Just wondering???
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Anybody ever grafted a 80's convertable top on a 63-64 Avanti?
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Anybody ever grafted a 80's convertable top on a 63-64 Avanti?
John
62' Deluxe R2 4SPD.
63' R1 Wagonaire
57' Transtar 259 punched to 312 NP540 4:09 TT Under Construction
58' 3E6D Stock 4X4
64' (Studebaker Built) Trailer Toter
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The prototype convertible was converted from an existing 1982 car (serial number RQB3370). According to the TheAvanti.net website, Richard Straman made it for Stephen Blake in 1984. Stramen had lots of experience doing similar conversions on high dollar cars in the era of few factory convertibles.
Not only would you have to reinforce the body and/or frame to make up for the missing top, you might have to move the fuel tank to make room for the top well.
As they say on TV: "Don't try this at home...we're professionals.''Last edited by JBOYLE; 04-25-2012, 04:43 PM.63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)
Washington State
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What strikes me about such Avanti conversions is that if the roll bar is removed, what happens to the structural rigidity? The roll bar was put there for a reason...were any other modifications made to maintain structural integrity? The production convertibles were made on the Monte Carlo chassis, which wasn't designed as a convertible, so how was structural integrity maintained?Poet...Mystic...Soldier of Fortune. As always...self-absorbed, adversarial, cocky and in general a malcontent.
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Originally posted by SN-60 View PostTo: Gunslinger,---- How much 'structural integrity' does one have on a motorcycle?Poet...Mystic...Soldier of Fortune. As always...self-absorbed, adversarial, cocky and in general a malcontent.
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wasn't the avanti frame based on the lark convertible frame?
wouldn't the avanti body with/without the convertible option be lighter than the lark steel bodied convertible?
if needed, couldn't a roll bar be modified, if necessary, to fit under the top?
larger sway bars underneath?
just asking...Kerry. SDC Member #A012596W. ENCSDC member.
'51 Champion Business Coupe - (Tom's Car). Purchased 11/2012.
'40 Champion. sold 10/11. '63 Avanti R-1384. sold 12/10.
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Originally posted by Gunslinger View PostWhat strikes me about such Avanti conversions is that if the roll bar is removed, what happens to the structural rigidity? The roll bar was put there for a reason...were any other modifications made to maintain structural integrity? The production convertibles were made on the Monte Carlo chassis, which wasn't designed as a convertible, so how was structural integrity maintained?
JSI was STUDEBAKER, when STUDEBAKER wasn't "KOOL".
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Originally posted by LarkTruck View PostIn short, IT WASN'T!!!! Having picked up a good friends 87 Convertible at the factory in March of 87, and being it's caretaker for ten plus years, I can tell you that with experience to back it up! There was even one that was in a rollover accident by a factory employee and the frame twisted up like a pretzel and the car broke in two! A fact not widely known by the public.
JSPoet...Mystic...Soldier of Fortune. As always...self-absorbed, adversarial, cocky and in general a malcontent.
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Originally posted by Gunslinger View PostI've been told that the late '80s convertible suffered in body rigidity...that if you put four people in one the doors won't close properly.
I think the late 88's and the 89's on the Caprice/Impala chassis were a little better, but still not as good as the three 85's that were built on the Stude chassis.
JSLast edited by LarkTruck; 04-25-2012, 03:56 PM.I was STUDEBAKER, when STUDEBAKER wasn't "KOOL".
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i thought the question was about pre-(gm) monte carlo frames!Kerry. SDC Member #A012596W. ENCSDC member.
'51 Champion Business Coupe - (Tom's Car). Purchased 11/2012.
'40 Champion. sold 10/11. '63 Avanti R-1384. sold 12/10.
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Originally posted by Corvanti View Posti thought the question was about pre-(gm) monte carlo frames!Poet...Mystic...Soldier of Fortune. As always...self-absorbed, adversarial, cocky and in general a malcontent.
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Actually the OP asked about making a convertible out of a 63-4 Avanti. That's a Lark 'rubber' frame. In 1970 I jacked up the front of a brand new Dodge Charger and the drivers door wouldn't open.Had to lower the car to open the door. They didn't have to be rusty to have plenty of flex. But,almost any car with a steel roof [or roll bar in the case of the Avanti] removed is going to have a lot of flex,not just a Studebaker.Oglesby,Il.
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