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The latest Avanti Magazine pegs the number of manual cars built in model year. ‘85 at answer #2… six!

I ‘feel’ for my ‘63 (as I believe we all do for our cars) and taking quite a bit of weight off an already nose heavy front end… and off that fragile fiberglass apron…. seemed like a mod my Avanti would agree with… if it could ‘talk’ !!!!

Good thought… but three isn’t the number!

Yes… false is correct!

Nelson… I wondered if you meant 3 Avantis, or did you mean Answer #3?

I hear you…. Not a big deal but Studebaker installed a plaque on dash with Ward’s name and brief explanation.

Not unless there is an ‘open’ somewhere in the system…..Did you feel resistance in the pedal when you were bleeding system?

Roger Ward received a new Avanti from Studebaker as a reward for winning the 1963 Indy 500……True?

In model year 1985, Avanti Motors made …..?….. Avantis with manual transmissions. 1) three….2) six…..3) nine…..or…..4) twelve

Folks that followed Indy racing in the 50’s and 60’s would be very familiar with Roger Ward… right up there with Foyt, Jones, Unser, or any of the other Indy 500 winners….. Also, Studebaker made a big deal out of rewarding Ward a new Avanti after his ‘62 win… which is quite a story in itself!

I took a different path on my ‘63…. I relocated a group 24 battery to the trunk, then re- installed the 3EE (gutted) in the engine compartment complete with a couple of bogus battery cables… My 3EE weighs about 2 pounds now!

All I can say is FANTASTIC…. really fantastic!!!!!!!

Like all other Studebaker passenger cars of the era (and before) Studebaker Avantis have a small paper tag glued to the bottom of the glove box which indicates the vehicles original factory color… and color code…… Unfortunately, many of these small paper color tags are missing, having fallen off, as the glue holding them upside down on glove box tends to dry out, losing its ‘stickiness’ .

Looks like a winner to me… Like you say, unless the battery MUST be a 3EE for show purposes, this is a great way to go!

It’s just that ‘Avanti Black’ became such a hot potato at Studebaker…. At first a standard color, then replaced by ‘Avanti Gray’ when black became a problem on the production line, then black coming back as an extra cost option….Studebaker Avantis factory painted ‘Avanti Black’ are an interesting rarity!

I wonder if Dan Booth at Nostalgic Motors has any of the caliper adapters Blake used on the ‘84-‘85 Avantis in stock? Strve Blake had these made up for the Studebaker spindles when he saw that the original Stude Dunlop disc brakes were no longer adequate to stop the then heavier Avanti II’s…… This is what I installed on my ‘83 everyday driver Avanti several years ago…. and they allow the use of mid ‘80’s Chevy Camaro ventilated rotors, pads, and calipers… all available at local auto parts stores for about $150. Excellent stopping power!!

You bet!.. My ‘63 is raring to go!

Could someone who participates on the Stude Forum let “ajcook” know that his fathers President Speedster #7165211, 6HK7 1265, is listed in the roster, and that it’s prior owner was a Mr. Gary Walter of Michigan, who purchased the car in 12/85… Thanks… Ed

Hi Paul…. How’s everything in Arundel?

I like the idea of converting to Turner brakes if you intend to drive your ‘63 Avanti a lot… They are superior for a few reasons…. On the other hand, if you intend to drive your Avanti sparingly (using it basically for auto shows and club meets) I believe overhauling the factory stock brake system is the way to go.

Hello Stefan….. Sorry, but that particular President Speedster doesn’t show up in the roster… The Speedster nearest to it in the roster is # 7165910....Body 6HK7 1509… so the serial # and body sequence # of the car you’re interested in sounds correct. I’m going to enter 7165903 into the roster, and please keep me informed if you indeed make purchase….. Best wishes….Ed (Thank you regnalbob for posting this)

Probably time to purchase a zip kit and overhaul carb!

Please keep us posted on how you like those new springs… I’m in the market for a new pair of front coils myself!

You’d think one of Ward’s sons would have held onto that car…. but sometimes life gets in the way.

This ‘Ward’ Stude Avanti was posted for sale in 2007…. I remember seeing it on the for sale board at the South Bend Int. meet that year.