1963 Studebaker

AVANTI R-4 Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Manual

R-3852

Gasoline

1963 STUDEBAKER AVANTI - HI-PERFORMANCE R-4 SHOW-STOPPER Yes, this is the car that was listed and sold a few weeks ago. The winning buyer never paid the deposit, and instead wrote to me that his wife said NO. Now, why he would be among the bidders, and not have the money or permission, is beyond me? So, I hope that before you decide to buy, please be sure you are clear and have the funds to do so! And, PLEASE READ EVERYTHING WRITTEN BELOW! I chose to hold off on re-listing until now, because for the 6th year in a row, the car was juried into the elite field of superb automobiles at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance on Feb. 26. So, of course, I wanted to take the last opportunity for me to enjoy "Raven" in such a venue before turning it over to its next owner. The pictures with the ad are nearly all from the event this past weekend, so are very fresh. My raven-black Avanti 2door coupe VIN NO: R-3852 is lien-free, owned outright by me, and I have the clear title. It is equipped with factory air conditioning, power steering, power windows and the rare am/fm radio with rear speaker. Built in March 1963, this is a fine classic Studebaker automobile that has been in continuous restoration by me over 23 years, and currently has113,600 original miles. It has been restored, upgraded and cared for extremely well! I’ve had this fabulous car since early 1989. Over these past many years, a very high, but loving investment of my time, enjoyable effort, and funds have combined to develop this unique Avanti (that I have named “Raven”) into the special high performer and show-stopper it has become. Recently in 2006, it has been reconfigured to factory spec’s and equipment into the extremely rare R-4 high-performance model – including the factory spec rebuild and re-bore from 289 c.i. to 304.5 c.i., milled and magna-fluxed heads (I chose not to use the 12:1compression ratio R-4 heads - would be nuts with today's gas, and me usuing the car as a driver on the street!), new cam shaft, correct pistons, dual 4 BBL Carter AFB carburetors, rebuilt Borg-Warner T-10 four speed, and optional Hurst shifter used by Studebaker. There is less than 2,500 miles on all this very costly engine work!! It also has an NOS 3:54 rear end purchased from the factory stock that went to Newman & Altman. The car runs as good as it looks! Since the reconfiguration it has plenty of "go" to match its "show"! I take it out for exercise on a weekly basis, or to car shows and club meets. It performs as it should. The exterior is painted with R&M A946 Ebony Black lacquer; and interior is factory patterned vinyl with a custom saddle color by me. Both are show quality, although the driver seat piping has a separation in the seam covered by the seat back. The chrome is excellent. Raven is very, very presentable, as the pictures show, and turns heads wherever it goes! The powerful and completely rebuilt and balanced V-8 runs excellent, and as expected with this upgrade, sounds like a high-performance engine should, going through new OEM stainless steel dual exhausts. Every feature on this car works as it should, although the passenger side power window is a little slow and sticks at times; the start cycle sometime hesitates before starting; and after sitting for an extended period there is a brake squeek until they are applied a couple of times. None of this is serious! Just some of the other Items that I have replaced with factory OEM, or quality reproduction parts since owning the car are as follows (most are new): clutch, fuel pump, dual carburetors, air conditioner compressor, water pump, starter, battery and cables, distributor (converted to electric), voltage regulator, brakes, #409 stainless dual exhaust system, hi-efficiency radiator core, and on-and-on... Note - every dollar spent by me and every mile driven is documented in a log book that goes with the car, and supported by a nearly 4' stack of paid receipts in chronological order. All the work has been done correctly! I also have traceability of the car back to its original owner in Texas. Except for a garaged time with me in N.J., the car has never been North. The hog troughs were replaced during its orig. restoration in Miami. As well as receiving “Best of Show” awards at several Studebaker, Avanti and local, State and International New Jersey and Florida meets over the years I have shown it, it is also a recipient of a coveted AACA Senior award winner. It has received many 1st. Place awards at similar events during the same timeframe. It also received awards in two (2) prestigious Boca Concours d’Elegance shows, and was invited to and participated in the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. It has been invited into a total of seven Concours - how many other Avanti's do you know of that can claim the same pedigree? Car & Driver magazine ran a three-page pictorial special feature article on my car in their April 1994 edition. This printing brought long overdue attention to a tremendous car from yesteryear, from a fine company. In 2007 my car was featured and pictured on the cover of AVANTI, a Brooklands Road Test Book. On October 28, 2010 it was given a color feature article in Old Cars Weekly magazine. In 2011 it was featured in a wonderful article and picture spread in Avanti Magazine; and is currently in the Avanti 2012 calendar. I am 71, and recently been through lung cancer and lung removal, and am involved with another restoration. It's time for the next person to own and enjoy the car. I hope you agree that the car will bring a lot of interest and add a zest of excitement to your life. This car is also for sale locally and I reserve the right to pull this ad at anytime. Buyer responsible for pick-up and/or shipping. Deposit of $2,000 within 48 hours of auction close; and full payment required within 7 calendar days of auction close. Call me for questions at 561-367-9389 or email me. Thanks for looking and happy bidding. SELLERS RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ON 1/30/2012: (1)The reserve is set at roughly 50% of what I have into the car over 23 years; and believe me a whole lot less than it would take to do today! Plus, all the headaches, and concern with dealing with body, upholstery, mechanics, re-chromers, etc. is avoided. Yes, the car is a numbers-matching car to all the original Studebaker factory documentation I have. The 4spd. BW T-10 trans. came from another Studebaker Avanti. It was rebuilt and installed in 2008 @ 112,000 miles on the car. (2) The logbook contains info. as to where, when and why the car was driven during its years with me, in date order, with mileage and odometer readings. It has EVERY show the car was entered in, and the MANY awards it received. It has the cost I paid for the car, pedigree info., expenses of the restoration, who did it, or where the parts were purchased from, with phone nos. and addresses, and cumulative amounts spent by major category. As stated in the ad, all money spent is backed by a complete documentation file. (3) The tires are Michelins XH4 W/W 215/75SR15 radials with 80,000 mile wty. installed at 106,800 miles. There was a set of 6:70X15 bias ply's that I used for the "better" shows, but they were sold with their wheels a few weeks ago. CONFUSION CLEAR UP FROM THE LAST AD - The Vin is R- 3852, not the Avanti #R- 1250 pictured in the Avanti Magazine #155 that was wrecked and rebuilt. This car was never wrecked!! On Mar-02-12 at 11:43:04 PST, seller added the following information: 3/2/2012 - ACTION TAKEN AGAINST HIGH BIDDER - For whatever reason, the bidder yovendalecafe, who was the person who won the bid the first time I listed the car, and reneged on paying for it which caused me to have to re-list it again, came back into the bidding again this time, as the high bidder! Two days ago I wrote to him asking if he somehow got the money now, and permission from his wife; and if so, he would have to give me some evidence of his sincerity and ability to pay this time. He never responded, so today I blocked him from the bidding process, and cancelled his bids. You are free to bid now without his phony interference. Bill