1964 Studebaker Avanti

R2--Supercharged Fiberglass

289 cu. in. Studebaker

4-speed

R4399

Clear

This is a rare factory-supercharged, 4-speed, Studebaker Avanti. VIN is R4399; it was manufactured in May 1963 and is registered as a 1964 (technically it is a ’63 model that was registered late). According to recent research, of the total 4643 Studebaker Avantis ever built (in 1963 and 1964), only 738 had both the supercharger and 4-speed transmission. Only 153 of those had the “Quick” steering (16:1 ratio) that this car has. Included in the sale will be a copy of the factory production order for this car obtained from the Studebaker National Museum; it lists all the options that the car was built with. Also included is a notebook with information on previous owners, as well as receipts and descriptions of what I have done to the car during the time I have owned it. I have owned the car for 5-1/2 years; it is my third Avanti (and my best one). I bought it in 2006 from a fellow who owned it since 1982; I may be the 4th owner. I’m only selling it to help finance a more recent collector car acquisition. In case you’re not that familiar with Avantis, here are a few unique facts about them: · Fiberglass body (made by same company that made Corvette bodies for many years) · Front disk brakes (first American production car to have them); finned rear drums · 289 cubic inch supercharged Studebaker (not a Ford) engine producing about 290hp (under the old “gross” horsepower measuring system); non-supercharged engine was also available and could be ordered with A/C; supercharged cars were not available with A/C · Built-in rollbar behind and over front seatbacks with padded cover · Safety padded dash · Full complement of gauges · Dana 44 rear axle (supercharged cars like this invariably had Studebaker’s “Twin-Traction” that was the equivalent of GM’s Positraction) · Gas tank located behind rear seat, away from rear bumper to provide crash protection (upholstery-covered filler tube visible inside left side of rear window) · Grille opening located under front bumper for clean and unusual front-end appearance · Glass-covered headlights (round in ’63 models and square in most ’64 models) · Optional 16:1 ratio manual steering · Car designed by famous industrial designer Raymond Loewy, same person who designed the Exxon sign, the Black Label beer can, the US Postal Service logo, the Skylab uniforms, the Oreo cookie package, and many other familiar industrial designs that we see around us everyday. I call this car a “rolling sculpture”—it looks spectacular from every angle. It’s been said that the Avanti has “no straight lines” anywhere on the body. This car is simply a blast to drive—the sound, the feel, unlike anything you’ve experienced before. If you’re old enough to remember the sound of the hot solid-lifter-camshaft-equipped muscle cars at the drive-in burger joints in the ‘60s, then you know what this sounds like when it’s idling. The exhaust system is of original design, but manufactured in stainless steel (while stainless was not the original exhaust system material used by Studebaker, these will not rust and will always look great) with original style straight-through mufflers, as were standard on these cars when new (you could order optional quiet-tone oval, reverse-flow mufflers with resonators, if you wanted, but who would want those on a supercharged Avanti?). The exhaust system sounds great at idle and in action. The large-opening original exhaust tips have been re-chromed and look very impressive from the rear of the car. The original Borg-Warner 4-speed transmission is all synchromesh and works great; it has a pleasant whine as the car accelerates (similar to, but not as loud as the Muncie M22 “rock crusher” transmission in some ‘60s/’70s GM muscle cars). The shifter mechanism under the floor is by Hurst—nice positive short-throw—fun to use; above the floor the shifter has a stock-look chromed lever with stock white 4-speed ball. Shift boot and surrounding chrome trim ring is new. As mentioned above, the Avanti was the first American production car to be equipped with disk brakes (front only). Each Bendix caliper has two cylinders, which have been sleeved with brass by White Post Restorations in White Post, VA (nationally recognized for their excellence in auto restoration). Front brake pads are new. The original master cylinder was likewise sleeved with brass by White Post. The rear wheel cylinders were recently rebuilt. Brake hoses are new. The brakes work great; they are power brakes, as one would expect with disk brakes. As you can see in the picture of the odometer, the mileage is a shade over 42,000 miles, which is believed to be original and is consistent with the car’s records. It has been garage-kept for at least 30 years and probably most of its 49 year life. The whitewall Firestone radial tires are only a few years old and have very few miles on them. I chose Firestone because that is the brand of tire the car had on it originally. Wheel covers are original and in nice condition. Wheels are original and painted the correct off-white color. The dual exterior Studebaker “Strato-Vue” rearview mirrors are unique in that the previous owner had bad luck with reproduction mirrors, so he expertly fashioned new curved bases from aluminum in the original style. While they are not the original material, they are the original design, and he did such a great job hand-making them, I would never remove them from the car. They are a symbol of the previous owner’s love for the car and surely deserve continued use on this car (I hope the winning bidder will agree). This car was given what I would call a body-off-the-frame “preservation” rather than a “restoration” by the previous owner in the early 1980s. Among other things he re-painted the car in its original color. Today the paint has numerous chips and scratches. It looks great in the pictures, pretty good at 20 feet, and it’s not so bad that you would be embarrassed to take it to your local cruise-in, but it needs new paint. The underside of the car is very nice and very clean and original in appearance. The frame and suspension is solid, clean, and virtually rust-free. The rear leaf springs are new. They were made by supplier to Meyer’s Studebaker in Duncan Falls, Ohio. They had more arch than the original springs and lifted the rear of the car too much, so I installed 2-inch lowering blocks and longer U-bolts on the rear axle. The car still has the forward rake it was always known for, but it no longer looks ridiculous. Years from now, if these springs start to sag, one can easily substitute smaller lowering blocks to raise the car back to its proper attitude. Rubber bushings on the leaf springs, the traction bars (these were original equipment), and the rear anti-roll bar have been replaced. The famous “hog troughs” (metal pans along the sides of the body between the front and rear wheels—they are bonded to the fiberglass rocker panels and known for a tendency to rust through) on this car are quite good, probably due to the “preservation” done in the early ‘80s. Likewise, the tubular rear cross member just below the rear pan is solid. The interior is in very good shape and all original. Looks like the driver seat was reupholstered at some point; a nice job was done. I believe the other seats have their original upholstery. Carpets are reproduction and were installed by the previous owner. This particular car is a minor milestone car. According to an article by Fred Fox in the Studebaker Drivers Club magazine “Turning Wheels,” this car, VIN 4399, was the car on which Studebaker implemented one of the Avanti’s many “running changes” in which this was the first Avanti to have solid black carpet instead of black/red salt and pepper style carpet. This is also one of the earliest Avantis with an all-black interior (most Avantis before this had a beige color on the dash, top of the door panels, on the roll-bar cover, on the back shelf, etc.). It is also one of the earliest Avantis to have the walnut-look steering wheel and trim on the dash and console. It has new black, original style seatbelts, front and rear. The 3EE Interstate battery is brand new in early July 2012. The voltage regulator is relatively new Prestolite and close to original style (the original is no longer available). The alternator is a rebuilt original Prestolite. Distributor is an original dual-point Prestolite. Car comes with an original, nicely restored Avanti scissor jack and jack handle. Spare tire appears to be the original 48 year old tire. The original Paxton supercharger was rebuilt for the previous owner and works great. Supercharged Avantis were also known for the faint whistle produced by the supercharger at idle; this one has it and it’s cool. The cast aluminum carburetor bonnet has been re-chromed. Various previously wrong, worn, or missing parts have been replaced to make the engine compartment appear as original as possible. In fact, it looks pretty much like new. Carburetor is original, special “sealed” Carter AFB with the original tag on the front that indicates that it is a special sealed carburetor (it is sealed to keep in the additional air pressure supplied by the supercharger). Engine is in very good condition (low mileage is one reason). It doesn’t smoke. And while Studebakers are known for dripping oil on the floor, this car has virtually no dripping of anything. Oil pressure on this engine after warm-up is low at idle, which is not a very uncommon characteristic of 289 Studebaker engines; the expert advice is usually that while the pressure may be low, it’s sufficient; if it becomes a real problem, these engines are readily rebuildable and parts are readily available from numerous Studebaker parts suppliers. This car has something else you’re not going to see very often—limited production reproduction front floor mats in the original black rubber ribbed style with the Studebaker “lazy S” in the middle. They are brand new. Let me close by saying that this car is many times more special in almost every way than the ‘60/’70s muscle cars you see selling for six figures or more on Mecum and Barret-Jackson. The winning bidder really will get a lot of bang for the buck with this car. Serious bidders are welcome to email me and arrange for inspecting the car. While I am personally reluctant to drive any old car very far from home, a winning bidder who doesn’t live too far from Woodbridge, VA, could probably drive the car home with relative confidence, and have a lot of fun doing it. Winning bidder is responsible for arrangements and cost of transporting the car. A $1000 deposit is due within 72 hours of the completion of the auction. Balance of winning bid is due at or before release of car or title. Use of PayPal is encouraged for all payments. Check my eBay feedback rating for more confidence in your bidding.