The company worked closely with owners to help them realize their dreams. Instead, It was professionally assembled by California Concept Cars (CCC), a respected fabricator and custom shop in the San Francisco Bay area.ĬCC has a reputation for producing quality products and being passionate about the Sterling brand. Like most US-spec Sterlings, the one sold on eBay was not produced in an owner’s garage. Sales took off after a favorable 1973 feature in Car and Driver magazine, and the stateside Sterling was off and running. The name change to Sterling in the United States avoided ruffling any feathers at General Motors, which already enjoyed some success with the Chevrolet Nova. Originally a British design, the Sterling kit car was first produced in England under the name Nova. Somewhere along the way, manufacturers moved away from using the term kit car in favor of the somewhat more flattering component car. It is also listed in the National Sterling Registry.By the mid-1970s and ‘80s, models like this Sterling had upped the ante with additional features and creature comforts to accompany their cutting-edge designs. The car is accompanied with documentation including wiring diagrams and build info, a Sterling manual, and a CD-ROM of additional information. Leaks and fluid accumulation are similarly absent as pictured here and in the gallery. The fuel tank has a minor leak that presents only when fully fueled, and the fuel sending unit is also noted to have a few ‘dead spots’ that infrequently manifest. Underside pictures are not comprehensive, but show no evidence of serious corrosion around the exhaust or suspension mounting points. The seller noted that the car was last serviced in 2014, and has been driven 200 miles since without issue. A dual glass-pack exhaust with heat risers has been fitted. The engine is a 1600cc air-cooled VW four-cylinder from 1973-74 (AH185534), roughly contemporary to the kit build, and mated to the stock VW 4-speed transmission. The seller notes that the oil pressure gauge is inoperative but monitors low oil level. The dash is a one-piece fiberglass unit, painted black, and shows scratches along the console and a large circular cut near the ignition. These currently wear cheap covers, and the underlying seats are pictured in the gallery below, with a large chunk missing from the driver’s seat back bolster. The interior features a lowered floorpan for additional headroom, and has been equipped with adjustable seats sourced from a NA Miata. The seller notes that side windows were never installed, but are still in production and available from Sterling, along with most other replacement parts. The cockpit glass looks to be clear, though the plastic headlight covers show light scratching over the repurposed Beetle headlights. The hydraulic canopy roof is a distinctive feature of the Sterling kits. The wheels are period 15″ alloys and with a 4-lug bolt pattern in the front, and 5-lug at the rear. Close-ups of the paint can be seen in the gallery. The passenger side exterior mirror is mounting holes and screws remain. Some stone chipping can be seen on the leading edge of the nose. Several scratches and chips were touched up by the museum staff in the past month but remain noticeable, particularly a quarter-sized flaw on the hood. The paint looks to be largely presentable with a slightly hazy but even sheen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |