James Bond
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Posts posted by James Bond
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
After, and during the car show, two people told me they didn't know this car existed. WTF!! I guess we have our work cut out for us! Let's go!!
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There was about 16 vehicles at the show. After all was said and done, between food and cash, about $1000.00 was raised. It's a start! I had several questions about my baby! When I was there.
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Next, a terrified wife, and the risk of arrest!
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Part three, the ride home. My wife and and I pulled up in our getaway car, a 2001 Forester. We met the seller, a man in construction. He told us of how he got a bargain from a dealership who wanted out of the marque. He rightly boasted of the deal he made. Good for you!! He also told us why he was selling. It was a Porsche he had just bought. The car was amazing, He said "Go ahead...sit in it!" I said "No way!" He smiled. Like I said, he read us. He talked to us a little of the history of the car. The company was bought and sold more than once? Yeah, okay. He gave me the paperwork, we put on the plates, and we were on our way home!
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Was at a small car show in Newtown Ct. At the local Stop & Shop supermarket. It was for a local food bank. After the DJ, all proceeds went to that charity There was about 16 cars. A vote for your favorite car was non-perishable food placed in a box in front of the car. Burgers and dogs, raffle prizes, were all donated, after the dj, everything went to the food bank. There were some pretty cars there. But if I may say, mine was the most awesome. This is from someone who is completely unbiased!!
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I was driving home in Southbury, when right past Dunkin Donuts, I saw a black Avanti! If it's you, contact me. I'd like to talk to you about you car. I have a little story about it.
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
Now as the colder months come upon us, I won't drive my baby so much, I wonder what I can do to advance our cause. My idea is to be a gadfly, a pain in the ass basically. My aim will be the association, getting them to increase their focus. We've preached to the choir too long...now it's time to wake up the public. If you of the association are monitoring this, please contact me. Perhaps we can put together a package that will not only energize we as owners, but will excite the interest of the car appreciating public. The ground is fertile...let's harvest it!!
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There will be a car show in Newtown Ct. this coming Saturday. It will be at the Stop & Shop plaza. If you are in the area, please show up. There is no cut off. All are welcomed. This is purely a fund raiser for the local food bank. It's $10.00 a car. There are burgers and dogs, and raffles of donated items. Each car will have a box in front in which donated food will be how they are judged. The weather is supposed to be good, so please, if you're in the area, show up. I'll show you my baby!!
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Checked out you car...really nice!And the rest of the story? Charlie RQB3921
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You know...that story does a heart good!Not much of a story, but it does show how good Avanti owners are. I found a car near South Bend. Being far away...not to mention not being an Avanti expert...it was impossible for me to judge the car before committing to purchases it.
I look in the Avanti magazine and notice that Mike Baker, the (then) soon to be club president, lived in the area. I call him and ask if he knows of anyone local who could look at the car. To make a short story short, he inspected it himself when he went to South Bend for the opening of the museum. He wouldn't take any payment for his services.
Again, there are great people in the club.
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
Very interesting! Please let us know if you hear anything!I'm trying to get the association's attention and offering to participate (or lead) marketing planning and have listed the issues facing the organization with which I can assist. Asked if I was willing to serve on the board and gave a qualified reply. Maybe something will happen.
And, yes, board members should be here. This is how you respond to the interests of your constituents. I some other way?
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
Understood, I'm not going half cocked here. I'm just trying to find the machinations in which present a proposal. I'm not going to the board and say "You guys should do something!" I just wanted to know how to access them. Now I know.Go to the home page and at the bottom click on "The AOAI". It will list the President and board members of the AOAI. Make a proposal and ask that the board consider it. That would be far better than simply discussing it here. Make an official proposal...but I would suggest make more than the idea. Make a proposal with some specifics...what can be done an how to go about it.
Don't simply make a suggestion that "Someone" should do something. "Someone" doesn't much around any any organization, business or the government. Not trying to bust your chops but presenting a thought out plan gets better reception than dropping an idea and then walking away.
Remember...this is a somewhat small association. Everyone has lives outside of this so don't expect an answer immediately. Ideas have to be discussed according the rules of the association and can sometimes be frustratingly slow...no matter how good the idea.
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
So....this may be a stupid question, I don't know how this works. How do you get the attention of the Association to put forth an idea. I would think, they would be monitoring the site, thus know the content. But what if this not the case? How do we go about it, and, realistically, would it do any good?
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On the anniversary of 9/11 I thought you might appreciate this song
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Paying for it and coming home was a bit of a pain in the ass! They wanted a $500.00 deposit, with payment three days later, as I remember. I called the seller and told him I would pay him in full, and take delivery in two days. Would that be acceptable? I assured him I would pay with a bank check. He was fine with that. The next day, his son called me and said a bank check would not suffice, he wanted a certified check...WTF! I contacted my bank, and I talked to others, there are no certified checks!! Only bank checks. I called the seller, and explained the situation, he was not aware that this demand was made. I told him "All I want do is make to the sale". He told me to come and pick up the car. He was in construction, I'd like to think his instincts told him that I was real, totally sincere. The trip home will follow!
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Just as an idea...how about Raymond Lowey's birthday? Or perhaps the first day day of production? Maybe the last in America. Just some ideas...
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Agreed, but wouldn't it be advantageous to have a separate forum for buyers and sellers? A place where we can horse trade, and maybe expand our base. "Hey, if you want to buy a collector, check out the Avanti market site!" It could happen, although I don't know how to set something like that up. I guess we need more public relations, do we look to the association for that, and if no, how do we light a fire? Here's something, how about an Avanti day! A day when we, in all of our states, drive our classics to raise conscience . What do you think?All a prospective buyer has to do is join the forum and ask. Someone will likely answer. The SDC Forum is much the same. The AOAI can't be responsible for helping someone who doesn't make themselves known. -
I loved your post..what a great story! The search, the search..then the discovery!! I understand the need to downsize...I'm heading towards that point as well. But I'm sure who you sell car to will appreciate it as much as you do. Oh, and by the way, I would LOVE a Lark!
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
The reason we may seem insular, or as you say "cultish" is that right now, we're in an echo chamber. Yammering amongst our selves. We know we have to expose our cars to the public, Showing your car is a great idea, we should continue to do it. But we need more power, more oomph behind us. Perhaps a concerted campaign by the Association to open people's eyes could be the spearhead of a "brand recognition" this car deserves. Preaching to the choir, whether here or in print is not enough. The echoes only go so far.
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
I was going to drive my baby to work this morning, but they talked about rain so I decided against it. After work, though, was another story! The afternoon was beautiful. Medium warm temps, bright sunshine, and a slight breeze. Perfect!! So me and DW fired my baby up. I tried to get as much exposure as possible. Going along well traveled roads, the highway, to show it's power, and along the parking lot where I work. It was an extended ride. One of the longest I've taken. Maybe it's me, but my baby seemed to run better the more I drove it...it seemed happy
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I'd like think that we would all like to know how we came to own our gems. I may be right, I may be wrong. Either way here's my story, if you want to tell yours...so much the better.
It started a long time ago, more than thirty years ago, my wife and I were in rural New York, looking for a Christmas tree. A completely snazzy car came in the other lane. I said, "What the hell is that!", or something of the like. An immediate impression was made, the car never left my mind! Forward three decades later.
Enter my friend and boss, Paul. He owns a 1950 Studebaker Champion, a beautiful car! We got to talking, I was thinking I'd like a car with a history as a daily driver. I looked in the local car seller rag. I saw what I think was a 1957 boat...meh! So I went home and for the heck of it went on ebay. I looked at a mess of cars, then said to myself "Why not search Avanti?" So I did. There were some nice cars, but they were too far away to consider, a thousand miles or more.
Then there was one, about a hundred miles away...I couldn't believe it! It was a 1989 model, from the pictures it looked silver on the outside, with a light gray interior...fine by me! I asked my wife about bidding on it, she said to me, "As long as you consider it my thirtieth wedding anniversary to you". Hell yeah! No problem!! All I got you was a diamond ring! So I placed a bid, "Reserve Not Met'" was the response, I place another, the same. I did it again, trying to save a few bucks, no good. Finally I said to my wife, "One more bid, I placed it. "Reserve Met" came up. I was thrilled! Now you would think and auction would in at an reasonable hour. Say four in the afternoon, silly me. This auction ended about three in the morning. So I set my alarm for a little before that. When it went off, my wife said to my "Don't you want to see if you've won?" "Won what?", my sleep deprived mind said...then I realized...oh yeah! Fumbling fingers found their way to the site, completely expecting to be disappointed.
What? Wait! Are you sure? Really? Yes, my bid had won. Picking it up is another story.
Please, tell us yours!
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
I do believe we have the best car ever designed, I do believe this car is in a class by it's own. I do believe that this classic will be recognized soon! I do believe!
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
Although I have a little more invested in my baby, I don't know what I'd do. If someone offered 2-3 times what I paid, I'd have to consider. Thinking about it, twice the price would not be enough. My baby means too much to me to let it go so cheaply. Unfortunately, right now, this is an exercise in fantasy. But not for long!!!If it were $10K more than I had "invested" in the car I would sell it. 'Love' is a many splendoured thing...
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Why?
in Avanti Pub
LOL!! You're right, there's a lot of waste of good air talking up our cars. That's the price we pay. As far as price, let's say you put an outrageously priced sale out...and it was accepted! What would you do then? I know I've asked this question before, but I think it's something we should consider.I like to tell the Avanti story. I guess folks who attend car shows should be interested. OTOH one can waste a lot of time talking to people who have no continuing interest or influence over what happens to our Avantis. My suggestion is to put a FOR SALE sign with a price to weed out those of little interest. (Price should be high enough so no one makes an offer!)
Our story...a history
in Avanti Pub
Posted
Let me tell you a little story. A man and a woman went to pick up a car. They went from Ct. to NJ. to take delivery. Once there, these people put Ct. plates on this vehicle, not registered, mind you and proceeded to drive home. Husband followed D/W. Early on the highway, a state cop was on the side. They drive by, not so fast, so they weren't worried. He pulls out...fuh, fuh...fuh!!! He thinks..."I'm toast!" He's coming up in the other lane! This guy thinks he about to spend some time in the local clink and have his car impounded. Fortunately, the cruiser cruised on by, not to be seen again. The rest of the ride was tranquil, once their hearts slowed down!