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TED DIMON

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Posts posted by TED DIMON

  1. 3 hours ago, mfg said:

    I find these PO's for the Studebaker Avantis and the later Avanti ll's quite interesting!.....We're very lucky they're available for our cars!:)

    Based on the condition and appearance of my production order, I am pretty sure it is the original!

     

  2. 17 hours ago, Desert Driver said:

    It be interesting to see the agreement between Studebaker and Avanti Motors regarding the use of Studebaker badging on the Avanti II. I recall reading Studebaker didn't want the public to think they were making Avantis after the South Bend shutdown. The early Avanti II's made by Newman-Altman didn't have the Lazy S, but as time went on, you'd see it on the hood gun sight; the door panels; and between the rear seats. On my '71, where the rear seat medallion would go is a leather covered plastic plug. Maybe after Hamilton was closed, Studebaker didn't care anymore?

    My understanding is that Newman-Altman bought the entire production parts inventory for the Avanti, "lock-stock-and barrel".  That probably included the rights to use the S badging as well.

     

  3. 19 hours ago, Gunslinger said:

    An old line locksmith may have blanks for the keys...and I repeat...may.  Try Studebaker International, Myer's Studebaker or Nostalgic Motors...they may well have the correct key blanks.

    I already have the blanks.  I am looking for someone that knows the cutting pattern for key #S1405 .  This is assuming that the original lock is in the console glove box.

     

  4. 22 hours ago, WayneC said:

    Trunk key??? Must mean glovebox key, I guess. I am missing the glove box key.  Does anyone know where I can take the key # from the build sheet and get one made?

     

  5. 6 hours ago, Jim78 said:

    It's interesting that the build sheet specified the Studebaker "S" badging on the doors and rear seat.  Did they actually get installed ?  Yes, they are still on the original interior that is in remarkable shape for being as old as it is.

    I wonder what "special inside locks" would be. I haven't found anything special about the locks, so apparently they didn't make it!

     

  6. 15 hours ago, studegary said:

    To me, RQA 375 is well within the 1970 model year.  Does your original build sheet both give this S/N and a model year of 1969?    

    The build sheet was written on June 5, 1969.  The "Line No." is 375.  The Serial  No. is RQ-A 0375 (note the different positioning of the hyphen!).  The date shipped is July 7, 1969. 

    I can't find a model year designation anywhere on the build sheet.  See below. The assembly time of 32 days all took place well before the traditional model year change in September/October for that era.  Was this a normal assembly duration time back in 1969?  Or is it possible that this was a rush job that was inserted into the schedule on June 5th?   Hence the 1969 designation!

     

    AVANTI BUILD SHEET.jpg

  7. On 5/17/2020 at 5:12 AM, Jim78 said:

    According to John Hull's research, cars sold as 1969 models ranged from RQA-0258 to RQA-0313. 

    My Avanti is titled as a 1969 with the vin of RQA-375.  My original build sheet confirms this number, plus a shipment date of  July 7, 1969 to Tele General Corporation.  Does anyone know the cut off date for the 1969 production?

     

  8. On 5/11/2020 at 11:24 AM, TED DIMON said:

    Thank you all.  This is great input and advice.  I will try one thing at a time and avoid the shielding approach.  I don't think it is the alternator since the noise does not vary with engine RPM's.  Therefore, I will trim the antenna first, then a condenser at the distributor. 

    I "trimmed" the antenna as Gunslinger suggested above.  That did the trick!  Apparently, the 51 year old radio needed a little tweaking.  Thanks, Gunslinger for your help!

    I

  9. Thank you all.  This is great input and advice.  I will try one thing at a time and avoid the shielding approach.  I don't think it is the alternator since the noise does not vary with engine RPM's.  Therefore, I will trim the antenna first, then a condenser at the distributor. 

  10. 5 hours ago, Jim78 said:

    The shielding from a 63-64 Studebaker engine wouldn't fit up to your Chevrolet engine.  Similar shielding was used on Corvettes, and while it is available, it's quite expensive.  Unless you are particularly attached to the old AM radio,  I think that the best solution would be to upgrade to an AM/FM.  If originality is a concern, there are vendors who can upgrade the internals of your existing radio without changing the outward appearance. 

    Another option to maintain originality in appearance would be to add a modern radio in the glove box. 

    Good catch....thank you!  I am a news junky, so I only listen to AM while in a car.  Therefore, I'll check out the availability/cost of shielding for that vintage 350 engine.  I'll also check out the upgrading of the existing radio. 

  11. 13 minutes ago, Paul K. said:

    Happy to help. I have restored and owned  MANY 60s and 70s Cadillacs during the last 30 years.  

    Newman and Altman offered more than a few Cadillac colors especially the optional "Firemist" colors that were slightly irridescent with a slightly larger metal flake than the standard "Poly" colors. I remembered San Mateo Red was offered in 1970 for Cadillac. From the photo of your car and the the color chip below, I would say that SM Red could be your color, or at the least a good place to start for a color match. 

     

    Picture 1 of 1

                                                                                                                                                                 Many thanks!  This is great information, that hopefully will help other owners as well.  As the color chip shows above, San Mateo Red is really more of a maroon than a red.  It highlights the car's lines beautifully and hides a multitude of "sins" which is what you want in a "driver".

     

  12. 16 hours ago, Paul K. said:

    San Mateo Red is a Cadillac color as were many Avanti II colors. 

    Good information!  Many thanks for letting me know about the Cadillac color equivalency.  I have been wondering what to do about matching it for touch-ups.  Now I know!!!

  13. 1 hour ago, studegary said:

    It is also possible that the front panel has been replaced sometime over the decades (not unusual on an Avanti).

    This is a distinct possibility, since my mechanic says that there is some evidence underneath of a front end repair.

  14. 3 hours ago, Skip Lackie said:

    Avanti Motors probably would have left the emblem off if the car was built to order and the buyer wanted it that way.  I took a tour of the plant in the mid-70s and remember Geoff Newman telling us that several buyers had specified the deletion of several standard features and/or the use of the old Studebaker S emblem on the hood.  My 74 has the S emblem, but it's not called out on the production order.

    You should be able to tell whether the car ever had the emblem by looking for evidence of filled holes on the back side of the panel.

    I have the original production order (a little creased and tattered) and there is no mention of deleting the front emblem

  15. 42 minutes ago, silverstude said:

    My 70 was delivered with  metallic lime green paint and an interior using avocado vinyl with black, white and yellow houndstooth seat inserts....   YahHhhhh!    I bought it as a demo car and the interior  only lasted a few months before I had the seats reupholstered in olive green suede.  

     

    I just noticed that our cars' vin numbers are only six digits apart.  They had to be in the factory at the same time!!!

     

  16. 3 hours ago, Ed M said:

    Ted

    You mentioned that the color was a special order.  I visited the factory a number of times in 68-69-70 while going to school in South Bend.  They offered any color paint and any interior, and that was carried to extremes on a car I saw - maybe 70? - that was school bus yellow with a black and white zebra striped interior

    "School bus yellow with a black and white zebra striped interior?"  Good grief!  I'll bet it has been repainted and the interior redone if it is still around.

  17. 13 hours ago, studegary said:

    I suggest putting the "Avanti" script on with pieces of double sided trim tape, rather than drilling holes.  This way, you can change your mind later.  

    I agree wholeheartedly!  Drilling holes and then trying to get the fasteners on from underneath would be too much for this old guy!  I already have the "II" emblem with broken pins.  Now I am looking for an "Avanti script" with imperfect pins.  I would hate to grind down the pins on a good emblem.

  18. 13 hours ago, Desert Driver said:

    I vote for affixing the Avanti script, but not the tacky Roman Numerals. If you decide to do so, remember the placement is different on square headlight Avantis than round headlight models. Love the color of yours. Looks like Sky Ranch at Carefree airport, which is pretty spectacular as well!

     

    Thanks for the reminder of the different placement for the square headlight models.  The paint is the original color: San Mateo Red.  The build sheet indicates that it was a special order.  And yes, I was at the Wings and Wheels Show on March 7th which was held at the Sky Ranch Airport in Carefree, AZ.  I live just a mile away.

  19. Thank you all for your input!  Since I have nothing on the front of my car, including the mounting holes, I think it is safe to assume that a prior owner had both pieces removed when the car was repainted.  Now I have to decide if I want to bring the front of the car back to "stock".  See the enclosed picture.

    AVANTI AT SHOW 2.jpg

  20. My 1969 does not have the front Avanti II emblems and there is no evidence that they were ever there.  Does anyone know of any Avanti II's ever leaving the factory without these emblems in place?

    CLARIFICATION:  I have neither the Avanti script nor the II that follows it on the front of my car.  The whole panel is bare.

  21. The answer is True!

    A friend of mine here in Arizona recently saw me with my Avanti II and without hesitation correctly identified the car.  I was impressed that a woman considerably younger than I am would be this knowledgeable.

    It seems that Janet was raised in South Bend back in the sixties and seventies and lived two doors away from the Altman family.  She identified the intersection for me but apparently forgot the North designation on Coquillard Drive.  It's possible that the folks that live in that neighborhood don't use the North designation.  

    Janet was back in South Bend this summer to visit her mother who still lives in the house that was two down Cedar Road from the Altman's.  She showed me some pictures that she took of the Altman house from the curb.  The overhead view shown above appears to be the same house.

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