’s simply such a particular, distinctive automotive that you just by no means see on the street.”
Trevor Ryan
Instagram: purposebuilt_trevor
www.purposebuilt.media
