mfg

Can anyone name the '84 Avanti front nose panel treatment that was returned... reminiscent of the original '63 Studebaker Avanti front nose panel 'look'?

If I used my '85 more, I'd probably take the time to change the headlights back to round, with the chrome ('64 type) square bezels.

Yes, I agree...The square headlight bulbs (I own an '85) looked kind of nice when new....but the look doesn't seem to 'age' well!!

Hey, your fleet of '64 Studebakers sounds AWESOME...Hat's off! And, I meant the question to be about the 'look' of the headlight area..... I agree with your thoughts on that.

Ha ha true!... How about this idea.. A round headlight Studebaker Avanti with round CHROME 'surrounds' around the headlight bulbs.....similar to the square chrome surrounds we find around the headlights of 'square light' Studebaker Avantis ????? (Instead of the stock '63 body color headlight background) . ..

Yep!... probably...the '64 'smooth' decklid on this Hawk kind of threw me.

Here's a 'hot potato' for youse guys!! .....To Avanti enthusiasts, which is really the most desired...'Round light' Studebaker Avantis, OR 'Square light' Studebaker Avantis?? (two cars in similar condition) .

This fellow also has what looked to be a very solid '63 Gran Turismo Hawk (with '64 style 'smooth' decklid).... It was parked next to the turquoise '63 Avanti.....Ed

YES!....Thanks much Lou!

Hats off to Ed George, Nelson Bove, and the other Stude/Avanti participants at this annual Chicago show...Congrats to Nelson for winning the 'Bob Palma' award..and for entering the incredibly historic 'Bonneville' R3 Daytona convertible. Nelson..when you have time, would you please post photos of '#1' on this Avanti Forum?... Thank you, Ed

Hi Geoff..... I spotted the Avantis while driving on Rt 114 on my way to Bridgton...I stopped, however no one was home, so I did not venture into the backyard...I did look over the turquoise '63 R1 (which was parked out front)....Aside from missing its front bumper Assy, and needing left fender repairs it looked to be a solid, driveable piece..with a good turquoise 'Deluxe' interior needing a good cleaning..It has an auto trans...Ed

A lot of work....NICE JOB!!

Well then, it seems the elimination of the hood cross brace was 'blended' in on some later Stude Avanti serial numbers before R4892,...and with no specific starting date......?

Earlier serial numbers without hood cross brace (such as R4130) may have been factory engineering types, or Avantis that had newer replacement body panels due to collisions, etc.

I don't know...I would think the elimination of the hood inner construction cross brace occurred at the same time the hood prop was re- located, and the left inner fender skirt modified to accomodate a group 24 size battery..At the first official Studebaker 'square light' Avanti....R4892.

Hello & welcome to the world of Avantis! I've found owning the Stude Avanti shop & parts manuals to be an excellent source of tech info..These can be purchased from various Avanti/Studebaker vendors.

That's odd....Studebaker normally made production changes on their Avantis (as well as their other models) at specific serial numbers.... (usually after serial number such and such)

I'd probably give my left ---- for one of the nine factory R3 Avantis, however, shimming the body up for R3 engine clearance on those cars (while retaining the high original Studebaker Avanti front wheel opening shape) gave those cars an awkward look compared to a 'normal' Stude Avanti....WAY too big a gap over the front tires. (In my humble opinion)

Thanks for posting those serial numbers Gunslinger.

I've never seen a 'round light' Avanti without the hood cross brace...however, that doesn't mean later 'round light' hoods weren't built that way!....Can you supply the Studebaker Avanti's serial number for this change?

I believe that the inner construction hood cross brace was eliminated on the '64 Studebaker Avanti (square light) models due to the R3 engine option (with air box) coming on line....?

Yes..I've often wondered if the Chevy engine really was higher than the Stude V8 when mounted in the Studebaker frame....Or was raising the front of Avanti ll's simply a styling exercise?

Just received 2024 Avanti (AOAI) Calendar...BEAUTIFUL!

Avanti II's were admired by both Studebaker Avanti owners and owners of other Studebakers, as at that time all were thrilled a Studebaker derivative was back in production.

One thing that has thankfully faded into history is the strained relationship between Studebaker Avanti owners, and owners of other Studebaker models, that existed in the late 'sixties' and well into the 'seventies'. I recall, as a young fellow at the time, Studebaker owners who did not consider the Avanti to be a 'real' Studebaker...and conversely Avanti owners who, (with Studebaker auto production kaput), didn't want to admit their beautiful Avanti even WAS a Studebaker product !! I remember a few local Avanti owners prying the Studebaker nameplate off the deck lid of their cars, filling the holes in or replacing the Stude nameplate with an 'Avanti' script. (the same script as on the front nose panel) I'm glad to see that today all of that silly animosity is a thing of the past..however, the mentality I've described once definitely existed!...Ed