All Activity

Could someone please tell me exactly which space saver spare tire they have, that works, for a 1985 Avanti? It was many years ago, that a lot of owners switched to using one of these mini donut type, as full size doesn't fit in the trunk very well, if at all. I used to have one, but, as stupid as it sounds, I seem to have misplaced mine! I am unable to find this information, with internet searches. Keep in mind, that the earlier ones are not an option, as the lug setup was changed to chevy with adapters, on this model. The wrong one, could have clearance issues. Thanks in advance, George Rohrbach

I recently aquired a 63 R2 with a variety of additional parts, my question is: what are some of the hardest to find parts for the early years cars?

Running Changes? Salt & Pepper to Black. R-4275

Brad, if you want to call the WCFB a Will Carter Four Barrel…. then I too will call it a Will Carter Four Barrel…. No problem!

The Will Carter is right from the horses mouth at the Carter factory that was in St. Louis. Can't get any clearer than that.

Thank you… I did not realize they were separate sights… My apologies to Bob Johnstone.

Once again….clerical mistakes sometimes happen……. Some kind of deliberate misrepresentation?… I doubt that very much.

The Avanti Registry (part of the AOAI) and Bob Johnstone's Studebaker - Info.org are separate sites. If you read my post you will see it was posted on the Avanti Registry first and then posted on Bob's site. Your problem is with the Avanti Registry and not Bob Johnstone.

Maybe Larry Crapo could help with the confusion. His contact information is in the 2025 Avanti Roster if you want to get in touch with him.

My two cents… The Avanti Registry is a great source for finding information concerning surviving Studebaker & later Avantis, and ‘hats off’ to Mr. Johnstone for putting all this info together, however, as with any other source, there can be an occasional error. There was serial / I D # confusion concerning my own 1985 Avanti in the Avanti Registry (AAV-RQB prefix)…Certainly no big deal, but still………

There use to be a splatter paint but I couldn’t find one. I thought with something like that I could figure out how to spray it to get close to the right texture then sand it to bring the level way down to make it look more like grain. Maybe next time.

So how is there two of them?

South Bend Body production records only show that R-3544 was built with body #5082. It was ordered on 2-8-63 and built on 2-28-63. Very interesting.

I have seen a textured finish on the very bottom of some late model cars. I assume the intent is to prevent or hide chips. Or, maybe it is to hide rust bubbles on Northern cars. There are rattle-can spray paints that produce a "pebbled' finish so I assume this stuff does that too. --Dwight

Maybe a counterfeit out there?#

This is the PO info:

Now that is strange. I thought maybe it was a typo but body and serial # match. Here are some photos of mine. The edge color on the body tag is silver metal not white.

Nelson, The info is from Bob Johnstone's site and the Avanti Registry site. It was registered on the Avanti Registry site on January 20, 2007. R2 RQ-5082 R2 R-3544 - (Body Tag RQ-5082) - Larry A. Crapo, Reno, NV - AOAI 2011 Former Owners/Locales; Nov 2001 - Carnegie Lane - Redondo Beach, CA 4-speed. White with original red and white interior. I bought this car in Nashville, Tennesse in 1973 and put a new short block from Newman-Altman in it in 74 with SS heads. It has 3.73 TT. I bought this car when I was in high school and have many fond memories leaving the "detroit specials" behind in the 1/4 mile. Car has been stored for the last 13 years and I am now beginning a complete restoration.Modified R2 (ported standard 289 heads), 4 speed, White w/ red & white interior It is also listed in AOAI Rosters from 2011 - 2021 as an R2. The 2024-2025 Roster shows Larry Crapo owning R 4560. Bob

Bob. Just went out and checked it. Serial # is 63R3544. Body # 63RQ5082 engine # R2497. Where did your info originate? This car is all original. Never repainted with exception of spot work paint is still shot. Body tag is as you would expect mostly gold. Serial number on plate on frame with correct rivets. 140 speed not 160. I had checked the PO prior to purchase and all was correct.

>> I decided to try to resurrect a really shot dash pad>> Just amazing work! George Rohrbach

Nelson, Can you verify the serial number? R 3544 is listed as an R2, 4-speed, white with Fawn & Red interior. South Bend body # 5082. Thanks, Bob

Personally, I do not agree… as the above information is from a knowledgeable person who is basing his opinion on heresay. I always thought that the ‘AFB’ designation on Carter AFB carburetors stood for ‘Aluminum Four Barrel’…. regalbob will no doubt come back with info that indicates that ‘AFB’ stands for ‘Anderson Four Barrel’!!!!!!!! No, ‘WCFB’ stands for ‘White Cast Four Barrel. (my opinion) Also, I highly doubt that a Carter WCFB carburetor, although heavy, weighs “over seventeen pounds”!

The Carburetor Shop LLC 204 East 15th Street Eldon, Missouri 65026 WCFB The WCFB was Carter’s first attempt at a four-barrel carburetor. It was introduced in 1952. A total of 222 different WCFB models were made in the years 1952 through 1967. The WCFB was discontinued after the 1967 model year. I have seen a number of different meanings for the WCFB acronym. One employee of Carter once told me that it meant “wrought cast four barrel”; and used that terminology for years. However, a close friend who worked most of his life for Carter, chastised me for using this terminology. It seems the official Carter meaning was Will Carter Four Barrel (Will Carter of course being the inventor that started the Carter Carburetor Company). So I now use this designation when asked. Carter Carburetors began manufacturing the model WCFB four-barrel in the early Fifties, General Motors started using the “William Carter Four Barrel” as standard equipment in 1952, and Packard opted to use the WCFB four-barrel carburetor as original equipment in 1953. Chrysler adopted the same Carter unit in ’54. These were popular with many original manufacturers; in fact, the WCFB series carburetors were still used on many Corvettes up until 1964. However, their weight, at over 17 pounds, suggested that a lighter carburetor with the same progressive 4-barrel characteristics was needed.

‘White Cast’ refers to material carb is made of.

Will Carter four Barrel?