Avanti at Indy 500 May 1962

[Avantict]

Does anyone have color photos of the interior of the Avanti that appeared at the 1962 Indy 500 race with Roger Ward? Need for a project.

[studegary]

Does anyone have color photos of the interior of the Avanti that appeared at the 1962 Indy 500 race with Roger Ward? Need for a project.

Perhaps a typo, John, it is Rodger Ward (IIRC). Sorry, I do not have the picture.

[Peddler]

The Rodger Ward prize car that was pictured with him was not the car he ended up with. The prize car was an R2 but Ward lived in Southern California and wanted an air conditioned R1. So I am assuming the car pictured with the race car was the R2, though I'm not sure it could have been a prototype or any car off the line for that matter for the pictures race day. The car Ward ended up with was sold at Auctions America Auburn auction about 2 years ago along with a real R3 so there would be pictures in the auctions archive. I had looked at both cars but couldn't tell you what I saw at this point.

[Peddler]

Here is a link to the auction info.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/af19/auburn-fall/lots/r0319-1963-studebaker-avanti/801223

[bezhawk]

The car at the 500 was not the one he first got either. It was a "publicity" car. So, the first one he got was from his dealer most likely, then traded for one with air conditioning.

[Peddler]

That would have been end of may 62, would there have been any production cars out by then? R1034 would have been June July I think. Also, allegedly he never took possession of an R2 but told them he wanted an air conditioned car so he could drive it at the award ceremony which they told him they would be happy to arrange.

[8E45E]

More information here:

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....ndy-500-avanti

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/65779-1962-indy-500-some-pic-s

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....nti#post537850

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....-new-avanti-ad

Craig

[bezhawk]

None of those posts confirms what car was actually at the 500. All it confirms is the one Rodger had AFTER the race. It was not the same car!!!!!!!!!!

[8E45E]

All it confirms is the one Rodger had AFTER the race. It was not the same car!

Correct, and verifies that fact. E.T. Reynolds in his 1973/4 autobiography even stated it would be several months after the race when he would receive his new Avanti.

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/57229-dealer-screaming-for-cars-followup-mfg-point-of-view-october-1962-revised-proper-attachments?55877-Dealer-Screaming-For-Cars-Followup-MFG-Point-of-View-October-1962-Revised-Proper-Attachments=&highlight=gegax

Craig

[Bellingham Studenut]

John, I have a color photo somewhere. It was Orange interior, White exterior, R2, 4 speed car. I'm sure you have the same copies of all the prototypes and change orders that I have and know there are only 2-3 possible cars with that combination at that time.
Verifying tht it had a dash mount mirror would make it a prototype. Knowing where prototypes may have been scheduled to be at that time (with that combo) would be key.

[8E45E]

John, I have a color photo somewhere. It was Orange interior, White exterior, R2, 4 speed car. I'm sure you have the same copies of all the prototypes and change orders that I have and know there are only 2-3 possible cars with that combination at that time.
Verifying tht it had a dash mount mirror would make it a prototype. Knowing where prototypes may have been scheduled to be at that time (with that combo) would be key.

Here is the list as per the handbook from the AOAI at the 2018 International Meet.



Craig

[StudeRich]

EX2930 is likely the ONE!
But then we will have to figure out what Production 64R Serial Number it was given to sell and Register it.

[bezhawk]

No need, it's in my shop.

[studegary]

That would have been end of may 62, would there have been any production cars out by then? R1034 would have been June July I think. Also, allegedly he never took possession of an R2 but told them he wanted an air conditioned car so he could drive it at the award ceremony which they told him they would be happy to arrange.

Production cars started in June. R1034 would be July.

[BobPalma]

John, I have a color photo somewhere. It was Orange interior, White exterior, R2, 4 speed car. I'm sure you have the same copies of all the prototypes and change orders that I have and know there are only 2-3 possible cars with that combination at that time.
Verifying that it had a dash mount mirror would make it a prototype. Knowing where prototypes may have been scheduled to be at that time (with that combo) would be key.

James, if the discussion is still referring to the Avanti displayed during the month of May at the 1962 Indianapolis 500, I can verify it was indeed white with orange interior. Earlier in the month, Cousin George Krem and I attended one of the Qualification Days for the 1962 Indianapolis 500 mile race. I was 16 and George was 20.

Our family was still living in Paris, Illinois, about 100 miles west of Indianapolis; we didn't move to Indianapolis until July 1962. George had driven down to Paris from Roselle, Illinois, where he still lived with his parents. From Paris, George and I drove our family's Coppertone and Arctic White 1957 President 2-door to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that day; I drove on the open road because I had only had my Drivers License about 3 months.

By the time we got there, George was driving due to the traffic. I hid in the trunk to save the second-person admission fee to the infield while George drove the car in. When we got in, I pounded on the trunk to get out and George had to gently tell me to shut up and be still, that he was near a policeman awaiting directions as to where to park inside the track.

Having secured a parking place, we made our way to the pit area. It was there we saw a real Avanti, any Avanti, in the flesh for the first time, the one being discussed here. It was displayed on sort of a pedestal at the south end of pit row, IIRC. It was white with orange interior...."some things you never forget!" BP