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 automobile, however that didn’t hassle the proprietor of this uncommon Avant variant. Jonathan Yost is aware of a easy recipe to make a sluggish automobile cool.
“I meant to maintain it old-fashioned… largely authentic. And, in fact, get it as little as doable.” Sensible man. Ditch the ‘s’, and switch sluggish into low.
In 2017, Jonathan flew north from the Los Angeles space to Oakland, California to choose up the automobile from a VAG fanatic, solely to seek out out as he drove house later that weekend that the engine was operating poorly on account of a burnt exhaust valve. Whereas this fast disappointment would possibly depart a bitter style within the mouths of some, it didn’t deter Jonathan from his final purpose of turning his previous and barely run-down wagon into one thing particular.
After spending a decade at Lamborghini wrenching on uncommon European vehicles, a bit 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 through the years,” Jonathan says, which was rectified by a recent coat of its metallic Marathon Blue, a coloration 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 best way — it’s nice to see a lot of its authentic character and allure continues 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 word, a alternative dashboard and door panels have 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 automobile to sit down how he needed. No off-the-shelf air trip 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 have 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 usually tempting to run bigger and bigger wheels as trip heights get decrease, however it’s refreshing to see that Jonathan didn’t succumb to this.
Low-profile Euro bumpers additional tidy up the outside, and you’ll have already seen that the aspect strips, aspect markers, and antenna have been shaved for a clear easy end throughout the massive flat physique.
On this type, albeit at a stock-like trip top and with manufacturing facility wheels and steering wheel reinstalled, Jonathan’s automobile was utilized in an Audi business for the RS6 Avant. You may watch that by hitting the play button above.
After maintaining and driving the Avant for a couple of years, Jonathan ultimately bought the automobile. He moved on to different tasks together with a 964 and a 993, which he finally 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 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 smooth spot for the Avant. “I want I nonetheless had it, it’s simply such a particular, distinctive automobile that you just by no means see on the highway.”
Trevor Ryan
Instagram: purposebuilt_trevor
www.purposebuilt.media
