Avanti Build Sheet Question

[Bill Kocher]

I recently purchased a 1964 Avanti R-1. Then I wrote to the Studebaker National Museum and got a build sheet for the car. A few things on the build sheet don't match the car.

1) The RQ number on the build sheet is 4370. It does not match the RQ number on the car which is 4115.
2) It appears the car was originally Avanti Red. It is now painted white.
3) On the build sheet, there is no engine number listed. The engine number in the car is RJ509.

My question is: was the body and chassis married together? Any help would be appreciated. I tried to get onto the AOAI site to ask this question as well, but was unable to get into the Q&A area.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

That isn't the production order, which is what you need to get full info on how the car was built by Studebaker. The SNM should have provided the prod. order. Attached is the production order for my '64 Hawk. The Avanti prod. order will be the same (different data, of course)
-Dwight

[Bill Kocher]

Thanks for posting your production order so now I know what I am looking for and what the right terminology is for the sheet.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Your engine number can't be RJ509. Look more closely: That "5" must be a "3". That is the year code for the year the engine was assembled (i.e., 1963). So, your engine was assembled on Sept 9, 1963 and it is an R1 (the R). J means September.
-Dwight

[Bill Kocher]

Thanks Dwight. You are correct I got a better look at the engine number and it is RJ 309.

[r1lark]

Perhaps the museum did not have the Production Order in their files, so they had to send the Drive Away Shipper form.

[studegary]

I recently purchased a 1964 Avanti R-1. Then I wrote to the Studebaker National Museum and got a build sheet for the car. A few things on the build sheet don't match the car.

1) The RQ number on the build sheet is 4370. It does not match the RQ number on the car which is 4115.
2) It appears the car was originally Avanti Red. It is now painted white.
3) On the build sheet, there is no engine number listed. The engine number in the car is RJ509.

My question is: was the body and chassis married together? Any help would be appreciated. I tried to get onto the AOAI site to ask this question as well, but was unable to get into the Q&A area.

Are you sure that you are not confusing Serial Numbers (on the frame) with body numbers (in engine compartment)?
It sounds like one of the Sears Allstate cars - red, black interior, AT, R1, Allstate tires.
I owned a 1964 matching the description , including red repainted white. It was R 5176.
Of course, if you provided the SNM with a body number instead of a S/N, you would get incorrect paperwork.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Your car's serial number is R-5268. That is engraved on a stainless steel plate that is riveted to the top of the frame. Look down with a flashlight toward the back of the engine compartment on the right (passenger's) side. That number is the legal number that matters. The body number is on a plate riveted to the body more or less straight above the SN plate. That number is of no consequence (except during manufacture at Studebaker). If that number has been recorded as the car's serial number then that isn't so good (and should be straightened out at your DMV).

The prod. order for my 1964 Avanti # R5407 also lists "RQ 4370 Avanti". That RQ4370 isn't the body number. It has something to do with the model of car.

Your Avanti probably has its original body and frame (as it came from the factory). Possibly not, but most likely original
-Dwight

[Leo B]

Please check R-5268 in Bobs Recource Page

https://www.studebaker-info.org/avantix5.html#r5200

[Leo B]

Hope this helps to find serial number from correct place if you have not found that.

[64V-K7]

. A few things on the build sheet don't match the car........

They spelled the dealers name wrong also...

[StudeRich]

Being stored at the New Jersey Zone Office of SASCO, it might have been a Give Away Car for the Allstate Contest? OR, just a car driven away from the NJ "Dealer Driveaway" promotion?
I thought all the giveaway Cars had Manual 3 Speed Trans. and No Power Steering.

[studegary]

Being stored at the New Jersey Zone Office of SASCO, it might have been a Give Away Car for the Allstate Contest? OR, just a car driven away from the NJ "Dealer Driveaway" promotion?
I thought all the giveaway Cars had Manual 3 Speed Trans. and No Power Steering.

I do not know about the give-away cars, but I do know that there was a run of 1964 Allstate cars that were consecutive S/Ns and all the same - red, black int., R1, AT, Allstate tires.

[Dwain G.]

4370 is the sales model number for '64 Avantis'. 3370 is for '63 Avantis'.

[nels]

For what it’s worth, your Avanti did not sell until June of 1964 and it sold in Waterford, Connecticut.

[Bill Pressler]

Dwight, the information in the lower field of his Drive Away Shipper form should be identical to what's on the production order. The copy you posted is one that Newman and Altman used to sell and they'd transcribe information from the original onto their one-size-fits-all production order blank. I've seen errors in transposition on those.

That his form is missing the engine number would disappoint me too.

The SNM has a package which includes the production order AND drive-away shipper. MHO only, I like the shipper better because it has the dealer name and address on it, although from what Nels provided, it appears another dealer trade occurred before the car was sold to the first retail customer.

I'd be surprised that the museum sent the drive-away shipper but not the production order. That's not been my experience over the years.