Anthony63

I'm not sure how to send messages either! Those panels were made out of metal. There was a complete belly pan as well. The car was run in 63 with several different configurations. Some runs with the full pan and skirts, runs with just the skirts, some with nothing at all, and even down to different wheels.

I don't want to upset the wagon and can certainly appreciate what has been done to make a "tribute" to the R5. The work that went into building it is very commendable. I believe that the intake boxes, brackets, and pulleys that are on the engine are in fact ones used on the car. However I do know for fact that the block is not the block used for the R5 or any of the potential back up engines. I would have to look through some paperwork to find the exact numbers, but the R5 that was run in 63 had a number stamped on it. I know this because I have a comprehensive list of all the numbers stamped on engine blocks. The R5 that was used and any back up engines that were built all were stamped. Also somewhere there was mention of the car not getting over 200mph, the car did in fact go over 200. The time slips that Andy had proved that. I believe that somewhere around here I have copies of them. The two way average was obviously not 200 because of poor salt conditions. I'll try and locate those. The cars were run October 14-23 of 63. The original plan was September 16, but conditions were poor.

I haven't looked at the forum in a while. Mfg, I tried to send you a message about this, but it would not allow me to. Please reach out.

Numbers 8 and 9 were used as test cars and there as potential backups in 1962. In 1963 the 9 car was setup with the final version of the R3 and bumped the record up to 170.78mph. I remember that Andy had said that the 299s ran better and were a better balanced engine than the 304.5. The 8 car was still used for testing but never did run quite right. It was not an overheating issue but I'm not sure what it was. There was a lot of testing so it could have been any number of things. September 16, 1963 the salt conditions were too bad. October 16-23 the salt was wet and they had traction issues and because of this the Due Cento only achieved 198. Somewhere I have copies that Andy gave me of the actual time slips, I'll keep looking. They planned to return but then became the end of Studebaker. So the 9 car was used for record purposes with the R3 since it was running better than the 8 car. So long story short in 62 the Due Cento (which it wasn't named yet) ran the best with the 299 and then in 63 between the 8 and 9, the 9 ran better so was used for the R3 records. I hope that I answered that question.

Good to know. I had heard that it was removed when John passed.

The heads on that engine are definitely not those from a Due Cento engine. The Due Cento had domed pistons and therefore had modified combustion chambers on the heads. Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but I also want correct information being told. What B number is stamped on that block? It is good to see that the intake components are there. Does anyone know what all the current owner of the car has? It also seems as though the number 9 car has disappeared. Anyone know of its whereabouts?