From the archives #160 (New York Auto Show Avanti - April 1962)

[Studebaker Wheel]

Some months back someone ask if I had a photo of the Avanti at the NY Auto Show in '62. Did not think I did but recently found this one. The Avanti was rushed to completion for the NY show in April 1962. It would be months before they would appear in dealer showrooms. Another pre-production Avanti was shown simultaneously at a shareholders meeting in South Bend.

[christophe]

[r1lark]

I'm surprised they would have had a '62 Lark at an April '62 Auto Show, instead of a '63. Or, is this a '63 pre-production prototype with a '62 wrap-around windshield? IIRC, some of the '63 ads showed a hardtop with a wrap-around windshield but always thought it was an airbrushed '62. The hubcaps look 'odd' too, although it may just be the photo. Click to enlarge.

[qsanford]

I was thinking it might have been a DKW.

[studegary]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50845[/ATTACH]

I'm surprised they would have had a '62 Lark at an April '62 Auto Show, instead of a '63. Or, is this a '63 pre-production prototype with a '62 wrap-around windshield? IIRC, some of the '63 ads showed a hardtop with a wrap-around windshield but always thought it was an airbrushed '62. The hubcaps look 'odd' too, although it may just be the photo. Click to enlarge.

Why would you expect a "'62 Lark" at an "April '62" show? That was many months before the changeover to the 1963 model cars (Larks). It was even two months before the production of 1963 Avantis started. 1963 Avanti models came out so early, that many were calling them 1962 models.

[studegary]

I was thinking it might have been a DKW.

I believe that you are correct about the DKW. Studebaker-Packard bought the distribution rights to DKW, along with Mercedes-Benz and Auto-Union. Notice that Mercedes-Benz was displayed next to the Studebakers.

[r1lark]

Why would you expect a "'62 Lark" at an "April '62" show? That was many months before the changeover to the 1963 model cars (Larks). It was even two months before the production of 1963 Avantis started. 1963 Avanti models came out so early, that many were calling them 1962 models.

True.......forgot that back then, manufacturers kept the new designs under cover until the "introduction date".

[StudeRich]

I have them all named. The tall gentleman standing in front of the Left Rear Wheel of the '62 Cruiser is Sherwood Egbert, the tall young man walking behind the '62 GT is George Krem, and I am sure we would guess one of these Guys here that said they were instantly in Love with the Avanti on first sight at about 10 years old, would be the Kid standing in the center of the Avanti's front end dreaming of the Day he would own one!

Thanks for Posting that rare Picture Dick, I am impressed with the Size of the Studebaker/mercedes Display.
It's really too bad that in '62 they did not have the best looking Larks to display in their next to Final and Final version; '63 or '64.

The slightly warmed over and stretched '62's just never did it for me.

Yes, the crowd looking under the Hood of the DKW are all wondering how that thing could run on that tiny THREE cylinder Engine!

[Dwain G.]

The body panel details identify the car in the foreground as a Citroen Ami without any doubt. Apparently they were sold in the US for awhile, although I've never seen one here.

[raprice]

If I remember correctly, the auto show was held at the NY Coliseum at the southwest corner of Central Park. My friend and I used to take the train into the City to check out all the new cars. Prior to that, we used to attend the GM Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria. Admission to that show was free.
Rog

[Bullet]

The hubcaps look correct to me for a 62. I have a set very similair if not the same as those.

Mark

[Skip Lackie]

If I remember correctly, the auto show was held at the NY Coliseum at the southwest corner of Central Park. My friend and I used to take the train into the City to check out all the new cars. Prior to that, we used to attend the GM Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria. Admission to that show was free.
Rog

Yes. In fact the NY Coliseum had been built only a few years before, and was impressive in itself. It was another product of famous NY modernizer and road builder Robert Moses.

[studegary]

If I remember correctly, the auto show was held at the NY Coliseum at the southwest corner of Central Park. My friend and I used to take the train into the City to check out all the new cars. Prior to that, we used to attend the GM Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria. Admission to that show was free.
Rog

Yes, I used to go to the Coliseum every year for the auto show. I liked it there, because we could drive down, park in the lower level, leave our coats in the car's trunk and then go up (only a short distance outside) to the auto show. Now, at the Javits Center, when we drive down, we have to pay (about $60 for a few hours) to park in a private lot and then walk over to the Javits Center for the auto show. Partly due to this, I do not go to the auto show every year any longer.

[R3 challenger]

I have them all named. The tall gentleman standing in front of the Left Rear Wheel of the '62 Cruiser is Sherwood Egbert, the tall young man walking behind the '62 GT is George Krem, and I am sure we would guess one of these Guys here that said they were instantly in Love with the Avanti on first sight at about 10 years old, would be the Kid standing in the center of the Avanti's front end dreaming of the Day he would own one!

Thanks for Posting that rare Picture Dick, I am impressed with the Size of the Studebaker/mercedes Display.
It's really too bad that in '62 they did not have the best looking Larks to display in their next to Final and Final version; '63 or '64.

The slightly warmed over and stretched '62's just never did it for me.

Yes, the crowd looking under the Hood of the DKW are all wondering how that thing could run on that tiny THREE cylinder Engine!

That's right, Rich; and if the photo would have been taken after hours, it might have caught Bob Palma checking the prototype Avanti for a proper battery hold-down. <GGG>

George

[christophe]