r1lark

Hmmm.....a while back Ed you asked this question: The Studebaker Avanti used in the Murphy-Carroll-Neiland cross-country Sears tire test was a late 1963 model...........true? My response was as follows: Oh boy, this gets into the whole "what is the point at which the '63s stopped and the '64s began" discussion, doesn't it? The Allstate cross-country car was a square headlight car (see video below), plus it was built after the summer 'break' (early July to early August) in production. To me, that is two reasons to call it an early '64 Avanti, so I'll say false. Cool YouTube video of the start of the Allstate cross country run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYz3Q4fyu3U Your response was: And false is CORRECT!...............( It looks to me the Avanti in question is clearly a 1964 model). Thanks for posting the excellent video! So, being built after the summer break, and being a square headlight car...............why isn't Gary's answer correct? Perhaps you are looking for "#3 1963 Transition Model "since the Sears/Allstate car (R4938) was built during the time that both 'round' and 'square' headlight Avantis were coming off the line? Or that R4928 was built during the period that both 1963 option numbers/paint code cars and 1964 option numbers/paint code cars were coming off the line together? I don't have a copy of R4938's Production Order to determine whether it has the '63 or the '64 option numbers/paint codes........that would be the determining factor in my mind. However, knowing you Ed (not being disparaging here, but a compliment ) you have probably uncovered some information that points to this car being something other than a 1964 model, so I'm waiting to see that. Until then, I tend to agree with Gary that it's a 1964 model. Wish I had a copy of R4938's Production Order tho..........

I believe it was Bonneville Avanti #9.....................

Seems like I saw an ad in TW many years ago by a Insurance Company, but my (poor) memory says it was for an entire wrecked Avanti.........and I don't remember the company.

The production order (first page) for R5650 indicates serial number of 63R 5650..................and note on the bottom of page one of the production order it says 'Converted to "63" Production Car Serial No: 63R-5650'. Now, whether this was the ONLY Avanti EX car converted to '63 production I'm not sure, these are the only copies of production orders I had. Just adding pertinent information .

False. Here are copies of production orders for a couple of PowerShift cars:

Seems like I've always heard the cc of the 582 head as 67, so it must be #4. (I believe that #1 is the 'standard' 570 head volume.)

Perhaps a larger purchaser of Prestolite components wasn't enthused about him driving a Studebaker?

63R1001 was the first production Avanti as Gunslinger alludes to, but not the first Avanti built. So I'll say false.

Wow, seems like kind of a cheesy fix.

Strictly a guess, but I'd think the rear seat would either be full of 'stuff' or not even in the car, so I'll say FALSE. Plus, not sure the rear seat of an Avanti would be too comfortable to curl up on for a nap.

Well, strictly a guess, but since Nevada probably didn't have speed limits on its highways in the great open spaces........I'll say 110 mph.

My Mom's '64 Challenger 4-door sedan had one in the glovebox. In the old days when it was safe to leave kids in the car at stores, I used to go thru all the things in the glovebox - the owners manual, the accessories manual, the 'love that lark' brochure, and the stuff in the first aid kit. Can't tell you how many times I read that owners manual and accessories manual!

Well, DUH......I knew that. But thought you meant what was the connection between the two companies that would drive them to do the first aid kit. Oh well......

To me it sounds like something a marketing person would say, so I'll go with Lew Minkel.

That is SO cool Georger!!