Avanti Motors prototype body?

[grobb284]

I'm working on body 63RQ-302.

It was reportedly sold at the auction in Ohio when the plant closed in the early 90's.

It is a 1962 body, with the following changes:

Has the later second cowl vent installed.

Front parking lights filled in.

Front bumper mount opening slotted for raised body.

Front bumper body side openings filled.

Front bumper body side "bumps" removed.

Rear bumper body side openings filled.

Rear bumper body side "bumps" removed.

Rear bumper end openings filled.

Tail lights filled.

Fiberglass boxes to cover rear shackles removed.

Filler around all four wheel wells, since removed.

Driver's side rear wheel well filled and masked for a different wheel well opening.

Marking on rear of body, similar to what the later rear kevlar bumpers would fit.

My question is, was this body ever used on a production car and later as an engineering buck, or was it an engineering buck carried over from Studebaker to Avanti Motors?

Any information appreciated.

[grobb284]

Here are some pictures of the body that show some of the modifications.

Second air inlet on the cowl.

Horizontal lines from the kevlar bumper?

Different wheel opening blacked out.