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We attended a ‘Cars & Coffee’ this Sunday morning in our ‘55 Studebaker President Speedster….. I think this is a great idea!… The show ran from 7AM till 11AM… and our Stude was back in the garage before the midday heat hit… leaving time to do other things later in the afternoon… My point is this… As I get older, attending a car show midday during the summer months, with the usual New England high temperatures and humidity, is something I’ve began to avoid over the last few years… My Avantis and other Studes are non-A/C cars!… So an early morning meet seems to me to be good way to ‘beat the heat’… (not to mention there being less traffic on the roads to contend with.) This summer it’s going to be Cars & Coffee for me !!

Studebaker Avanti seats?

Jim Bergener’s ‘60 Lark drag race machine was definitely not called ‘Studependous’! That name was written on the sides of the car, and featured in Hot Rod Magazine. I believe you are thinking of a completely different car that used that same name?

As an aside…. The Studependous Lark (with this R4? engine) ran like a rocket on rails! The car was written up in a period HOT ROD magazine, with photos. One of the photos was an overhead shot of this engine with the R4 dual quad manifold installed on it AND a Paxton supercharger. The supercharger boost was split to the carburetors with a custom made ‘Y’ adapter. Now, Mr. Bergener was selling this engine with three cracked pistons… and I’m wondering (and it’s only a guess) if he was running the 12.5 compression pistons and that Paxton blower… which would account for the Lark’s fast times?

Very interesting!! What I have is the ‘for sale’ ad which Mr. Bergener ran in 1982, in which he stated that B300 started life as a 12.5 compression R4… and he was offering it, (with it having three cracked pistons) and throwing in a complete Avanti R2 engine for $4,000… The twin four manifold and an R3 type carb air box, and a few other parts came with the deal. Once again….INTERESTING INDEED!!

Always thought a factory produced chrome bezel in there would have been a nice touch…. similar to what they did on the square light Avanti’s, but that never happened!

PS Ard…. Definitely no fuel pump inside tank.

Thoughts?… Guesses??

Are you referring to the top height of the seatbacks, or the horizontal height of the front & rear seat cushions?

I’m afraid that the fuel tank needs to be removed and cleaned… That ‘bottom dead center’ outlet really can cause issues like this.., However, it’s great to hear that your ‘400’ runs well… and it wouldn’t surprise me if the smoke clears up after a time!

Now I understand what you mean… I added up the year to year price increases over the four years and came up with $6,495.00…. Good ‘Sherlock Holmes’ work Bob… But I’m afraid you broke Stacey’s bubble!! 😉

It’s correct according to the page you posted Bob. (last paragraph) Do you mean I left FOB South Bend out of my text?

The R3 engine which is/was under the hood of Avanti R5482 was previously under the hood of the ‘Studependous’ drag race Lark….. That R3 engine (B300) started life as an R4 Avanti engine…… True?

Let’s toss you the trophy… Correct!

No ‘bites’ here?

Exactly!…. But I’d say their strategy probably didn’t convince many perspective buyers that a car that was a ‘63 last week is now, on a certain date, a ‘64!…..As we know, Studebaker’s Automotive Division was really ‘on the rocks’ by then.

I did … The letter I’m quoting was written earlier than the document which you posted…. which indicates the Company changed its mind?? On the other hand, Mr. Minkel’s title with Studebaker is ‘President’ in the earlier letter, while Mr. Challinor’s title is ‘ V.P. and GM of the parts & service division. I would think Mr. Minkel’s letter would hold sway over Mr. Challinor’s ….(My opinion)….Ed Also… The earlier (Minkel’s) letter was sent out to all Studebaker Dealers)

It had to be a difficult time for Studebaker Corporation during the summer of 1963…. The idea of calling unsold Avanti automobiles, originally built and considered 1963 models 1964’s after a certain date, seems highly unusual to me!…. More on this oddity in the AVANTI TRIVIA section.

Studebaker Corporation, in 1963, apparently issued two different ‘start’ dates for unsold 1963 models to be titled as 1964 models…. The dates are 9/1/63 and 10/1/63….The jury is out, and I’m asking Ron to check into this.

Please read the above letter which I quoted from… it indicates 10/1/63 as the model year change date… Also, I suggested Ron contact Mr. Krem for a ruling here…Ed

Ron….I see the one month discrepancy between the two letters…. suggest you contact Mr. George Krem for his opinion concerning this….Ed

Check your AOAI Magazine Issue #60, page 15….A letter issued by Lewis Minkel of the Studebaker Corporation, and reprinted by noted Studebaker/Avanti expert George Krem, reads…..(QUOTE) ”Effective October 1, 1963, and until further notice, all new and unused Avanti models, when first sold at retail and licensed or titled after the October 1, 1963 date, will carry the registration year designation year 1964.” The above referenced document, originally issued in 1963 by Studebaker Corporation, indicates (to me anyway) that the correct answer to this trivia question is 10/1/63…. Ed

I believe R5642 did have an all ‘Metallic Red Vinyl’ interior… but that discontinued color was special ordered… a personal preference of the original purchaser of the car.

Sorry psdenno, but the reprint of a Studebaker document which I have indicates a date which isn’t mentioned above.

This is relevant, however, not the reason that the date of 10/1/63 is truly important in the story of the Avanti. Any other thoughts concerning this date?