One very nice Avanti

[Warren Webb]

I just came across this listing on E-Bay of a really nice looking 64 Avanti. What I wonder about is why the seller hasn't gotten the engine running? "Brakes work" is stated but that raises a question also. See for yourself:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Studebaker-VINYL-/281635003035?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4192c11a9b&item=281635003035

[TMAN0950]

It looks like the seller is not the owner. It looks very nice but I wonder what all could be wrong with it after all this time.

[BobPalma]

What an incredibly nice car; that has to be one of the nicest essentially-original Avantis extant.

There could be many reasons why they didn't try to get it running, not the least of which would be that there's no battery in it. It does have a battery hold-down, though, so that has to be a first: It has a battery hold-down, but no battery to hold down!

You can see that the spare wheel has been "down," and the spare tire does not match the four on the ground, which appear to be OEM tires. The spare looks to be a new or nearly-new replacement tire from back in the day, so the best guess would be that one of the original tires was damaged beyond repair and replaced with what is now the spare tire. The original spare tire is probably one of the four now on the ground.

Gee, what a nice car! It will be interesting to see what it brings. BP

[TWChamp]

From what is posted on ebay, my take is the engine is stuck. Here's a tool I made for getting Ford Model A engines unstuck. It works great and applies a lot more force than the starter can.

[r1lark]

Wow, what a time capsule! Would have been nice to include undercarriage photos also.

[Chucks Stude]

As a wise man once said, "There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Avanti". Need to see undercarriage, and stuck, or broken engine? Something that looks so good is stuck? Gotta wonder...

[Guido]

I am not familiar with this car, looks like it was originally sold in Michigan.

[SN-60]

Studebaker built a series of 1964 Avantis almost EXACTLY alike in this serial number range...and this Avanti is one of them...I owned another, (R-5180)...Also, this could have been one of the contest 'giveaway' Avantis.

[Buzzard]

If I were to end up with it, I would do my usual list of stuff and presto, she would be running as new. I've resurrected literally more than a dozen over the years and with some patience, have never had a failure yet. The rest of the car's condition leads me to believe in the integrity of the motor and not assume a "stuck" unit. Good luck to whomever is the fortunate new owner.
Cheers, Bill

[sweetolbob]

Studebaker built a series of 1964 Avantis almost EXACTLY alike in this serial number range...and this Avanti is one of them...I owned another, (R-5180)...Also, this could have been one of the contest 'giveaway' Avantis.

It appears to be R-5050 so would that put it in the 50 "giveaway" range? Also, I'm not here to quibble about the car as it looks great but for my own info, Is that the correct carpet for a 64? It just looks a newer weave to me but I don't know Jack about these issue Avanti's. Bob

[Dick Steinkamp]

It appears to be R-5050 so would that put it in the 50 "giveaway" range? Also, I'm not here to quibble about the car as it looks great but for my own info, Is that the correct carpet for a 64? It just looks a newer weave to me but I don't know Jack about these issue Avanti's. Bob

I'm also no Avanti expert, but I thought the rough cut out for the dimmer switch was odd.

Regardless, it appears to be what the seller says it is. If true it is a VERY special Avanti.

[Bob Caser]

This is a very nice Avanti. I own serial R5050, one car in sequence behind this car. My car is over restored so I have interest in owning this car. If this was a give away car with the other 50 having consecutive numbers, I did not get mine for free.
Regarding the tires the spare is a 1966 Firestone, as I happen to have a set with the same scroll marking.
The carpet is original as is the dimmer switch cutout shown.
I have attached some photos of NOS 1964 carpet as example. There are some questions that I need addressed before I bid.

Bob Caser

[sweetolbob]

This is a very nice Avanti. I own serial R5050, one car in sequence behind this car. My car is over restored so I have interest in owning this car. If this was a give away car with the other 50 having consecutive numbers, I did not get mine for free.
Regarding the tires the spare is a 1966 Firestone, as I happen to have a set with the same scroll marking.
The carpet is original as is the dimmer switch cutout shown.
I have attached some photos of NOS 1964 carpet as example. There are some questions that I need addressed before I bid.

Bob Caser

Thanks for the info Bob, Hopefully it ends up in your hands. Bob

[Doubleclutchin]

I just came across this listing on E-Bay of a really nice looking 64 Avanti. What I wonder about is why the seller hasn't gotten the engine running? "Brakes work" is stated but that raises a question also. See for yourself:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Studebaker-V...m=281635003035

I recently bought a car (via internet) that hadn't been started in 40 years, and I liked the fact that no attempt had been made to start it. As I am (like many collectors) particular about such matters, I don't want to have to worry about whether a long-sleeping car was re-awakened properly -- which, to my mind, requires careful procedures such as cleaning oil pans, pre-charging oilways, changing all fluids, etc. It is very unlikely that a seller whose only mission is to sell the car would be sufficiently conscientious in the process of getting it running.
~ Charlie Manes

[64V-K7]

I own serial R5050, one car in sequence behind this car........ Bob Caser

But the seller say this one is R5050..... ?