mfg

Concerning Studebaker Avantis and Avanti ll’s built thru 1985,…..What item on the car did not work as designed when the factory (and also Avanti owners) switched from bias ply to radial tires?

Ha ha… Yes!…. This could be the start of an ‘inside’ joke amongst Avanti insiders!!

True… however in this hypothetical situation all the obvious factors were eliminated…. Just a brain teaser really!

AND GEOFF WINS THE PRIZE! (?????) You got it!….. Four cup “cutouts” on the inside surface of the glove box door would indicate to the uninitiated, (with all other obvious clues taken off the table), that a Studebaker Avanti is/was designed for four passengers! WELL DONE GEOFF !!!!!!

Sorry no Paul… it wasn’t the door width!

Also Geoff… as you probably already know, the integral type of Avanti turn signal lamp utilizes an inner & outer (two piece) lens setup…… while the later self contained turn signal assy uses a more common one piece lens… and as Gunslinger mentioned there are both clear and amber versions of the one piece turn signal lens.

Geoff… round headlight Studebaker Avantis had front fender turn signal housings molded integral with the fender…. The inner & outer lenses were the only parts removable from the fender…. Later ‘square light’ Avantis used a completely different turn signal unit, self contained, which was larger than the integral type, and simply clipped into the front fender leading edge opening with small ‘L’ shaped brackets…. In my opinion this later turn signal assy would be your best bet to accomplish what you are considering doing…. Ed

No, not the rear view mirror.

Good idea but not “it”…. My guess is that the A/C outlets would have been put in that same location even if the Stude Avanti indeed was designed as a two passenger vehicle. Any other ideas on this trivia question before I post a ‘GIVEAWAY’ clue ?

Yes it does… but to be honest I figured that as part of the rear seat setup …. I didn’t express that in original question though, so you are technically correct here…. however, this is not the answer I’m seeking……. HINT….. The answer I’m looking for would be found FORWARD of the front bucket seats!

Sorry no Mike…..( I nixed seatbelts in the initial trivia question)

Didn’t consider that…. Good thought… however a Stude Avanti front bucket seat, adjusted as far as possible to the rear, would then probably pass for normal seat position in a hypothetical two passenger Avanti… Nice try though!! Any other thoughts on this head scratcher? HINT…. The answer here is hidden in plain sight!!

Good ideas!….however the opening rear side windows really don’t say “four seater”, nor does the seats folding forward… as several two seaters have that feature for rear storage access. HINT…. This feature, which indicates four passengers, can plainly be seen inside a Studebaker Avanti’s interior!

Good points Gun… but not really assurance to a novice that it’s definitely designed for four passengers…Other thoughts?

Concerning a Studebaker Avanti… what on the car would indicate to someone unfamiliar with Avantis, that they were designed for FOUR passengers? (besides Avanti literature, and also, of course, the rear seats, armrests, ashtrays, and seatbelts)

Looks super!… Aren’t Fiberglass cars wonderful ? !!!!!!!!!

I like the painted valve covers…. Nice touch!

If you decide to build something, I have an overhauled small block Chevy 400 CI torque monster, complete from water pump to starter.. all new accessories… that needs a home! (originally from ‘73 Avanti)

Well, if nothing else Brian, you can see Avanti folks are interested in finding your parents car!!

Avantis have an excellent survival rate, as they were ‘special’ from day one….. Would you mind listing the specifics of your parents Avanti.. as best as you can remember? (color in & out, engine type, etc)

The car indeed does survive and under full restoration (less engine) And yes, it sure would be nice to see this Avanti, and it’s unique engine, reunited!

Sometimes the inner dust shield somehow gets slightly bent and will occasionally scrape at the spinning disc on turns.

The engine is owned by a fellow named Greg Cone, who had the foresight to purchase all the unique R5 engine parts from the Granatellis years ago when they were eliminating their Studebaker inventory….. The block Mr. Cone is using may or may not be the block used at Bonneville (not sure).. and apparently the pistons originally used in the R5 engine at Bonneville now reside in a different (R3) type Stude Avanti engine.

Off topic……...Hi Zedman! … if you happen to know Brian Grenall from Victoria, please tell him ‘mfg’….(Ed) said hello…. Thanks!

Very interesting Dwight!….And thank you for your service to this country!