[Check out this '88 for sale]

I'd pay $2,001. ;-)

Seriously, it appears to be a minor engine fire centered around the distributor cap. Replacing all the hoses and wires maybe be the only thing needed to fix her.

I know in some states like Indiana, you can file to restore the car's title from salvaged to restored or refurbished. You need to itemize what you replaced and have it checked by a mechanic.

[Check out this '88 for sale]

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e5s1&lotId=17133493&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

It appears like and engine fire but the rest of the car is great. Its title is salvaged in Virginia but it could be rescued via mechanics lien or restoration title.

Thoughts?

[1964 Avanti Production Order]

64tbird, those are railroad names. You are correct about the ATSF. The "NJ" stood for the "New Jersey, Illinois and Indiana Railroad". It was a short line that originated in South Bend just west of the Studebaker plant and ran south approximately 5 miles to a town called Pine, Indiana where it connected with the Wabash RR. That is what "WAB" stood for. In fact the NJI&I was a subsidiary to the Wabash. The Wabash headed west into Chicago and interchanged with the Santa Fe which took your Avanti to LA.

So your Avanti was shipped by rail from South Bend to Los Angeles in one of those bi- or tri-level 85-foot long flatcars. I have seen another Avanti shipped the same routing to the southwest. Cool, huh? I think it is since I'm a railroad historian and model railroader too.

If any others on this list have interesting SHIP VIA comments, please post them. If they are railroad oriented, I can help in telling you how your Avanti was shipped. I would also like to determine patterns in shipping from South Bend to parts around the country.

[1964 Avanti Production Order]

Just curious, what does it read in the "SHIP VIA" box?

[Sad ending to an '83]

Loss by fire:

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e8s1&lotId=14612133&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

I wonder if this was recent and if the owner was in the AOAI?

Still, I hate seeing this.

[Jim Robbins seat belts]

My 1971 Avanti II has seat belts made by Jim Robbins of Royal Oak, Michigan. I'm trying to determine if these were original seat belts or after market.

What seat belt manufacturers are on your Avanti II's?

Thanks in advance!

[Maiden run of Robert F. Andrews 1971 Avanti after II 22 years of storage]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! It has a 350 in it which I think was the second year for this engine in the Avanti II (the last year for the 327 was in 1969, I think). I will be putting the classic "star" hubcap on after the car is cleaned and broken in. That was how Avanti Corp painted their wheels but I will eventually paint them Studebaker cream and put on larger tires to match the Studebaker appearance. Dad ad the car shimmed and reshaped the front wheel cowlings to give his Avanti the same rake as the Studebakers.

The car spent most of its 20 years of driving on Michigan roads and in Michigan weather. It was not sheltered in a garage during most of this time. The road salt really hit the frame and hogtroughs hard. A lot of work was needed to restore them. The back quarter of the frame ( from the rear axle to the rear bumper mounts )had to be replaced with a '62 GT Hawk frame. Still, it was worth it!

One interesting thing of note. The A-pillars were completely fine and not corroded despite not a garage car for the first 15 years of its life.

[Maiden run of Robert F. Andrews 1971 Avanti after II 22 years of storage]

Here's the maiden run of my Dad's 1971 Avanti II after 22 years of storage and a year long off-frame restoration. Yours truly is the driver and Mike Baker of Avanti Restorations is filming. It still needs a little tinkering but it rides and sounds awesome!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=-8z7MNhxt6c

[Robert F. Andrews' 1971 Avanti II started for the first time in 22 years]

This is a 1971 Avanti II that was owned by my father, Robert F. Andrews, who was on the Raymond Loewy design team for the Studebaker Avanti project. Dad was one of the designers. This was his personal car. This car was kept in storage since Dad's passing in 1991. It has not run since. After a off-frame restoration that began February 2012, the rebuilt engine turned over on February 16, 2013, the first time in 22 years. The last time it ran, Dad was still alive.

Thats Mike Baker of Avanti Restorations and Service in the video. He and Rick Moon performed the off- frame restoration. Great job guys!

[Deluxe Trim Seat Covers]

List:

Is there someone who makes these seat covers. I know of someone that has a Deluxe Seat Avanti and is looking for new covers.

TIA

[Did know that hogtroughs were soooooo unimportant......]

There is a green 1980 Avanti on Ebay right now:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=160960373521&globalID=EBAY-US

The seller describes the car to the bidders. He includes the following regarding the hogtroughs:

".... Ive talked at length with the gentelman who now owns Avanti about whether I should replace the "hog troughs". I was told there was absolutley no need to as the body will not sag or crack if they are rusty, which they are. It seems there is a myth about the hog throughs. they are not structural, they are NOT torque boxes as some like to call them. They are just stamped steel body fillers, according to Avanti their only purpose was to have a mounting point for the roll bar. So your choice if you want to replace them, this car has run without them for over 25 years without any sagging or cracks."

Is this oversimplifying it or what?? Sure, the body is not going to sag. The cross member frame will prevent that. But apparently those meaningless hogtroughs are more of an accessory than to provide torsional stability.

[Interesting Ebay listing and R-1 question]

See this item on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Studebaker-Hawk-and-Lark-Avanti-R-1-Fender-Emblem-/271127715128?ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123

Did these fender emblem ever go on an Avanti? I've never seen one before.

Which leads to my next question. Why did Studebaker refer their 289 cu V-8's as R-1,2,3, etc.? Was "R" the class designation for the 289?

TIA!

[Fiberglass repair question]

Thanks guys for the replies. Actually, both of my Avanti's are over at Mike Baker's garage in Greenfield. I asked him the same questions. Not that I don't trust him. Afterall, I've entrusted him with my cars. Plus he might be reading this! ;-)

Seriously, I am very new to the hobby and I like to ask many questions to all people. It is a good way to get feedback and learn from other's experiences.

Mike and Rick Moon have done this work at the shop so I will have good supervision when I work on my car. Mike also mentioned Evercoat products. I know that Bondo Company has a fiberglass repair kit but I have never tried it.

[Fiberglass repair question]

List:

I am about to start doing some body repair work. What products do you recommend? I have a few holes, a few surface ( seam ) cracks and a few complete cracks ( all the way through the fiberglass). I've never one this before so I am interested in your thoughts and advice.

Thanks in advance!

Ted

63R-1289 R-1

[Oh No, there's another one....]

Someone ought to buy that Avanti and restore back to what it originally was. They would likely get a humanitarian award from AOAI or SDC.

[Golden "S" question]

Gize:

I read that golden S's were on the hood and side medalions of early Avanti's. Does anyone when the S's were changed from gold to silver? I own 63R-1289 and need to know which S's to use. ;-)

Thanks in advance!

[Very early Avanti for sale on EBay (63R-1063)]

"...... Car is one step from being a derelict."

What did he say about the frame, hogtroughs and engine?

[Nice Avanti]

Here are a couple of Avanti's that are available now. They are not Turquiose but you can get them at a low price and restore them:

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/3414889745.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/R2-/321029610105?forcev4exp=true

[Very early Avanti for sale on EBay (63R-1063)]

It is a R-2, 4 speed. If the seller doesn't get the reserve, he will part it out. 6 more days in the auction......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/R2-/321029610105?forcev4exp=true

[LED brake lights]

Have any of you used LED's for your brake lights? I know that it is not prototypical but my concern is increased visibility. The Avanti brake lights are very small to today's cars and I fear someone not noticing me when I am stopped or turning.

That's in advance.

[63 R2 4 speed]

Unrelated but was the R1 Automatic the most common configuration for the 1963 model year?

I own one ;-)

[Body work question (filling screw holes)]

How do you plug up screw holes on fiberglass bodies? I am removing an after market security system from my '63 Avanti. These holes are about 1/8 inch in diameter and are located within the door jams.

How would one going about plugging such small holes? Fiberglass? Bondo?

Thanks in advance!

[Avanti II and headlight bezels]

Thanks Bob. I will ask Dan Booth next time I order from him.....which will be shortly.

[Avanti II and headlight bezels]

Were any Altman Avanti II's ever delivered with round headlight bezels? I know that all Avanti II's were special ordered. But I wonder if someone ever requested the round bezel over the square ones? It would have been easy to do and I doubt that Nate would have refused the order.

[One Owner 66 for sale]

Warren:

Since the convention in South Bend, I have done searches for Avanti's across the country. I was looking for one to buy but also get a "feel" for the price range. For a early NA Avanti in very good condition would likely be in the $10-15K range. One that is in showroom quality would be closer to $20K. But some needing a little more work may be as low as $7,000. If the frame and hogtroughs are decent, the later may be the way to go.

BTW, I did find and buy an Avanti. A '63 R-1 which is what I wanted all along.