Salt and pepper carpet to solid black

[Nelson]

Anybody know when the salt and pepper carpet was dropped in favor of the solid black?

[1963r2]

Probably when they simplified the interior on the 64 models.

[mfg]

16 hours ago, Nelson said:

Anybody know when the salt and pepper carpet was dropped in favor of the solid black?

R4892 was first Avanti built with all the  original ‘64  factory updates.  (minor additional changes came even later)

That serial number may be your answer.

[brad]

Actually the 64 changes were on an EX prototype car made long before R4892. One of the last ones Gary Johnson is finishing up. 

[mfg]

4 hours ago, brad said:

Actually the 64 changes were on an EX prototype car made long before R4892. One of the last ones Gary Johnson is finishing up. 

I believe Nelson was referring to changes phased in on the Avanti production line?

[Dwight FitzSimons]

IIRC there was a document detailing at what serial number all of these changes took place.  I can't find it at the moment.

--Dwight

[mfg]

A friend owns a real nice white ‘64 Stude Avanti, that features a full claret interior, black carpeting, and the ‘woodgrain’ steering wheel & dash pieces…… Absolutely beautiful!

[mfg]

On 8/31/2025 at 3:35 PM, brad said:

Actually the 64 changes were on an EX prototype car made long before R4892. One of the last ones Gary Johnson is finishing up. 

By the way Brad…. On a different note…. The Carter carb letters WCFB Stand for ‘White Cast Four Barrel’!

[Zedman]

On 9/3/2025 at 3:48 AM, mfg said:

By the way Brad…. On a different note…. The Carter carb letters WCFB Stand for ‘White Cast Four Barrel’!

Will Carter four Barrel?

 

[mfg]

5 hours ago, Zedman said:

Will Carter four Barrel?

 

‘White Cast’ refers to material carb is made of.

[regnalbob]

The Carburetor Shop LLC

204 East 15^th Street

Eldon, Missouri 65026

 

WCFB

 

The WCFB was Carter’s first attempt at a four-barrel carburetor. It was introduced in 1952. A total of 222 different WCFB models were made in the years 1952 through 1967. The WCFB was discontinued after the 1967 model year. I have seen a number of different meanings for the WCFB acronym. One employee of Carter once told me that it meant “wrought cast four barrel”; and used that terminology for years. However, a close friend who worked most of his life for Carter, chastised me for using this terminology. It seems the official Carter meaning was Will Carter Four Barrel (Will Carter of course being the inventor that started the Carter Carburetor Company). So I now use this designation when asked.

Carter Carburetors began manufacturing the model WCFB four-barrel in the early Fifties, General Motors started using the “William Carter Four Barrel” as standard equipment in 1952, and Packard opted to use the WCFB four-barrel carburetor as original equipment in 1953. Chrysler adopted the same Carter unit in ’54. These were popular with many original manufacturers; in fact, the WCFB series carburetors were still used on many Corvettes up until 1964. However, their weight, at over 17 pounds, suggested that a lighter carburetor with the same progressive 4-barrel characteristics was needed.

[mfg]

Personally, I do not agree… as the above information is  from a knowledgeable person who is basing his opinion on heresay.

I always thought that the ‘AFB’ designation on Carter AFB carburetors stood for ‘Aluminum Four Barrel’…. regalbob will no doubt come back with info that indicates that ‘AFB’ stands for ‘Anderson Four Barrel’!!!!!!!!

No, ‘WCFB’ stands for ‘White Cast Four Barrel. (my opinion)

Also, I highly doubt that a Carter WCFB carburetor, although heavy, weighs “over seventeen pounds”!

[brad]

The Will Carter is right from the horses mouth at the Carter factory that was in St. Louis. Can't get any clearer than that.

[mfg]

2 minutes ago, brad said:

The Will Carter is right from the horses mouth at the Carter factory that was in St. Louis. Can't get any clearer than that.

Brad, if you want to call the WCFB a Will Carter Four Barrel…. then I too will call it a Will Carter Four Barrel…. No problem!

[Leo B]

Running Changes?
Salt & Pepper to Black. R-4275 

 

[mfg]

14 hours ago, Leo B said:

Well, Leo’s list really answers the question… Looks like Stude switched ‘salt & pepper’ carpeting to all black at Avanti serial # R- 4709.

 

[regnalbob]

All 1963 & 1964 Avantis with two tone interiors had salt & pepper carpets.

The exception was the Fawn & Elk two tone with optional Black carpet.

Solid Black carpet became standard with the solid color interiors starting with R-4892.

[mfg]

1 hour ago, regnalbob said:

All 1963 & 1964 Avantis with two tone interiors had salt & pepper carpets.

The exception was the Fawn & Elk two tone with optional Black carpet.

Solid Black carpet became standard with the solid color interiors starting with R-4892.

Regnalbob… Concerning the above list, where it refers to “Fawn & black” on fifth line down, it’s referring to  salt & pepper Stude Avanti carpeting….

Unless that list is incorrect, salt & pepper carpeting was replaced with all black carpeting at Avanti serial.# R-4709….

Are you saying R-4709 did not have a two tone interior?

Also, are you telling us a ‘63 Stude Avanti with Orange & Fawn interior would have salt & pepper carpeting?

I  feel that you think that all Stude Avantis with ‘two-tone’ carpeting have salt & pepper carpeting… but salt & pepper only refers to what I will call the light tan and black speckled carpeting.

Take a better look at above list… it’s self explanatory!

Edited 9 hours ago by mfg
Added text

[regnalbob]

1 hour ago, mfg said:

 

I  feel that you think that all Stude Avantis with ‘two-tone’ carpeting have salt & pepper carpeting… but salt & pepper only refers to what I will call the light tan and black speckled carpeting.

Take a better look at above list… it’s self explanatory!

Avanti two tone carpeting has always been called salt & pepper no matter what the color. 

Take a better look at my post, it is self explanatory.

[brad]

I have seen some strange stuff on Avantis. I've seen the salt and pepper carpet over the seat hump, with no vinyl riser, and of course the more familiar type that is cut out for the riser that is covered in matching seat vinyl. 

[Dwight FitzSimons]

I have always thought of "salt & pepper carpeting" as referring to two-tone carpet, i.e., tan & black, red & black, turquoise & black, etc.  That's how I have always heard the term used.

RegnalBob stated: "All 1963 & 1964 Avantis with two tone interiors had salt & pepper carpets, except the Fawn & Elk had Black carpet."  (paraphasing a little)

Yes, AFAIK that is the lone exception on '63s, AND that Fawn & Elk w/ black carpet interior was available only with either a Gold or Red exterior.

The upholstery & exterior color combinations available are detailed in the Avanti Color & Upholstery Selector book.

--Dwight

 

[Dwight FitzSimons]

1 hour ago, brad said:

I have seen some strange stuff on Avantis. I've seen the salt and pepper carpet over the seat hump, with no vinyl riser, and of course the more familiar type that is cut out for the riser that is covered in matching seat vinyl. 

Production variances is one thing that makes Avantis so interesting.  Especially interesting are the "round-headlight '64 Avantis," with interior variations practically from car to car.

--Dwight

[mfg]

2 hours ago, regnalbob said:

Avanti two tone carpeting has always been called salt & pepper no matter what the color. 

Take a better look at my post, it is self explanatory.

I don’t know what brand of salt and pepper you use on your food Bob, but I certainly hope that your ‘salt’ is not red, or orange, or turquoise!!!!!!!

However, if you post a Studebaker document that specifically states that ALL tu-tone Avanti carpeting  will be considered or referred to as ‘salt & pepper’, I will defer!

Edited 5 hours ago by mfg
Spell.

[mfg]

40 minutes ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

I have always thought of "salt & pepper carpeting" as referring to two-tone carpet, i.e., tan & black, red & black, turquoise & black, etc.  That's how I have always heard the term 

--Dwight

 

Maybe where you’re from!!……..Do you live near regalbob?

Edited 4 hours ago by mfg

[mfg]

26 minutes ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

Production variances is one thing that makes Avantis so interesting.  Especially interesting are the "round-headlight '64 Avantis," with interior variations practically from car to car.

--Dwight

Agreed!