Avanti Employee!

[mfg]

In 1989, eighty one year old Mel Sesse, who worked at Avanti Automotive Corp., was called "the world's oldest active automaker"...his job there was .........?......

1) interior upholstery......2)  engine set-up & tune......3) dashboard assembly.....4) final  road testing

Edited August 7, 2020 by mfg
punctuation

[studegary]

2 hours ago, mfg said:

In 1989, eighty one year old Mel Sesse, who worked at Avanti Automotive Corp., was called "the world's oldest active automaker"...his job there was .........?......

1) interior upholstery......2)  engine set-up & tune......3) dashboard assembly.....4) final  road testing

I am going to guess 4) final road test.  That would be for 158 Avantis built for that year.   

[mfg]

11 hours ago, studegary said:

I am going to guess 4) final road test.  That would be for 158 Avantis built for that year.   

No, he didn't road test the cars!

[pantera928]

Dashboard assembly

[wdaly]

I remember, at least for the 88's, them using an 'old' guy promoting the fine hand finishing of the dash wood.

[mfg]

14 hours ago, pantera928 said:

Dashboard assembly

 

3 hours ago, wdaly said:

I remember, at least for the 88's, them using an 'old' guy promoting the fine hand finishing of the dash wood.

Yes, that was Mel's job at Avanti!

[silverstude]

Mel was my inspiration, when I installed an 89 Dash in my 70.  

[mfg]

15 minutes ago, silverstude said:

Mel was my inspiration, when I installed an 89 Dash in my 70.  

Nice!

[mfg]

22 hours ago, silverstude said:

Mel was my inspiration, when I installed an 89 Dash in my 70.  

An '89 Avanti dash in a '70...sounds like a big job!

[Avanti83]

On 5/25/2022 at 11:05 AM, mfg said:

An '89 Avanti dash in a '70...sounds like a big job!

It's actually close to a bolt in. If you use the whole dash the console would need to be modified. If you modify the dash you can keep the 74 console like I did.

[silverstude]

I used the entire console and mated  it with the lower 70 original.  All the gauges are Autometer.  After I bought two of the 89 heat/cool system controls (Chrysler), I did not like the design and went with original A/C knobs on the lower part of the light switch panel.   The panel has indicators for all the lights and 700R4 Trans lockup / The heat/fresh air controls are above the left knee / the A/C unit has an integral hot water pass-thru so you really get "defrost". /  The shifter is from a mid 90s Camaro and required a floor be installed underneath, which also prevents a lot of heat transfer  The shifter also has the neutral safety switch and backup light controls.   The A-Pillar guage pod is for the SN-60. / Tilt Column is from a 90s Chevy Panel truck, Wheel is  Momo.  E-brake handle is on the floor..... and the Mel inspiration Dash inlay was created by making a mold from the 89 dash cavity and using high quality furniture grade plywood in 3 pieces veneered in Carpathian Burl Elm and sealed in clear epoxy.  

 

[mfg]

Wow...you two Avanti enthusiast's craftsmanship is way over my pay grade......

Kudos to both of you!!....Ed

[pantera928]

Both look great but my wife would be asking for her make up box with the folding mirror

[wdaly]

1 hour ago, pantera928 said:

Both look great but my wife would be asking for her make up box with the folding mirror

WAIT - you allow your Wife IN the Car!😳

[Stacey]

Very impressive workmanship by both of you, I like the look of both of them.

[pantera928]

21 hours ago, wdaly said:

WAIT - you allow your Wife IN the Car!😳

Since she puts up with all of my cars, I don't argue.........much anyway🤣