Chrysler Avenger 1300 DL -78 - Help!

[kellarinpertti]

Hi! Greetings from Finland. I'm writing because I need some help and information about my avenger.

Last summer I bought a Chrysler avenger from my friend. In my car's papers reads that the car is Chrysler-Sunbeam 1300 DL. Car's model is 1978 and it's 2door. There is a half vinyl roof in the car. It's weird because I think GT was the only avenger which was a vinyl roof and 2door (correct if I'm wrong). There is a GT's original wheels too. There is a sign in rear of the car that reads 1300DL Sunbeam. Usually In the Chrysler Avenger's rear reads Avenger, not sunbeam?   I'm a new Avenger aficionado. I would be grateful If somebody could help me. Is the car rare? Is it unusual? Anything you know about this car would help me a lot!

Here are some pics:























Stickers and mirrors are not original

[avenga]

I think your Avenger would be originally from Denmark maybe, In most of Europe the Avenger was called a Sunbeam, except the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

Wikipedia says

Denmark and Europe

In Denmark, the versions being sold were:
1300 (2-door saloon, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate car)
1300 GL (2-door saloon, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate car)
1600 GL (2-door saloon, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate car)
1600 GLS (4-door saloon, 5-door estate car)
1600 GT (2-door saloon, 4-door saloon)

These Danish versions had two-door equivalents which were sometimes exported back to the UK, since two-door models were phased out in the UK market in 1979. The Hillman Avenger name was not used, instead the cars were simply badged as Sunbeam and the engine size and trim level (e.g. Sunbeam 1600 GLS).

Throughout most of Europe the Sunbeam name was used, except for the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

[JoKer]

COOL! aint seen a 2dr Chrysler before (rare here in NZ)

LHD sweetness too

[avenga]

COOL! aint seen a 2dr Chrysler before (rare here in NZ)

LHD sweetness too

Actually come to think about it neither have I. All the 2 doors I have seen have been earlier Hillmans. Left Hand Drive is cool also.

[Paddy75]

Hi Kellar congratulations on your 2-door Avenger. Funnily enough I was looking at a MK2 2-door yesterday as it happens.

The car is registred 1978 and I think its called a Series 7, made in 1976/7. The MK1 (Hillman/Sunbeam) Avenger/Sunbeam was updated to the MK2 in late 1976 and given the Chrysler badge.
The early MK2's were made in a diffrent factory than the later (Series 8 on) MK2 Avengers.

You see the way your VIN# starts 'R' not 'L' this means it was made in Ryton so it has some more parts the same as the MK1 had.

If the car is single carburettor, does it have the throttle operated by the link rod rather than a cable? Is the distributor points operated or electronic.
Also your Sunbeam is badged 1300 DL, not 1.3 LS.
What type of carburettor is the link rod operating, a Stromberg or an SU? The SU you can see the float chamber exposed on the front.

Looks like you have a S7 Avenger so the TCA's will be shorter than the S8 and Talbot Sunbeam. Look at the front wheels they will probabbly look like they are pointing inwards.

The half vinyl roof was fitted to a special edition 2-door MK2 Avenger called the 'Avenger Special' yes you are correct normally only the high performance 2-door models had this.
I guess the 'Avenger Special' was running out the older components as they switched production to Linwood for the Series 8.
The 2-door MK2 is very rare today because when the Talbot Sunbeam, a chopped Avenger with the Hillman Imp type of liftback rear window, was launched the 2-door Avencer ceased production as the Talbot Sunbeam was of course a 2-door car. Although I think it (the Avenger/Sunbeam) was still available in LHD markets.

Take a look at this, dated June 1978, maybe your Sunbeam was one of these specials for the LHD market.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chrysler-Avenger-1600-Special-2dr-Limited-Edition-1978-UK-Market-Brochure-/180864387337

Enjoy your Sunvenger!

[kellarinpertti]

Hi, I'm sorry that my reply has been delayed.   I've been quite busy lately. But thank you very much for replies. It helps a lot. My avenger restoration project is progressing. The car is mechanically perfect. I rebuilt the brakes and other. The engine runs like in new car. I took the car to my uncle and now he is working with primer. I'm waiting october when I'll get my driving license.. yea I'm only 17. But I'm taking good care of the car. It will be awesome. Can I find somewhere how many of these are in the world? Or can somebody guess?  

[Paddy75]

This is your first car, oh you are the man!
I wish an Avenger was my first car. As far as I know there are a couple of hundred left in the UK & Ireland, probably loads of Polaras/Dodge/VW1500's left in Brazil & Argentina and the winner country for Avenger is...

New Zealand.

Avenger Eden.

There is a Finnish man with a very tidy MK1 2-door which is rally prepped. I'll try and find his details for you.

[kellarinpertti]

Hi! I'm so sad because the best driving season is going on and I'll get my driving license in october.. and my avenger project is just in the primer..

My cousin visited here today with his Opel Sprint Rekord coupe -68... I felt right away that I need to get on the road. It's a beautiful summer evening and the sun is shining... can't wait next summer and my avenger.

My parents have a berry farm here in Orimattila, Finland. Now in the summer I have no time to avenger very much because I'm working :S
Well, I'll need money to get my avenger finished

When something happens with my car I'll report to here.