63 Side view mirrors

[63stick]

On my 63s, which have owned since new, all have dual side view mirrors mounted on the doors.

I have noticed that almost all the cars I see have one or two mirrors, located on the top of fenders in front of the doors.

Our cars were ordered but there was never any choice of placement.

My uncle was the dealership that they were all purchased from.

I have 63R 1086 R2 Two more, another R2 and R3 and 63R 3186 R1. All are the same.

Any idea why these would all come through like that. Invoices just say mirrors

I certainly like having them on the doors, I'm not looking through the vent window/windshield post and don't need 4' arms to adjust.

After many years in storage, I've decided to bring them back to life and use them.

Jealous I guess, my neighbors on each side of my beach house have classic cars, But, there not Avanti's

I have just finished dismantling 63R 3186 except for front and rear glass. I am waiting to pull glass until flatbed comes. Now that we have had 2 snow storms and two more coming, There is no hurry, Paint shop will be backed up with wrecks.

[mfg]

Wow!… Owned since new! I’ll bet you have some interesting Studebaker dealership stories you could share?

I also like the mirrors mounted on the doors… although I must admit that on my own ‘63 they are up on the fenders, where they were when I purchased the car thirty years ago….. (still trying to grow those four foot arms!!)

[Mark63Avanti]

I thought the mirrors were a dealer installed option with both the door and fender as factory assigned positions.

The mirrors mounted on the door look more modern to my eye.

[Gunslinger]

I believe dealers had a template on where to drill for the attaching screws…whether the fender of the door.  Place it wrong on the door and the wing vent hits it.

[63stick]

They all came from the same family dealership, Knoblock Bros., Inc in NJ. They were a Dodge, Studebaker and Mercedes-Benz dealership.

I don't know about the dealers installing the mirrors, as I was there at the dealership when our first one 63R 1086 R2 came in on the truck. The mirrors were on the car. I can't imagine dealers installing them. They mount into well nuts with 3/8" holes. Who in their right mind would want to drill holes that big in someone's new car.

It was my mother's Christmas present. I had no idea what it was when we went to the dealer on Christmas eve. But I sure loved when mom dropped me off at school and all of my friends were there. I remember always saying, light them up when she took off.

Another thing weird about that car was it came with Stainless steel wire wheels. Years later, I was talking to the parts guy out at the old factory, can't remember his name, but he was there forever. Super nice guy, he would talk to me for hours. I mentioned that one of the knock offs had gotten damaged and wanted to know about getting a replacement. I remember like it was yesterday, He said, so that's where the other set of those went. He said they were prototypes, but they were too expensive to make.' 

[Mark63Avanti]

I thought the mirrors were a dealer installed option with both the door and fender as factory assigned positions.

The mirrors mounted on the door look more modern to my eye.

 

From the Studebaker Authenticity Manual

[Gunslinger]

Not all states required outside rear view mirror at the time plus they would have been prone to damage during transport.  For the factory to install mirror would have also increased payroll costs...maybe not much per car but it adds up.  Car makers don't think in terms of dollars or pennies...they think in terms of tenths of pennies.  

[mfg]

16 hours ago, 63stick said:

 

Another thing weird about that car was it came with Stainless steel wire wheels. Years later, I was talking to the parts guy out at the old factory, can't remember his name, but he was there forever. Super nice guy, he would talk to me for hours. I mentioned that one of the knock offs had gotten damaged and wanted to know about getting a replacement. I remember like it was yesterday, He said, so that's where the other set of those went. He said they were prototypes, but they were too expensive to make.' 

In my opinion real wire wheels complement an Avanti like no other type of wheel can…. Really classy!!

[regnalbob]

On 2/12/2025 at 9:20 PM, 63stick said:

 

I have 63R 1086 R2 Two more, another R2 and R3 and 63R 3186 R1. All are the same.

 

Is your R3 one of the nine factory built R3 Avantis?

[63stick]

I guess so, Father ordered all the cars through my uncle.

[regnalbob]

14 hours ago, 63stick said:

I guess so, Father ordered all the cars through my uncle.

There were only nine 1964 R3 Avantis that were factory built.

Could you please post the serial number of yours?

Thanks,

Bob Langer

[bob caser]

So, I am also a original owner delivered in New Jersey Avanti. From my experience dealers installed the mirror to the position that the customer chose, fender , door. I have never seen any order sheet that indicated to the factory to install a mirror in South Bend, but I am always willing to learn something new. My car had it's mirror installed by the dealer.

As far as one of nine 1964 R3 cars one was sold new in New Jersey and from what I recall it was a black car and I think that it was delivered in Vineland, New Jersey.

[mfg]

Anyone know if all nine factory production R3 powered ‘64 Studebaker Avantis have been accounted for?

[regnalbob]

2 hours ago, bob caser said:

 

As far as one of nine 1964 R3 cars one was sold new in New Jersey and from what I recall it was a black car and I think that it was delivered in Vineland, New Jersey.

Bob,

There are two black R3s. 

R 5237    Owned by Nelson Bove.

R 5625    I am not sure but I believe it is still owned by Dan Booth.

 

[bob caser]

I stand corrected, the  R3 sold new in New Jersey was  R 5532 and it was turquoise.

[63stick]

8 hours ago, regnalbob said:

There were only nine 1964 R3 Avantis that were factory built.

Could you please post the serial number of yours?

Thanks,

Bob Langer

Hey Bob, I typed you a full story of the circumstances of the R2 and R3, and somewhere when I was finishing up, it vanished. I've looked everywhere. It's floating around out there somewhere. I'm to beat to explain again tonight. I'll try again tomorrow. Long story short, my older brother stole it and the one R2 from storage and there sitting in Tennessee in weeds. Made me sick to my stomach when I saw them.

 The R3 was Red, 4 speed, black interior and was purchased in NJ. I assume they were 63s. They all had round headlights. I do remember that the spark plugs had to be changed all the time, because the insulator around the electrode would disintegrate. I was only 10-12 during that time.

[63stick]

6 hours ago, bob caser said:

So, I am also a original owner delivered in New Jersey Avanti. From my experience dealers installed the mirror to the position that the customer chose, fender , door. I have never seen any order sheet that indicated to the factory to install a mirror in South Bend, but I am always willing to learn something new. My car had it's mirror installed by the dealer.

As far as one of nine 1964 R3 cars one was sold new in New Jersey and from what I recall it was a black car and I think that it was delivered in Vineland, New Jersey.

 

6 hours ago, bob caser said:

So, I am also a original owner delivered in New Jersey Avanti. From my experience dealers installed the mirror to the position that the customer chose, fender , door. I have never seen any order sheet that indicated to the factory to install a mirror in South Bend, but I am always willing to learn something new. My car had it's mirror installed by the dealer.

As far as one of nine 1964 R3 cars one was sold new in New Jersey and from what I recall it was a black car and I think that it was delivered in Vineland, New Jersey.

Bob, 

I was 10 at the time, so it's certainly possible they installed at dealer. I'm lucky I remember my name sometimes. Where did you get your car from/

[bob caser]

Bendix Motors, in Fairview, New Jersey.

[63stick]

last time I saw the one was Aug 13th. 2019. That was the R2. I honestly don't know if my brother is still alive. His POS wife would never even let me know.

[63stick]

1 minute ago, bob caser said:

Bendix Motors, in Fairview, New Jersey.

Never heard of that dealer. Only time I ever went up that way was on Sat. night with parents to visit grandparents in Newark.

[63stick]

10 minutes ago, bob caser said:

Bendix Motors, in Fairview, New Jersey.

Did you buy it new yourself

[bob caser]

Parents purchased for me, I was 16 years old,  I still have the car.

[regnalbob]

17 hours ago, 63stick said:

Hey Bob, I typed you a full story of the circumstances of the R2 and R3, and somewhere when I was finishing up, it vanished. I've looked everywhere. It's floating around out there somewhere. I'm to beat to explain again tonight. I'll try again tomorrow. Long story short, my older brother stole it and the one R2 from storage and there sitting in Tennessee in weeds. Made me sick to my stomach when I saw them.

 The R3 was Red, 4 speed, black interior and was purchased in NJ. I assume they were 63s. They all had round headlights. I do remember that the spark plugs had to be changed all the time, because the insulator around the electrode would disintegrate. I was only 10-12 during that time.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

No 1963 Avantis were factory built with the R3 engine. Your Avanti may have had the R3 installed by the dealer.

I hope you are able to find it. Even though not factory built it is a special Avanti and worth saving.

[regnalbob]

23 hours ago, mfg said:

Anyone know if all nine factory production R3 powered ‘64 Studebaker Avantis have been accounted for?

They were all accounted for many years ago.

[mfg]

43 minutes ago, regnalbob said:

They were all accounted for many years ago.

It would be interesting to see an updated list of the whereabouts of those nine Avantis.