1976 x-18

[Conquistador_del_mar]

A friend called me this week to see the X-18 he just bought from the 2nd owner. It was originally in Kansas, but spent the last 20 years here in north Texas by the 2nd owner. It is still on the single axle Rocket trailer and has the 280 VP drive. I will get some pictures to post of the boat which is in remarkable condition along with the HID #. I told my friend that I would check here to see if anyone can confirm that this looks like the original upholstery since I questioned the front seats with the solid upholstery on the tops. These are old pics from the first owner. Also, does anyone know how many were made? Bill

[mattyboy]

I have seen the stripe ( candycane) interior like that on an x 18 before it was original.


info on the X-18 http://www.lgdonziclassic.net/pages/X18.asp

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Apparently the ex owner was correct when he told my friend 171 were made. I know the striped seats were made, but I don't remember seeing the solid upholstery on the tops of the front buckets before. Thanks, Bill

[mattyboy]

Bill

yes the one I saw had the solid seat tops and backs just like that one, it was in a red and white setup though.

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Thank you. I am asking because my friend wants to take it back to original - right now the upholstery is solid white, but the boat originally was the one in the pictures that the ex owner had on file. I was also surprised to see there are only 2 vents - one facing forward and the other aft. I did not remember and I have never owned one. Bill

[mattyboy]

Bill,

I never really noticed the vents but it looks the same on the brochure boat

[Conquistador_del_mar]

I should add that the one Mike just bought has good stringers and a solid transom - all original. I told him we will have to clean out the fuel tank and hope it is still solid with no leaks. Mike saw the guy at our local carwash on Wednesday cleaning the boat and asked if he ever wanted to sell it - ironically the guy was cleaning it for the first time in a few years to sell it. He had not run the boat for 7 years! Supposedly, it ran perfect the last time he used it before winterizing it. Bill

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Apparently, the X-18 came with only 2 vents which is something I never noticed - no wonder they are supposed to be 3 to 4MPH faster - . I will get some pictures and the hull # when I get with Mike over the weekend. Bill

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Here are a few pictures I took this afternoon. Mike already had it running after cleaning out the fuel tank - it sounds great with the 4" exhausts. Bill

[mattyboy]

nice good for him what's the HIN

[Conquistador_del_mar]

It is a DMR#. I would have remembered the number if it was shorter. Donzi put it under the gunwhale lip at the stb transom so it faces down instead of back. If anyone wants to know the # for some records I can get it.

[mattyboy]

very nice boat, unusual they added red as the third color , orqnge was usually the third in the yellow and white combo on the X18. I am not a big yellow fan but mix the yellow with the orange or the red I really like that color combo. The donzi dealer on my lake had a few different Classics with that color combo, fell in love with them right away as a kid.

[olredalert]

----Bill,,,My TRS/330 X-18 that I bought new in 1978 had black and white candystripe interior and that top panel was black. Looked great too!!!.........Bill S

[Dakari]

I'd love to hear a little more about this X. I also have a '76 X-18, HID DMR181360576. Similar acquisition story. It was also from the second owner of the boat, with the original rocket trailer as well. She was originally brown/white color combo, but had been sprayed red by one of the previous owners. It also had (I still have) the original Marine Power 350 FLV w/ the Corvette rocker covers.

Looks like this boat has no tabs, or if there are the controls are not located where mine are, near the bilge control.

Sweet boat, I'd love to hear what she has for power, and find out what number she is.

Have fun!

-Kev

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Mike sent me this info tonight. The hull # is DMR181330476 and the outdrive # is 2829596B. It is a 350 Chevy - beyond that I don't know except the exhaust is Glenwood. Also, I saw a quadrajet on it. Bill