MeTV article about Aunt Bee's (Francis Bavier) 1966 Studebaker

[Milaca]

Nobody predicted the crazy bidding war for Aunt Bee's dusty 1966 Studebaker (metv.com)

She didn't learn to drive until age 50, and then only drove Studebakers.

[8E45E]

I remember when it sold some time ago:

Aunt Bea's chauffeur driven '66 Daytona - Studebaker Drivers Club Forum

She drove a Studebaker - Studebaker Drivers Club Forum

Aunt Bee's '66 Daytona - Studebaker Drivers Club Forum

Craig

[r1lark]

The North Carolina Chapter of the SDC decided to bid on this car. The plan was to restore it and ultimately I think donate it to the NC Transportation Museum at Spencer Shops in Salisbury NC. The Chapter voted on it, determined the max amount to bid, and sent representatives to the auction. (I believe 'Bama' Jack White was one of them.) Needless to say, the bids quickly went way higher than the (meager) amount we had decided to bid.

Here is Russ Farris' remembrance of this:

In 1990, I was the president of the North Carolina Chapter of the SDC. When Francis Bavier's '66 Daytona was listed at her estate auction, some of our members thought it would be a great idea to bid on the car, with the idea of restoring it and using it as a draw to charity functions and car shows. I was all for the idea, but a few were adamantly opposed, mainly on the basis of the continuing costs of the club owning the vehicle. But it was finally agreed it would be worthwhile.

I arrived at the auction in Chapel Hill with Jack White, Truett Ray and a few other members whose names escape me right now (hey, it was almost 20 years ago!) There had been quite a debate about what the club's max price would be - this was a 500 dollar car at best (we had the chance to examine it closely, right down to the plastic toy burro epoxied to the dash overlay.) But, since it was Aunt Bea's Studebaker, we were prepared to go as high as 2,500! The consensus was that was MORE than enough...

Well, the bidding started and went by our reserve in about 15 seconds - our collective jaws hit the floor as it soared past 10,13 then 18,000...Dr. Cade's last bid. When it went for 20,000 Dr. Cade turned to us and said "For 20,000, they can have it!" I guess he got a little carried away himself, since he bid it to 18,000! It was some experience, I can tell you.
Russ Farris

[Mr. Bill]

Miss Bavier's 1966 Studebaker Daytona resides at Denton Farm Park in Denton, NC. Denton is not far from where I live, and I always see the car when I attend The Thrasher's Reunion held there each summer. Because of COVID, I have missed attending the past two years. These pictures are from 2019. The Daytona sits out in various locations within the park and lacks any signage about its famous owner. It is a six cylinder model with factory air conditioning (the newer slimline unit Studebaker introduced)

Bill Sapp
Hamlet, NC

[Mr. Bill]

Some more pictures - my picture posting skills are lacking and I apologize for not getting them all in one post.

BTW: I have seen the episode of Mayberry, R.F.D. in which Ms. Bavier, as well as Ken Berry, drives this car. It's quite prominent in that episode.

Bill Sapp
Hamlet, NC

[Milaca]

Thanks for posting the photos, Bill.
Seems a shame that it isn't displayed indoors with proper signage, otherwise most people would walk by the car thinking it is just a beat-up farmer's car. Perhaps it is time for the car to find a new owner.

[6hk71400]

Sadly, as time marches on, this car and its provenance will slowly disappear. It should be restored to it's like new glory, but with the high bidding price, it never will. Most if not all under 40 do not know Aunt Bee, Ken Berry or even Andy and Barney, Gomer and Goober. If restored, and a picture of Aunt Bee and a story, most kids would look and just move on saying oh, ok. Anything done in Black and White has no interest in the younger crowd. Mayberry RFD was done in color but probably has no interest in the younger crowd.

Bob Miles
Anyone remember Camp Run A Muck or Harrigan and Son?

[Bill Pressler]

It's a shame the car looks like that. "Mayberry RFD" was in the Top 15 its first two seasons--the seasons with Bavier. "The Andy Griffith Show" ran eight seasons and was Number One still in its final season. Only "I Love Lucy" and "Seinfeld" can say the same. The first episode of "Mayberry RFD", where Andy and Helen get married, was the most-watched premier episode of a new series on CBS the entire decade of the 1960's.

There is an active Andy Griffith Show fan presence on Facebook, and the show is still shown in the evenings, five nights a week for a several hour block, on TVLand and METV. Somebody's watching it. (I know I am. I have also found the color seasons 6 through 8 on TV on amazon prime and have been enjoying many of those).

Aunt Bee's car was serial no. C131698. Personally, I'd enjoy seeing the production order and her dealer's retail sale card for the car, seeing what she traded in and her other information there.

The car was shown prominently in several places in Bavier's final episode of "Mayberry RFD" called "The Mynah Bird". Here is the episode. The car shows up at 13:15, 14:58, and 18:03:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6xg8w5

[StudeRich]

Bill, Her previous Car was a '62 Lark 2 Door Sedan. See Post #8 from 2009.

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....ven-66-daytona

[Bill Pressler]

Thanks Rich, I do remember that she had a '62 Lark now that I think about it. But it would be fun to see the '66's production order and her retail sale card. The car had painted rear louvers, so it was built before Jan. 1, 1966, and there is paperwork online dated 7/1/66 that shows she owned it then. If I were out at the archives I could have both in probably twenty minutes, max.

[6hk71400]

There was a twin to that car out at Chuck Naugle's place when the estate sale was held. Sadly no one bought the car except pieces off of it. That happened to several cars. I was just going up to tell John Koulick that I want to buy a car when this crusty ol sob started taking parts off the car I wanted. I told him I was going to buy it. He said there is no name sprayed on the windshield and tough luck buddy. That soured me on buying a car there.

Bob Miles
Oh Well