vettsplit 63

A kid I went to high school with bought a new 63 R2 car that was the same color inside and out as the one above. I didn't know anything about superchargers, and was amazed when he could stay with a really hot 409-409 62 Impala that a guy in town had, or at least from a roll he could.. Had a pretty high rear gear as I remember, but it would run. I remember he and his dad flew up back east and got the car, supposedly one of the the first one sold. Don't know if that is true, but there was a write up in the paper back in the day.

gilbybarr

Thanks for your comments about my '63. Here are the two fiberglass "cousins" side by side.

DansYellow66

Very nice. I bet you get stopped a lot with questions when you have the Avanti out. I would guess that not many folks under 50, other than true classic car people, know what it is.

rtruman

didn't relies thease cars were fiberglass were all of them even later fiberglass versions.
Are they holding there value today.

gilbybarr

All were fiberglass....until the "unique" four doors that came in the 90s...they were carbon fiber I think. Here is a photo of my 80 which was ordered new in Steel Cities Gray and red leather. Beautiful combo....loved it. These "post Studebaker" versions had GM motors and drivelines in them. They also didn't have the "rake" that the original Studes did. If you notice, the front fender has a greater distance between the opening and the top of the fender. Interesting that these Avanti IIs still had the Lark X frames designed in the 50's. Actually, the X frames left over from the Studebaker days were piled in back of the factory out back and sat for years in the weather waiting to be used in the new car builds. The Avanti Motor Car company only built about 160 or so cars per year.

arkusvt

unless someone slipped a ford into that avanti, the engine in an r-1 is a studebaker 289 c.i. r-2's were blown stude 289's also. 9 FACTORY r-3's were built, 304.5 c.i. and also supercharged.

dahogan

I have always liked them. Really enjoyed the pics

sub006

My first car was a '62 Lark Regal two-door with the 289 four-barrel, three-speed stick with overdrive, duals and Traction Masters. Surprised a lot of tri-five Chevys at stoplights. Second car was the C2 I still have.

IMO the best-styled prewar American car was the Cord 810 sedan, and my postwar favorite is the '63 round-headlight Avanti. Those first-gen Stude products have a cool rake and exaggerated wheel opening angles to match.

Unlike a Sting Ray, two cruising buddies could pick up two girls in one Avanti!

Tyler Townsley

Bought this one in 2009 1961 s/n 51 supercharged. $4k.

http://thepandatrap.com/tyler/misc1/...%20(Large).JPG

Tyler

VetteRed1965

You are correct, after I made the post. I realized it was a studebacker 302

Captain Bud

I had 2. One was a 63. Had the Bud frame and king pins. I called it the wanderer. I bought a 1980. That was the last year with the chrome bumpers. It also was the last year for the 350 Corvette engine. Google RQB3024. That was my car.

6T5RUSH

Tyler,

Inquisitive minds DO want to know...with PICS. What's it look like today???

Jim
In God We Trust!

Larry P

I had a chance to buy a 64, 289, I think it was supercharged, in about 1968. My bank would not finance the $1800.00 asking price and it was for my daily driver. I changed banks and a few months later, my new bank gave me a loan on a 27 T bucket street rod with a Cadillac engine.
Go figure! Always regretted not being able to get that Avanti.
Larry

Tyler Townsley

I sold the car to Ed Augustine and he is SLOWLY working on it. What amazed me was he soaked the engine with various stuff to free the internals and was able to get it started!! In the meantime here is a picture of another car rescued from the same person. 1960 Caddy Baritz vert. It really filled my trailer!!

http://thepandatrap.com/gallery/Hatcher/IMG_2613

If you are interested in any of the cars in this folder send me a private email and yes that is a 1956 Studebaker Hawk and comes with almost all new interior pieces. The brown one is a 46000 mi original 1948 with the opera rear windows, ugly but would make a great local car show car.

The other caddy in the pictures is a 1969 Eldo convert.

Tyler

427Hotrod

I assume DevilDog will jump in here. He has an Avanti II with the 400" Chevy engine.

A couple of years ago, I flew into town and he loaned it to me to drive to a car show/race in Houston area. On the drive through town, I can't count the number of thumbs up and waves I got..plus at almost every red light, and when I stopped to get a Coke, someone would ask what it was, say how cool it was etc etc.

When I drive my big block '67 Vette convertible I get comments and looks and waves...but nothing like that Avanti!

JIM

DansYellow66

That's pretty amazing - I can't imagine anyone but a car guy would recognize one after all these years. But they are a very unique, attractive car.

devildog

If you like C-1 Corvettes, you should have an Avanti. Here is a great website http://www.theavanti.net/ which has everything about Avanti. The history of the auto industry at that time is on this website...the big three cars in the 1963 car magazines were the Corvette, Avanti, and Buick Riviera (Riviera ??? Yes).

Ian Fleming, John Wayne, Ricky Nelson, Andy Granitelli drove Avanti's

An AVANT is a C-1 with a back seat !!!!!!! Kingpin steering, box X frame, rear leaf, torsion bars, fiberglass body, a little light in the ***, has a trunk and straight axle (like all real Corvettes).

I remember seeing it in 1963 at the Farm Progress Show and wondering how could anyone ever have enough money to buy something like that. Now I have one, and it is a hoot !

As 427Hotrod (Jim) says, everyone wants to talk to you. The conversations fall into two groups: 1.'What the hell is that' and 2.'haven't seen one in years...Uncle Ted had one...and we rode...'? If I drive it to the bank, lawyer office, Home Depot, I have to plan and extra 45 minutes to tell (or listen) to the story.

I bought my 1974 a couple of years ago for $10K with rebuilt 400SBC, 700R4 tranny, and new paint. The seller found a 'Stude R2 1964 with Paxton Supercharger which is his dream. His car with OD tranny and paint is what I would build.

Good clean cars are out there for mid teens. The 63/64 Stude built are a bit more. Parts are available and MUCH cheaper than Corvette. Good owner group support and vendors.

The 1966-83's all have Chevy SB power trains, and where built by in the Stude South Bend factory leased to Altman on Lark frames. the later ones get into other GM frames and new styling, etc.

After you have spent a small fortune on your C-1/C-2 and caught NCRS fever, you are now afraid to drive and enjoy your Corvette. Buy an AVANT to have fun and not get ****. I have driven mine on several 600 mile week-end trips.

My 61 Corvette would always **** coolant on my new Corvettes when in the same garage, but the 61 seems to be quite comfortable with the Avanti sharing the garage.

Joe

Dennis Castor

This is an 87

Captain Bud

Check out my Avanti. RQB3024. !980 Avanti ll. I had a 1963 R1 sold it to a guy in Conneticut. Here is the link:
https://studebaker-info.org/AVDB2/Av...3024x1008.html

Floridasky

My 1964 Avanti R2, 4-speed, Paxton supercharged, twin traction, multi Concours winning.