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TMA62

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Posts posted by TMA62

  1. Its finally home! (Robert Andrews's 1971 Avanti)

    in 1965-83 Avanti

    Posted

    After one year, the mechanical restoration of my 1971 Avanti II is compete. Its included off-frame restoration, replaced hogtroughs, repaired frame and suspension, rebuilt engine and transmission. It runs awesome and looks great even though it needs to be repainted, something that will eventually be done.

    This was my Dad's car, Robert F. Andrews, one of the designers of the Avanti project. This was his personal Avanti (he never owned a Studebaker Avanti). He bought it new in 1971 and has been in the family ever since. It has been stored in a garage since Dad's death in 1991 until last year when I took it to Avanti Restoration and Service in Greenfield. Mike Baker and Rick Moon did a fantastic job on the restoration.

    I will be up in South Bend on May 3-4 at the Swap Meet; it will be the first showing of the car since the restoration and probably the first time its been at a meet since the late '80's. Dad was a regular at the SDC and AOAI meets in the Midwest in the '70's and '80's so for some of you, it will be seeing an old friend again.

  2. Check out this '88 for sale

    in 1984-91 Avanti

    Posted

    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.

  4. 1964 Avanti Production Order

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    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.

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

    in 1965-83 Avanti

    Posted

    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.

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

    in 1965-83 Avanti

    Posted

    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!

  12. Did know that hogtroughs were soooooo unimportant......

    in 1965-83 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by TMA62

    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.

  14. Fiberglass repair question

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    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.

  15. Fiberglass repair question

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    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

  21. LED brake lights

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    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.

  25. Avanti II and headlight bezels

    in 1965-83 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by TMA62

    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.

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