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No factory rear bumper extension….. ever…….. (Bolt on rubber rear bumper guards were factory installed on later Altman Avantis)

Right…. but what I’m referring to is/was a brand new Hurst shifter that one of our vendors (Dave Thibeault) would reconfigure to fit a Studebaker Avanti Additionally he could replace the rectangular Hurst factory lever with a lever very similar to the Stude original…. I’m not sure if Dave still offers this service.

No problem.. but I don’t see this as really a ‘precision’ fit… The body clips themselves can be moved around slightly…. So, in my opinion, if it looks right to the eye when you stand back… Go with it!

As an aside… When I asked one of our dependable Stude suppliers the cost of a new Hurst Competition Plus four speed shifter, set up for an Avanti, the price was approx $800…That was three years ago, and I’m not sure if new Hurst shifters are even still available.

Excepting the very first handmade Corvette bodies, I don’t think normal production ‘55- ‘62 Chevy Corvette body panels were any “thicker” than Studebaker Avanti body panels.

Yes… exactly the same radio opening…. I replaced a ‘dead’ Blaupunkt also.

That’s a great story!… It really brings back how much of a ‘traffic stopper’ the Studebaker Avanti truly was when it first hit the streets……. Avantis still turn heads… but NOTHING like the excitement this dream car caused when first introduced…. Again, Great Story!…. Ed

‘Avanti Turquoise’ is not a solid or ‘straight’ color…. It has a fine metallic content. I wish painting was simple… or even better if more customers were color blind!!

Sorry, but I must once again disagree…. Auto paint camera technology is indeed amazing… however, the accuracy of these scanners is, in all honesty, only ‘decent’. And ‘Avanti Turquoise’ is far from easy to match… Did you know that from day one there were at least TWO entirely different shades of ‘Avanti Turquoise’?……. The DuPont (Axalta) color was quite different from the Ditzler (PPG) color… both based on the same Studebaker factory (P-6332) paint code!

Yep…. ‘63 & ‘83 radio faceplate are basically same item.

Can’t help you on your first question… As far as the radio goes, I purchased a Custom Autosound AM-FM stereo for my ‘83 Avanti ‘everyday driver’ a few years ago which I have been very happy with… I called the company and told them it was going in a ‘63 (which they had a pattern for… same dash as ‘83) It fit perfectly .. no cutting… and yes, there is definitely room for a dash speaker above radio. (on my ‘83 I kept the two kick panel and the two rear shelf speakers.) And ask all the questions you want!!

The suppliers you’ve mentioned would no doubt supply you with a quality product… However, to me anyway, getting the ORIGINAL brake booster back, properly overhauled, means ‘drop in’, ‘connect up’ and GO…. without possibly having to source new fittings, hose adapters, etc. (Don’t ask me how I know!!)

I accept your apology…….. Also, until Mr. Hull determines if 54 is the accurate count or not, do not use the word “misinformation”.

In my opinion real wire wheels complement an Avanti like no other type of wheel can…. Really classy!!

Misinformation?…. Re-read the answer choices which I posted

I don’t think working the clutch pedal would cause any movement of the engine/trans, no matter how ‘tired’ the engine mounts were. (unless maybe if you were using an EXTREMELY strong pressure plate, but even then I doubt it) Also, there is so much ‘wiggle room’ between the frame release shaft bracket and the clutch housing that any forward movement of the engine/trans wouldn’t effect that welded on frame bracket. It’s the strain on that bracket from you pushing the clutch pedal down that sometimes causes it to fail.

And that is exactly how a “two hour” spot & blend can sometimes turn into a complete refinish job!

(Square light)… top dead center gap between chrome outer rim and fiberglass body… 3/16” Gap between middle of chrome outer rim (next to Avanti logo) and fiberglass body …1/4”

To me, there are three main reasons for making this battery modification….. 1) Taking weight off the front end of an Avanti, and placing it in the trunk…..improving weight distribution 2) Removing the stress of supporting a very heavy battery from a rather fragile and breakable fiberglass inner fender skirt 3) Leaving an obsolete and cumbersome 3EE battery with the John Deere folks, and moving to a much more common (and in my opinion more reliable) Group 24 style

I know what you mean… I haven’t completely trusted ‘Turning Wheels’ since the powers that be changed the beautiful old Studebaker script SDC Wheel emblem to that ‘modern’ (??) abomination!

On my own vehicles I always had a bit more paint mixed than I thought would be needed for the job….That way possible future ‘spot’ repairs could be performed with the exact color on the car…. This philosophy has paid off for me over the years!

It’s neither here nor there… but for Studebaker to have to change over a ‘near bulletproof’ clutch release system, as found on, for example, a ‘63 G.T. Hawk, to a ‘complicated mousetrap’, as the Stude suspended clutch pedal system really is, was too bad…. I realize, of course, that the ‘thru the floor’ clutch pedal was considered ancient history and VERY dated by 1961!

Relay located under hood beside voltage regulator

I would love to have been a ‘fly on the wall’ watching THAT conversion!!

The type of shifter to be used would have a lot to do with effort and feel… A Hurst shifter is much superior to the factory Ansen type…… Certainly a for speed manual is more ‘sporty’, however, the stock Avanti Powershift is really an excellent transmission… and I hate to say this.. but I think that us Avanti owners over 70 would probably be happier without having to deal with a clutch pedal!