|
| Owners' Car Showcase |
Welcome to the Showcase of Members' Cars!
These cars are not for sale. Rather, the showcase represents a place where any owner of a Sterling, Sebring, Cimbria (Nova, Erueka, Eagle, etc.)
can very easily display their car -- whether it is a raw project, a daily driver, or a perfect show car.
Additionally, once you add your car to the showcase, you can easily create a "Builder's Journal" for your project including text, photos, video or whatever information you want to share about your car.
Whether you have a finished car or a project, please take the time to post your car and have it be counted in the ongoing saga.
|
|
Sterling #unknown -- W. Daugherty -- Central PA (USA)
|
|
Time Left: 296m, 6d
Ad ID Number: 8 Views: 332
|
| Car Specifications |
| Engine Type (in general): |
| rotary engine |
| Engine Details (Specific): |
| 13b turbo rotary from an 88 RX7 |
| Type of Chassis: |
| IRS Beetle (1969 Bug or newer) |
| Brake Configuration: |
| aftermarket discs -- front and rear |
| Top-lifting Mechanism: |
| hydraulic pump and cylinders |
| Condition of the Car: |
| good shape, readily drivable |
| Model: |
| Sterling - original (includes most) |
| Dash Style: |
| Sterling -- GT wrap-around |
| Transaxle: |
| IRS VW Bug -- beefed |
| Canopy Style/Modifications: |
| stock canopy / solid roof |
|
|
|
|
|
| Additional Photos |
|
|
|
Details
|
With proud excitement, I wanted to formally introduce the fifth (and strongest) Sterling to pass through my stable over the years, a red Sterling with a wrap-around dash and a turbo rotary out of an RX7. I'm particularly happy about this one. 
In a nutshell, I pulled it off CraigsList in late summer '08 and I have been mildly modifying it ever since, as time allows. It's a strong runner already, so my main goals are to add embellishments to what is there already rather than radically modify anything at this time. Unlike my other project, this is NOT a ground up restoration.
The story of this particular car starts earlier than last summer. For many, many years I had been happily working on an old, tired Sterling that's based around a substantially modified VW chassis that I've beefed up to accept a V6 turbo out of an old '80s Nissan 300ZX. The project is near and dear to me and proved to be a wonderful bastion of sanity and relaxation during my years of college and grad school. But, even after years of work, it is still far from running.
So I promised myself a few years ago that if I ever found a unique, running Sterling that I could afford, I'd beg-and-borrow as necessary to try to get it. And eventually one came along; a beautiful burgundy Sterling with some custom body work and a carburated rotary engine. So I got it. Problem is, exactly three weeks later, a better one (the one in this listing) came up on Ebay.  Unfortunately, I'd already spent my money, so there was nothing to do but let it go to someone else who would love it.
Well...about a year later, I noticed a Sterling come up on Craigslist that looked suspiciously familiar. I contacted the owner who said he'd always dreamed of having a Sterling but had now had his fun and was ready to pass it along to someone who wanted to really put some final touches on it. And this time, the timing was right.
So...the current ride is a Sterling with a turbocharged rotary engine out of a 92 Mazda RX7. It's based on a fairly UN-modified Bug chassis with IRS suspension. I think the chassis might be from 1969. The floor boards were dropped, but beyond that, the chassis and suspension are fairly mundane. I've always been particularly fascinated by Sterlings with alternative engines, and the engine retrofit on this one seemed to be above average. The builder was apparently a real craftsman and must've had access to a nice fabrication shop. The engine installation is highlighted with all kinds of nice stainless steel baffles and plumbing plus a very functional engine management computer and electrical system. The original builder had gotten a whole lot of it (but not all of it) right already.
As I said, when it came up for sale, I just couldn't say 'no'. The engine is mated to a fairly stock bug transaxle. It has a heavier pressure plate, but beyond that, I don't think it's been beefed up at all. I don't know whether the power curve of a Wankel engine is particularly forgiving or if I'm just getting lucky, but, despite the common belief, I've been able to feed all 200+ hp through it on a regular basis without blowing up the trans. And in case you're wondering, YES, it's a lot of fun to stomp on that skinny pedal under your right foot. It's actually a little scary. A Sterling with a light-and-powerful engine is quite a hoot! Surprisingly, I can't chirp the tires. But once rolling, it accelerated from 10 to 70 like it has an afterburner.
The other two modifications that drew me to this particular car were the unusual dash and the even more unusual rear hatch which has proven to be very practical as well as, I think, kinda cool looking. (I actually wish I could talk Dave from SterlingSportsCars into replicating the hatch.) The dash was apparently "out of" an actual Sterling GT. As far as I know, there were only a few (like less than 10) Sterling "GT"s actually produced, and this is NOT one of them. For those that don't know, in addition to the wrap-around dash, the true GT's had modified side scoops and less-scalloped wheel wells as well as a significantly modified rear that almost looked like a Sebring II. My car does NOT have those modifications and therefore is not a GT. But apparently the builder liked the GT dash, bought one, and retrofit it into his earlier body. Fine by me. For my taste, it was the best of both worlds.
I'm not sure that I love the pop-up headlights. There is something to be said about those big, beautiful, open eyes one the original novas and Sterlings. The Sterling has an absurdly long nose to begin with, and I've always though the open bay headlights help to break that up a bit, if done right. But I can't bear the thought of cutting into this one for any changes like that just yet. I also always liked the nostril-style hood as opposed to the smooth one for some of the same reasons. Again, I guess I'll put this on the wish list.
The car is far from perfect. Although I like the style of the dash, it is adorned with cheesy rocker switches from the late '70s and an ugly wood veneer that looks like it should be on a foosball table. And the upholstery is very dated. And the sound system is absolutely absurd (e.g.: separate, modular, large old controls for the radio, EQ, cassette, CB (!), and, yes, 8-track -- all mounted from the ROOF!) And there are little spider cracks here and there plus a gaping hole in the exhaust (which I'm pretty sure will take more than a trip to AutoZone to fix.) Various gauges don't function, and the original wheels were nightmarishly unbalanced due to being HAND reamed out to the "correct" bolt pattern(!)
But I love this beast, and I'll try to bring her back up to 100% Currently I'm working on swapping out the stock brakes for some massive disc brakes on all four corners which I bought from a custom shop called AirKewld. I like them so far. Very well fabricated. Probably total overkill, but I needed to update them anyway (along with the wheels) and so I figured I'd write the big check and do it right the first time. I'm not sure if this car will ever be the fastest Sterling, but it might be the stopping-est.
Anyway, that should give a feel for this particular car.
I invite anyone/everyone to check my build diary periodically for updates. I've had some cool ideas for an updated dash and front grill.
Later,
--Warren Daugherty aka farfegnubbin
|
|
Comments: 0
|
| No comments have been submitted. |
|
|
