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If you’re fortunate, there may be an Avanti enthusiast near your future ‘find’ that’s willing to evaluate the car for you.

Available on 6 cyl.

Can I go home now??

After replacing the 305 with a 350, the old alternator looks terrible. I want to replace with a chrome unit but cant find the right fit. Jegs has a Powermaster , chrome with 140 Amps, but wont guarantee fit. Does our original have a 130 case. My part # is 321-383 10463092 with 105 amp, would like more Amps and in chrome. I have the tag on old alternator with part numbers and such. But Jegs say they cant cross reference My numbers to theres. What have you done?

If an upholstery shop isn’t interested in something as basic as that job…I wouldn’t want them as my upholsterer. Find someone who wants your business.

Nice! My '69 looks alike:

Mercedes is generally mentioned as the manufacturer of Avanti latches. But, that's incorrect. The company during the early Avanti years was called Daimler Benz. Mercedes is the end product, not the company. The name of the company from 1926 to 1998 was Daimler Benz. Named after Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. It then became Daimler Chrysler and is currently named Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Mercedes was the name of the daughter of a driver who raced Daimler cars in the early 1900s. And so ends the automotive history lesson for May 9, 2026.

Why?

Many old time Studebaker owners did prefer the 3 speed o/d trans over the ‘straight’ 3 speed, or even the four speed. (Myself included) However, the T-86 was certainly less robust than the four speed, and the non- Syncro first gear was nothing to brag about!

How far away is the next closest upholstery shop? It shouldn't be a big ordeal for a shop. I had my '63 seat cushions done a few months ago when I had new upholstery installed.

I also would have said Mercedes…Dwight is ‘deep’ indeed!

Correct!!! That certainly goes deeper than the answer I had in mind. I was looking for the name of the automobile manufacturer that used the same latching system on their cars. Dwight, great show of trivial Avanti knowledge, take the rest of the day off. 😎

Actually, this statement is false!

Sorry Dwight, it wasn’t Mr. Doehler

My two current classics. Enjoy 'em both.

The seat bottom foam is shot in my 1976. The local seat shop wasn’t interested in trying to build up new foam for it. Does anyone have a source for seat bottom foam or know of a similar car foam that might work w modifications?

FWIW the Monkee's were musically quite good. I never paid them much mind. Other than the corny TV show. I picked up a greatest hit's CD at a thrift shop. Had loads of songs on it. Stuff you never heard on the radio. I was very surprised how good the rest of their music was. Was a well spent two bucks!

Thanks for the welcome and good luck wishes. I do plan to be patient with the purchase. One issue is that it seems nothing pops up close to home. Get's a bit costly when it takes an airplane ride to see the car. I've never bought a car sight unseen. Not going to start now.

The R4 i sent to MCACN in 2012

True

I don't remember the exact number, but it was something like 40. I, personally, have seen one (in 1965). The trans. was the T-86, which is not a heavy-duty trans. I assume it was made the base transmission to keep the base price of the Avanti down. I agree it was not a very good idea.

Kiekert, of Germany

I will say 1) Bob Doehler, because he worked for Studebaker in its own design studio.

(This question is reposted elsewhere as a new AVANTI TRIVIA question)