Yes, yes, I know, I have been terribly neglectful of my loyal readership of late and I promise I’ll post some good stuff in the next few days… Until then, a horribly ugly Sterling that someone has made a series of unforgivable changes to, including a horrendous “hinged” top a la the first-gen Aztec kit car and a truly terrible interior (does it fit anyone over 5′6″?). It’s described as being in “excellent” shape and as complete and running, and is up for sale on eBay (#140284397656) in the Los Angeles area. So far know one has jumped at the $2,000 buy-it-now price and I doubt they will.

This single owner white Sterling — California Component Cars #564 — is up for sale in Penfield, NY for an asking price of $8,000 by Jerry (SterlingKitCar@rochester.rr.com). He built the car back in 1977 while living in Northern California. He rebuilt and upgraded the ‘70 1600cc VW pan (four wheel independent suspension) with a rebuilt ‘72 engine out of a Super Beetle. The car currently has 35,212 miles on it, most of which were put on it in California between ‘77 and ‘84.

He moved around a bit, and then when he relocated to NY the car was put into storage where it has effectively stayed since ‘94. The pan has a Sterling drop-pan floor for extra head room, and the whole thing has been fiberglassed and pop riveted for additional rigidity. The brakes were rebuilt, and a heavy duty stabilizer bar was added. Four way adjustable shocks were added, as was a custom exhaust to fit the body.

The interior has Stewart Warner gauges (160mph speedometer, 7,000rpm tachometer, oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel, amperes, clock), as well as a compass under the dash and an altimeter on the rear window deck. The four speaker AM/FM stereo has a built-in CB radio. The car also has a heater and defroster. This is probably one of the only times you’ll see a single owner Sterling for sale by the way!

Wow, just got tipped off to an amazing deal in Fullerton, CA… Someone on Craigslist (#849651039) is giving away this Sterling kit!!!

The folks over on Exotic Spotter just posted some photos taken in Tamworth, UK of this radically modified Nova (Sterling) kit car on a VW chassis — although only the roof/window/door assembly appears to have been retained. It also seems to be using pieces from a Corvette (the dash), a Cougar (front lights), and a Vauxhall (rear lights)… Other than the front lights I like it.

PS. Notice the “53″ Herbie homage?

At the other end of the electric kit car spectrum from the previous one posted is Jonathan Trotter’s 1973 Sebring (Sterling). It’s built on a 1971 IRS Beetle pan (four wheel disc brakes, new rotors, calipers, hoses, cables ball joints, and bearings, and all chrome steering linkage, as well as new shocks, new rims and tires). The car looks good with new paint, new interior, a new wiper motor, arm, and blade, new weather strips, and new gauges.

The electric system is 144 volts, with a D&D motor, a Curtis controller, a Zivan charger, and Optima deep cell batteries. It will do 75 mph and has a range of thirty to a hundred miles depending on driving habits. Jonathan built the car in October 2007 and it has a new VIN and registration as an electric vehicle in Missouri. He’s asking $24,000 so he can move on to other projects, and says he’s invested much more than that. Write him at jonathantrotter@hotmail.com if you’re interested.

I picked this Sterling kit car up this morning here in Toronto. It’s never been completely finished or on the road, sitting for four years in a garage with the most recent owner, and eight years in a garage with the previous owner. Fingers crossed the trend will now be broken. Not much else to write on the project, but I’ll keep you updated of course.

Nick has this beautiful example of a Sterling kit car up for sale in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He says the car needs a little work, with problems holding a charge, as well as some work to repair imperfections in the fiberglass (minor chips and so on), and the interior (dashboard and carpet). Unfortunately there is also a crack in the windshield. The previous owner made a nice upgrade to the light pods, giving a look that’s a coherent mix of modern and classic sportscar design. Nick paid $10,000 for the car when he bought it. If you’re interested in buying it, drop him a line at nick_valo@—-.– SOLD!.