Avanti Door locks Video on Youtube

[Zedman]

Browsing Youtube today, I found an interesting instructional video on how the Avanti Door lock system works. It is worthy of a look.

 

[mfg]

Thank you… Good info!

[brad]

Often the "new" door strikers are a tad off in the teeth underneath, and dot engage the latch pawl correctly. It's often I have had to rotory file them to fit properly. Also if using old parts, the striker can get a notch worn into where it rubs on the lock interlock at the back of the latch, and you wont be able to lock the doors because the lever does not get depressed fully when the door is shut. You can remedy this by drilling a small hole, and installing a machine screw so it protrudes just enough to work the interlock. Then your doors will lock.

[Ron Dame]

As an aside, why did Avanti Motors switch from having a lock in the handle to a separate lock cylinder? It's ugly and you have the filler plate where the cylinders used to be.

[Gunslinger]

While I could be wrong on both counts...during the mid-'70s a lot was going on with Avanti Motors...the change in door locks could have been related to complying with federal safety standards or running out of original Studebaker parts and the need to substitute something different at the least cost.  The death of Nate Altman in 1976 probably had an effect in decision making as well.  

[AG-R3]

On 8/2/2025 at 6:50 AM, Gunslinger said:

While I could be wrong on both counts...during the mid-'70s a lot was going on with Avanti Motors...the change in door locks could have been related to complying with federal safety standards or running out of original Studebaker parts and the need to substitute something different at the least cost.  The death of Nate Altman in 1976 probably had an effect in decision making as well.  

Wasn't it about that same time, they installed a safety (crash)  bar at the mid door level almost in line with the new lock ?

[Zedman]

3 hours ago, AG-R3 said:

Wasn't it about that same time, they installed a safety (crash)  bar at the mid door level almost in line with the new lock ?

Hi AG-R3- my apologies for hijacking the thread somewhat, but your post infers that Avanti Motor Corp placed 'Anti Intrusion 'Bars/ Barrier' within  the doors of our cars. This is a query I had made a couple of years ago and nobody on this Forum could verify it.   So, do our Avanti II doors have Intrusion Bars in 'em...  ?  As of what year?  Can these be seen without removal of the door trims?..  The reason I'm asking this is that here in Australia, I know that when I have my car Inspected prior to roadworthy certification, the presence of Intrusion bars is mandated.    I'd assumed I would have to install something there- hopefully I won't after all.

[AG-R3]

30 minutes ago, Zedman said:

Can these be seen without removal of the door trims?.........      I wouldn't have mentioned that without a recollection of seeing that somewhere.  It's likely there's a picture of it in the thousands of files I have. The door locking mechanism has always been tied into the roll bar and was moved lower. As I recall the reinforcement bar is at the same plane inside the door, but I can't recall how the forward part of the bar is handled.   Maybe someone here who has been inside the body  can chime in...

 

Edited August 4 by AG-R3

[Zedman]

On 8/4/2025 at 11:45 AM, AG-R3 said:

AG-R3- Thanks for your reply on Side Intrusion Bars.  Your Comment on their actual presence has taken a load off my mind (for now, at least).  The front of these Bars need to be linked either side to a hardpoint like an 'A' Pillar and Door Lock/ 'B' Pillar/ Rollover Bar in Avanti's.  With there being no Metal Frame in the  Avanti's 'A' pillar, I'm somewhat perplexed.  The big take-away for me is that I may not need any internal door stregnthening in my 1981 Avanti II after all. YAY !

I finally found something on the Web that helps...  https://www.drive.com.au/news/a-short-history-of-car-door-madness-20150421-1mpv1b/

"Anti-intrusion bars were made compulsory in the US in 1973, and research in 1982 showed they were saving 480 American lives a year."

 

 

[mfg]

No door side crash beams in Avanti doors that I’m aware of… at least thru 1985.

[mfg]

The results of a hard side hit directly into a 1985 (and earlier) Avanti’s driver’s or passenger’s door would not be pretty!

[mfg]

The only metal I’m aware of in those doors are the window regulators!!

[Zedman]

Regarding my posts on Door mounted 'Intrusion Bars'- Thanks for the input, everybody.  Unless Steel tube/bar is embedded in the doors during layup, I suppose their presence is still indeterminate.  I was hoping somebody with knowledge from the factory floor might chime in. I may push this query on the SDC Chat pages to see if a wider audience may shine some light on the subject.