1964 Avanti R3

[paintim613]

I have always believed that only '63 Avantis came from the factory with the R3 engine. A recent FB post claimed that he bought a new '64 Avanti with an R3. True?

[StudeRich]

There were actually NO 1963 Avantis with R3's, from; Factory, Paxton or Dealers offered for sale.

However, that is not to say that you cannot find a '63 Avanti that "someone"; a Dealer, Paxton Products Div. or an individual, has installed one !

We have one here in Whatcom County that is a beautiful Turquoise on Turquoise, 4 speed '64 that back in '64 or '65, Had a documented, Dealer installed R3 from Paxton replacing the original R2.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

All nine South Bend-factory-installed R3 Avantis were 1964 models. (just seconding studerich)
--Dwight

[6hk71400]

One of the factory 1964 R3 Avanti's was sold new in Yuma, Az

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Here is a pic of the first (turquoise, R-5089) and last (white, R-5643) R3 Avantis.

The last two Avantis built were both R3s (R-5642 & R-5643). IIRC both were white.
--Dwight

[nels]

Actually that Avanti is 5643.

[nels]

There were actually NO 1963 Avantis with R3's, from; Factory, Paxton or Dealers offered for sale.

However, that is not to say that you cannot find a '63 Avanti that "someone"; a Dealer, Paxton Products Div. or an individual, has installed one !

We have one here in Whatcom County that is a beautiful Turquoise on Turquoise, 4 speed '64 that back in '64 or '65, Had a documented, Dealer installed R3 from Paxton replacing the original R2.

Actually to say NO 63 Avantis were sold with R3’s is misleading. Paxton did install R3 engines in three cars while South Bend production was still in motion.They are the R3 Hot Rod road test Avanti and the #8 and #9 Avantis that set records at Bonneville. All three of these cars were sold to the public with the R3 engines still in the engine bay.

[Hawkeye]

Thanks Nels, I thought there were some, but I didn't want to venture forth that opinion because I knew I'd get pounced on and I didn't have enough facts to back it up!!!

[bezhawk]

Here is a pic of the first (turquoise) and last (white, R-5643) R3 Avantis.

The last two Avantis built were both R3s (R-5642 & R-5643). IIRC both were white.
--Dwight

That's 5089, and 5643. I did work on both. This photo is at a friends house in Illinois when we were getting the white R3 ready to be picked up by the Crawford Museum. The Turquoise R3 since sold and is part of a private collection.