Avanti #1 at LeMay Americas Car Museum in Tacoma?!?

[Desert Explorer]

I was just at the "Coffee Cruise in" at the offices of LeMay Americas Car Museum and saw a strangely painted Avanti which drew my attention. It was next to a more normal example, but the docent said it was "Avanti #1" and that they were in talks with the SDC about its restoration. Here are some photos of it in its gaudy current 'non factory' paint.
It is true is this Avanti #1 ?

[(S)]

lots of posts about a few of those

search avanti auctions and le may avanti, etc http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...=tacoma+avanti

[StudeRich]

All I want to know is: was the painter able to hold his stomach when he saw the end result of all his hard work?

Nice job
Poor choice of graphics, metalflake and color IMHO!

1st. or 2000th I don't care, the LaMay Museum has some really great Studebakers, a fantastic collection of Trucks, both light and heavy and many nice unusual cars, I can just ignore this one with no problem!

[JBOYLE]

I do wish they'd put that thing in deep storage until it can be restored.
As it stands now it's hardly the image Stedebaker, Avanti or the SDC need,
I'd really hate for someone..anyone...to think that is in any way representative of Avantis.

[(S)]

I've mixed up the posts about le mays avantis, the first avanti, the R3 mule etc..... SDC thread Searches bring them all up for you to sort out.......

[Steve T]

Actually, given the presence nearby of a "normal" Avanti, this circa-1970 timewarp paintjob doesn't bother me much, in fact it makes me smile. Near the end of this past cruise season a '69 Road Runner turned up at Paris, wearing a similar scallops-and-metalflake paintjob (but in browns, maroons and golds). Pure 1973, and boy did it take me back. Turned out I was off by a year: the Mopar had been painted by a well-known customizer in 1972, and the paint had not been touched since. New owner of the car plans not to touch it either...it's such a piece of pop history as is...just like this psychedelic Avanti.

S.

[junior]

Brace yourself ... these huge metalflake paints are making a comeback, including the far-out paint schemes. BTW, HotRod mag declared 'brown' the up and coming hot color for cars...no, really they did. Junior

[Clem64]

Before we get too of topic. I recall those 69' Plymouths, Barracudas for sure, that had the "Mod Top" option. Both the vinyl top and some of the interior had a floral flavor. Kinda rare but I've seen a couple.

[jlmccuan]

If it is Avanti #1, someone has retrofitted rain gutters to the roofline.

[Commando66]

Boy, that brings back memories of seeing it in storage many years ago. The pre-production car that was just auctioned had a similar paint job while in storage. Also in storage was one of the "big bore" blocks.

[sbca96]

Looks like the Hulk and Tinkerbell exploded near that Avanti.

Tom

[laughinlark]

I know I'll take a few lumps for this but. The more I see it the better it looks. Some rose colored glasses, long hair, bandanna, with a beard "And Just Drive It Man"

Gordon

[Bob Andrews]

I don't know; it's pretty groovy, real sixties-fabulous. I don't care for it, but in its time it might have looked right. Mostly it looks like an amateur attempt at a flake job.

I'd like to own a car with a quality metalflake paint job. I just can't think of what car I'd want to put it on.