Restoring a Chrysler Avenger GLS

I bought the Avenger in June 2025, after selling my 1955 MG Magnette ZA. It belonged to my mate's late father and had been off the road for about four years, and I'd been after it for a while. Anyway, he relented, and I bought it. At first sight it didn't look to be in bad condition; I should have known better!

John Simpson of the Boston Car Club -https://bostonclassiccarclub.org.uk/ - will be familiar to many readers, and his most recent project is this fine 1979-model-year Avenger GLS. The original Hillman badge version debuted in February 1970, and in 1976 was rebadged as a Chrysler and gained a new grille, taillights, and interior. The GLS was the flagship version; junior executive transport to rival the Ford Escort 1.6 Ghia Mk. II and a car “that gives you everything we've talked about on the previous pages, all under one very luxurious roof (vinyl covered, of course)”.

Any executive who merits an Avenger GLS would naturally appreciate its electronic ignition, front fog lamps, clock, rev counter, cigar lighter, and an engine compartment lamp. The glass was tinted to “take away the harshest of the sun's glare and to add to the all-round attractiveness”, while the upholstery was “excitingly designed. Very tasteful”.  At £3,450 in 1978, the Avenger was also cheaper than the Escort 1.6 Ghia at £3,664, and readers of a certain age may recall Bruce Forsyth promoting the GLS in television commercials.

Following Chrysler's 1978 sale of its European operations to Peugeot, the Avenger was Talbot-badged from late 1979 to the end of UK production in 1981. Many former owners fondly remember them, and the Avenger Sunbeam Owners’ Club -https://www.asoc.co.uk/- does sterling work keeping the Avenger on the road. Any GLS is now rare, although John’s Avenger did not look quite as handsome when he became its custodian:

​It needed quite a lot of bodywork repairs. I cut out a lot of rust and welded new repair sections into place - notably, the offside outer sill, and the offside and nearside lower rear quarters behind the rear wheels. There was lots of filler there!

John also repaired the offside rear wheel arch and the driver-side front floor, plus:

​I did a lower half respray. A new vinyl roof was also fitted, as the original was in a very poor state; I would say this was the most challenging part of the restoration. All the suspension and brakes were rebuilt as required; the engine was removed and given a de-coke and repaint - it has only done 57000 miles. The engine bay was cleaned and painted.

Finally came the day when the Avenger returned to the road:

I've fitted a nice set of Alleycat alloy wheels and a pair of seats from an MGF - they give me more head and leg room. In July 2026, the Avenger was MOT tested, although it is exempt. I've done very few miles in it, and I'm still sorting out a few niggly problems. It's a great car to drive; it's quite nippy and handles well. We had four Avengers during the 1970s and used to do a few navigational rallies in them.

Plus, the Chrysler Avenger GLS is, as the brochure puts it, “a car that's a delight to be in and to own”.

With thanks to John Simpson for his time.

With thanks to John Simpson for the use of the images in this blog.