J Boyle
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Posts posted by J Boyle
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It's more than a bit pretentious despite a good cast (excepting Gore Vidal...I'm not sure why he was there).
Yes, in the future everyone will drive Avantis and Citroëns
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Antique Auto Battery (google website) makes a maintance free battery (gell type like Optima) in a 3EE size with Willard on the side (brand used by Studebaker). They list the dimensions a being 9" tall which gives me a bit of concern so I would contact first and make sure the actual height matches a 3EE battery and not the 3EH battery. The biggest draw back on this battery is price. Last quote I saw was $270 (without shipping).
That's what I found when I last checked a couple of years ago.
I'll look at the battery mat.
One question, concern: Won't it raise the battery to much to fit?
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While we're on the topic, does anyone make a sealed (Optima-like) 3EE?
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One more to add:
Actor and celebrity husband (married to Courtney Cox) David Arquette was photographed with a late 80s convertible recently. IIRC, photos were put on this forum.
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I asked this same question on the SDC Forum...
IIRC, the answer is only 15 % of production.
It was far below the numbers for White, Gold and Turquoise.
The man who restored mine said he's never seen a red one before.
Mine is the only red one in town.
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I want it correct...I don't want some regualr bolts under there after all the trouble I've gone through to keep the engine bay stock.
And anyone translate the parts book anguage for the other pieces....or better yet tell me if I even need them or would the main bolt be enough to do the trick?
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Okay, ready for one of the oddest questions you'll get all day?
The bolt holding the hood prop to the inner fender of my 63 came undone and was lost.
So, I have to reattach the lower end back to the car to get the hood to stay open.
S-I sells part 1336807 for the job...(it's seen on page 142 of their new catalog).
From the drawing it appears to be a bolt. washer and nut combo piece and for $5.50, I think (hope) it's more than just a bolt.
However, the parts manual also lists:
G120368 Net, Hex 5/16
1463X36 spring washer
41X195 plain washer
G138538 Lock washer 5/16.
Do I need the other 4 parts?
If so, can someone tell me, in English, what those parts are and what I have to ask for at a bolt store or FLAPS?
Thanks.
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For what it's worth...
My 63 Avanti R-1 (63R-2788) doesn't have it.
Its console is very original, it still has the original owener's name tag on it, so I'd assume it would still be there if it was ever fitted.
Maybe just on R2s?
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I was reading my latest copy of Classic and Sports Car from the UK and they mentioned the drag coeficient of the 1962 Alfa sedan as .34 and comparing it to a Jaguar E-type's cd of.44 (lower numbers are better) which despite it's famous sreamlined curves seems to match the third generation VW van (which seems hard to believe).
Some modern performance cars have fairly high numbers thatnks to wide tires, fender flares and other bits that give more downforce.
Bragging about the numbers were in vogue back in the 80s, with the Audi 5000 having a respectable (for a large sedan) .30. Likewise, the first generation Ford Taurus had good numbers for the period.
Which got me to wondering...has anyone ever measured the drag coefficient of the Avanti?
It seems like something Steve Blake may have done when he was mulling performace options for the car.
It would be interesting to see how it compares with the E-Type.
Both cars have great looking bodies that were modern for their time, but if you look at them today, both have near-vertical windscreens...in fact my Ford truck has a greater rake to it than the Avanti.
Short of having your own wind tunnel, there are websites tyat tell you how to measure your car, but being physics challenged, I'll leave that to someone who know more about the subject than myself.
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The late Richard Collins, one of the founders of the AOAI, was an airline pilot. I don't know if he was wealthy but his vocation and avocation sure went together.
I was thinking more of a wealthy private pilot...they kind of guy that owned a nice executive type plane of the day.
But back in the 60s, some airline pilots on the long range routes were fairly wealthy I knew of one that lived in Bevery Hills......plus the Avanti with its aviation influences, certainly fits the image of a airline pilot back then.
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HI. New guy here! Corporate Pilot, Avanti owner, owner of 2 Harleys, 1962 Corvette and 32 antique John Deere tractors
Welcome!
What do you fly?
I'd love to find a restored late 50s-early 60s Areo Commander, 310, Beech 18/Twin Bonanza/Travel Air or similar biz-plane of the era to take photos with my Avanti.
You'd end up with the type of shot they used to sell both the cars and planes back in the day. I've always though of the Avanti as the type of car a wealthy private pilot would have had back in the day.
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Anyone out there with an unrestored 63?
Other questions, coments, crank opinions?
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Lew,
I can't make SB this year.
John
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Can we get one autographed?
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Do you think that will be the thing to make Avanti prices soar?
Yeah, sure
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There's another replacement that's available through NAPA that appears closer to correct...outside of the manufacturer's name on it and "Made in Mexico"! It does work perfectly, tough. The NAPA part number is 703-1033 and costs less than $6.00.
Will the "Premium Fuel Only" decal fit on it?
The gas cap on mine has a hard and shrunken gasket, so it doesn't really seal as tightly as I'd like. I have no idea if it's the original cap.
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Always wanted a Stearman. Wonder how he'd trade for an 84 with a tricked out 350 with GM TPI ?
I don't think so. He was in high school when the 63s came out, so that what he wants. I gave him a ride in mine and he was impressed. This coming from a guy that can can afford any car he wants.
If I had made the trade, my wife would have looked at me like jack and the Beanstock. Trading a freshly restored car for an incomplete plane that I'd have to spend a fortune on completing, insuring and hangaring.
I wouldn't be in the dog house...I'd be in the dog pound.
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Most of my pilot friends aren't into cars.
The 2-3 that are have 60s American stuff or high-dollar new imports. One offered me his spare Stearman for my recently completed 63 Avanti.
Trouble is, the Stearman was a project about 70% done (Fuselage done, overhauled engine, etc). Dollar for dollar, it would have been a great trade, but I'd need to spend another $40k to finish...and I don't need a Stearman.
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You'd be shocked for what the AM-FM radio alone would bring!
With fairly low miles and the current premium people pay for unrestored original cars....if you get the engine running and the rest is in serviceable shape (older paint and interior that someone could still live with...nice but of course not perfect)...I'd ask at least $15,000 for it.
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For Avanti fans who don't receive the Avanti (AOAI) magazine...(and shame on you if you're not a member)
AMT models (now owned by Round 2 out of South Bend) is set to re-issue the classic 1/25th scale 63-64 Avanti plastic kit. It will have the "3 in 1" options of building a stock, custom or Bonneville car.
They seem to have done a proper job of it restoring the Halibrand wheels option which was deleted after the first issue. (I just received a second issue from a friend and they were replaced by Ansen mags). Also, the tires are new-tooled Goodyear Polyglas GT tires.
They got with the SNM to produce a 16 page Avanti booklet which will be included in the kit.
It will come out in July and in time for the South Bend meet.
For any model historians out there, I've found the kit has been issued five times over the years:
Trophy Series 3 in 1(Original issue), Stock # 2064, 1963 (it would have to be 63 in order for the Gene Winfield-designed "custom" square headlights to have influenced the 64 models...as is the story of how the design was changed. It's a great story and widely accepted, but did the kit really come out that early to influence the 64s? With the redesign and parts buying, the kit would have to come out very early in 63 if not 1962).
Modern Classics, # T-413, 1974.
Reggie Jackson Collection Series, PK-4181, 1981 (labeled as AMT/Matchbox on the box).
Prestige Series, #6872, 1989
Millennium Series, #30268, 2000.
It's available for order from the AOAI on-line store.
Like they say on TV..."order, now!".
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One other point...when Carson owned his Avanti he was living in New York. He didn't move The Tonight Show to California until 1972.
There is a good chance he never drove it to work at NBC, he used a town car service.
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One of the problems with buying an old car (of whatever make and model) is often times it's impossible to figure out why previous owners did some things. I've found one of the most difficult things to deal with with older cars is undoing what previous owners have done. Sometimes what was done makes little sense or was a good idea poorly carried out. Regardless...it makes for headaches beyond the normal process of fixing the cars.
Back in Texas I had a friend restore a nice stock Jeep CJ-5 for me. He said the worst thing about restoring Jeeps was undoing PO's "improvements". Most are ill-conceived and poorly done. Avantis are now old enough to have the same problems.
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Did Avanti IIs use the black plastic hood piece? If so, it might be a "II" piece...(no "S").
If you want to go back to stock, early Avantis had gold "S" emblems...later they were silver. I believe the Studebaker International catalog gives the change over serial.
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In addition to trying SMS, go to the best auto interior shop in your town. We have one here and it has tons of sample books.
Ask street rod guys at local shows if you don't know of a shop.
You'd be surprised what they can get, and very importantly you can see and compare a sample before you buy.
Erratic horn operation on '63
in 1963-64 Avanti
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Horn issue on my 63.
The right horn "button" (yes, I know it's not a button but you know what I mean) only works when you press it from the back towards you, while the left only works when pressed towards the front.
Any ideas?