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Two or three of the L&R rearmost plugs can be reached under the fenders, either working over or removing the front tires.

An Avanti ll equipped with the 400 engine can easily outrun a stock R2 equipped Stude Avanti up to about 70 mph.

The Avanti factory had to reinforce the front crossmember due to extreme low end torque of the 400 engine. Retrofit kits were also made available.

All the 400’s were backed up with Turbo 400 trannys… One of the very best period transmissions.

Yes.

Studebaker’s like to mark their territory!

Yes, the trans can definitely be removed without removing the engine/trans assy… but availability of a twin post lift would sure make the job easier!

Ain’t that the truth!!!!!

A Stude Avanti manual cable setup can replace your power trunk release with no problems…. Same trunk latch.

Nice work !!

Looks great Mike!

I converted the backup lights on my ‘64 to stop lights using the later red lenses. It worked OK, certainly better than simply relying on the stock tail lights, but frankly not nearly as ‘seeable’ as a third brake light…. maybe that’s because the third brake light is higher, and more in line with the vision of the driver in the following car. PS… my ‘85 Avanti has the back up’s changed to stop lights (done at the Avanti factory).. really not as effective as a third stop light in rear window!

Hi Rick… LED’s are no doubt a very good idea, and no, I haven’t installed them yet. (but I probably will)…. But getting back to that third brake light, let me tell you a story that happened to me many years ago…. At the time I owned a red 1964 Avanti….red tail lights against a red body really makes matters worse…. but anyway, after I stepped on my brakes and signaled a right turn, the fellow behind me pulled in just to tell me that he almost drove into the back of my Avanti, and I should fix my brake lights! (the lights weren’t broken) He was very nice about it, however at that point I installed a very bright third brake light….It’s not obtrusive, and safety and keeping my car and myself in one piece is much more important to me than any authenticity concerns!…. Thank You, Ed.

Probably close to the very top of ‘must do’ items related to driving in modern traffic….. Studebaker Avanti tail lights are simply too small to be clearly noticed by other drivers…. who are probably driving too fast or on their cell phones anyway!…. A bright third brake light dead center at the bottom of the rear window is an excellent idea…I added one to my own ‘63 Avanti twenty years ago. PS….. I suppose a third brake light installed at the interior TOP of the rear window would work just as well.

Now that’s getting things done… NICE!

I agree with Nels 100% concerning the separate SDC and AOAI national meets. (stemming from a fued of some sort) From what I’ve seen and experienced since joining SDC many years ago, the Studebaker Drivers Club has become more like a business than a drivers club… Also, I believe SDC management’s big push to modernize the club turned many folks off….. A pet peeve of mine is when SDC ‘deep sixed’ the historic Studebaker Wheel emblem for the ‘modern’ emblem… not to mention that silly “We Invented Cool” motto!

Good for you Bob… Driving these cars is what the Studebaker/Avanti clubs were supposed to be all about!!! Many happy future miles to you & yours!!

Last national meet I attended was South Bend ‘17 ….Flew out to Indianapolis…. rented a nice new car….. Enjoyed the pleasant 100 mile drive north to South Bend, and the return drive after the meet……Dropped the rental car off…. Got back on the plane…….Back home in a couple hours…….VERY ENJOYABLE, STRESS FREE FEW DAYS! PS…. And riding in the tour bus around the Indy 500 track, and visiting the ‘500’ museum was wonderful!!!

Extremely nice and quite complicated body modifications performed on this ‘63 Stude Avanti… Jim Bunting truly is a craftsman! Considering this Avanti two seater is an R2 four speed car, it must go like a rocket with a couple hundred pounds of ‘body’ removed from it! GREAT CAR!!!!!

Looks to be a promising project Avanti to restore…. at an attractive price!

Excepting that ‘park bench’ bolted to the rear deck, it does look pretty nice!

Sounds real interesting!

That’s crummy Guy… you might want to give Dave Thibeault a phone call.

Gorgeous!

Call Dave T or S.I. Reproductions are chrome plated over brass…..Much superior than original die cast rings!