Dwight FitzSimons

So, EX2942 was/is the number 8 car, or the Due Cento? The car pictured looks like it has a solid Fawn interior, with a black carpet (a combination never in production). I'll note that a production '63 Avanti with Fawn/Elk interior would have a solid black carpet. --Dwight

2) Fawn/black If I don't get it this time I'll get it next time!

I drove mine through all weather conditions near Pittsburgh, PA all during my Air Force service from 1966 to 1970. It had a 276 deg. cam and was as docile as the R2 I pulled out of that Avanti. --Dwight

I believe it still looks like this: --Dwight

I believe that photo is from the Greg Cone car, R-5054. Two pix from that set: --Dwight

IIRC, the fuel tank capacity of Studebaker Avantis and Avanti IIs, at least up through 1971, is 21 gallons. --Dwight

I don't really know copyright laws, but I would guess that you are ok with posting the article, for a couple reasons: 1) Hot Rod's copyright on this article expired a long time ago. 2) Posting it would be good advertising for Hot Rod. 3) You are not posting the article for any financial gain. --Dwight

Those are pretty wheels, but I would doubt that they would fit a '63 Avanti with the original Studebaker disc brakes. Most use either steel Ford 15x6.5" (or 6") wheels with wheel covers, OR Mustang 16" aluminum wheels OR something else. Many of us replace the original Bendix/Dunlop disc brakes with Turner disc brakes for safety reasons. The stock disc brakes will stop you if everything is perfect, but if everything is not perfect then you may have NO brakes. --Dwight

My answer is R5 too. I will argue that, if there are two valid answers to the question, then "R5" is a CORRECT answer. And, Nelson should be awarded the prize. This is where my critical thinking leads me. Think of Jeopardy. --Dwight

Do you mean dry sump? --Dwight

You guys in Massachusetts drive on the left side of the road? --Dwight

Virginia now puts the state inspection sticker on the lower left (driver's) side of the windshield because of the sensors at the top center of modern vehicles. It's there so passing police can see it. I doubt that any states put their inspection sticker on the right side of the windshield. So, if your state allows stickers on windshields, the lower right side should be ok. --Dwight

3) Ferrari

On my '64 the Dunlop disc brakes lost all braking power when the pads were worn down to about 1/3 of the original material remaining. This is with new rotors; with thinner rotors you would get even less wear out of your pads. That is a "gotcha" with the Bendix/Dunlop disc brakes -- don't let the pads get below 1/2 of the remaining material unless you want a rude surprise. I had to remove my cylinders from the car to get the pistons to retract so I could install new pads. I then used a C clamp with a few washers over the center pin on the piston so it wouldn't get damaged. Make sure the C clamp is centered and slowly tighten the C clamp until the piston is retracted to the bottom of the cylinder. You'll have to bleed your brakes afterwards. --Dwight

Oh shoot! Sorry this happened to you. The above answers are good. I'll just add a bit of info (which may help, or not). The problem with Studebaker Avantis with power windows breaking their fiberglass inner door panel is unrelated to breakage of the door hinge area, so I'll just address that problem. The power windows on a Stude Avanti are mounted to fiberglass that is too weak for the torque that the PW motor can produce. I guess Studebaker Engineering didn't test the power windows sufficiently under "abuse" conditions. By 1970 Avanti Motors had added reinforcement to that area in the form of another layer of fiberglass. I have a set of 1970 Avanti doors that I will put onto my '64 soon and they have this reinforcement. I can post pix if desired. So, my point is that, if possible, you should get a door from an Avanti II with this reinforcement. --Dwight

Years ago one could walk into a locksmith and get a Studebaker key made just from the key code (from the production order). They looked up the code in a book and cut the key. That's not true around here anymore, but perhaps there is someone in the U.S. who still does that. --Dwight

Both '63 and '64 Avantis came with two keys, one for the doors & ignition switch, the other for the glove compartment and console. By this point in time many Studebaker Avantis have had either their ignition switch (including the cylinder) or door locks changed, so will have different keys for the doors than for the ignition. But, when new they used the same key for the doors & ignition. BTW, with rare exception, 1963 Avantis used a different key blank than '64 Avantis. Studebaker switched at the start of the '64 model year. The two key blanks look entirely different. --Dwight

I have 215/70R15 B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires on my '64 Avanti and have never experienced any tire rub against the fiberglass fenders. I do drive the car aggressively in the corners as that is what I live for. With power steering I don't have any problem with any increase in steering effort over 205/75R15 tires. If you have manual steering that would be a different story. Also, how low the front of your car sits could be an issue. If it sits low then there would be less clearance between the tire and the fender. AFAIK B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires are the best handling tires available in a 15" size. --Dwight

It looks like there is a sticker on the outboard side of the supercharger nose, but it may just be a reflection. Below are pix of a supercharger with sticker and of a 51R battery installation. The supercharger sticker is available from Studebaker International and others. BTW, your engine serial number should be RS-2514. (BTW = By the way) --Dwight

Beautiful car in a nice color combination! I notice a couple things that I might draw your attention to: 1) Large, unusual looking battery. The original is a 3EE (very long & narrow). Some of us use a 51R, which is about half the length of a 3EE, and perfectly adequate for an Avanti. The 51R was used in 1970s - 80s Hondas. 2) Some of us replace the single-chamber master cylinder with a dual one for safety. There are kits available to do this. 3) The sticker on the supercharger goes directly over the hole (symmetrically). Good luck with your prize! If any questions just ask. --Dwight (I have had/have 5 Avantis)

I agree with your point. But, one does sometimes see some sloppy writing in these car mags. I do wonder why only manual transmission Avantis were dyno tested. If they were testing the entire drive-train then it makes no sense to leave out the automatic Avantis. --Dwight

IIRC, there are also 7/8" rear wheel cylinders that fit the 11" rear drum brakes on an Avanti. Perhaps they were used on a Studebaker truck??? Someone else would have to address the question of whether it is a good idea to use them on an Avanti. Perhaps the 7/8" rear cylinders would work with the larger Sumitomo front cylinders??? --Dwight

I'll note that the statement "each manual transmission-equipped Avanti was dyno tested at South Bend prior to shipment" doesn't exclude automatic transmission-equipped Avantis from having been dyno tested. I.e., the word "only' is not included in the Nov. 2024 Classic Car article. I just wanted to tie up that loose end. --Dwight

So, your Avanti is an automatic?

I'm not aware that any production Studebaker Avantis were dyno tested at South Bend. Engineering would have dyno tested Avantis during the development of the car, but only that. --Dwight