Bob Palma ... is this the car you are missing?

[BobPalma]

I don't know Bob's reasoning, but it is likely that after the SECOND Astra White '64 Daytona found him, the die was struck for the other TWO of the set!!

That's exactly what happened, Rich. White isn't my favorite car color, to be honest, but the 1964 Daytona hardtop I bought in September 1977 just happened to be factory Astra White, even though I bought it mainly because it was a factory 289/225/4-speed.

I took a bad fall water skiing in 1978 and spent two weeks in traction in the hospital to stretch my spine back out, after which it has always hurt my lower back just a bit (not too much) to "work" the clutch on some manual-transmission cars, depending on the seat position. Unfortunately, suspended-pedal Studebakers of the era seem to hit that not-so-sweet spot just right, and driving one for an extended period of time will leave me with a back ache the next day.

So, in 2002, I let it be known around our Indy Chapter SDC that I was looking for a "driver" late-model, V-8 Studebaker with an automatic transmission. Fellow chapter member Sam Roberts knew George Haley, the son of then recently-deceased Co-Operator Advisor, my friend Earle Haley. George Haley had inherited Earle's 1964 Daytona sedan, factory Astra White with 259/Flightomatic, upon Earle's passing.

George Haley had run onto some difficult times and could not properly care for his Dad's former Daytona...in fact, it was just sitting out in an open parking lot in the apartment complex where George lived in Troy, Michigan, hardly a safe place for any collector car, especially with a Michigan winter coming on.

Sam suggested I contact George to see if he would be interested in selling it, which he was, so I bought it.

Suddenely, in August 2002, I had two of the four 1964 Daytona models in Astra White, a sedan and a hardtop, even though I hadn't gone out looking for either one on the basis of color. So, if I accumulated the other two (convertible and Wagonaire) models in Astra White, I could have a unique collection of all four 1964 Daytonas in the same color.

Through the forum, I knew Leonard Shepherd of Richmond VA, and met Leonard (great guy, BTW) for the first time at the SDC National Met in South Bend 2007. Leonard knew of my interest in an Astra White 1964 convertible, and I knew he owned one. I thought the convertible would be the hardest of the four Daytonas to find, because they only built 99 Astra White 1964 Daytona convertibles in South Bend.

I encouraged Leonard to let me know first if he ever wanted to sell his. He contacted me only a couple months later and I was able to buy it in October 2007.

That left only a good, driver-quality, 1964 Astra White Daytona Wagonaire to be found, and that hunt continues. BP

[61Lark]

I thought the convertible would be the hardest of the four Daytonas to find, because they only built 99 Astra White 1964 Daytona convertibles in South Bend.
BP

Bob,

Do you have a list of 64 Daytonas produced by color or any another option?

Nick

[61Lark]

One interesting thing about this car is the 289 with overdrive. When I ordered my Canadian-built Wagonaire I wanted a 289 with overdrive, but had to settle for a 259 as overdrive wasn't offered on 289s. That was in April of '64. Did things change or is that not the original engine in the car? Inquiring minds want to know.

My 64 Daytona Hardtop, that was made in South Bend towards the end of October 63, came from the factory with a 289, 4bbl, and Overdrive. There is evidence that there was a streamer on this car (1" X 5" primer stripe) and it looks like there was a hole in the floor for a shifter, but it has been welded up.

Nick

[53k]

My 64 Daytona Hardtop, that was made in South Bend towards the end of October 63, came from the factory with a 289, 4bbl, and Overdrive. There is evidence that there was a streamer on this car (1" X 5" primer stripe) and it looks like there was a hole in the floor for a shifter, but it has been welded up.

Nick

I had my wagon ordered with a 289 and overdrive from South Bend, but after they announced the closure, they cancelled my order and tried to get me to take one from stock. They did have a 289 with overdrive Wagonaire with everything I ordered plus a third seat, but the interior was black and I refused it. When I reordered from Hamilton my dealer was told that overdrive was no longer available with 289s.

[BobPalma]

Bob,

Do you have a list of 64 Daytonas produced by color or any another option?

Nick

Yes and no, Nick.

What you need is a copy of the July 1986 Turning Wheels. Therein is a list of all 1964 South Bend convertibles by Serial Number. Included with each Serial Number is the car's destination (state only), engine serial number, color, top color, interior color, and the various options on each car. You have to go through all 417 serial numbers and scan each car for the information you're interested in. It doesn't take as long as you think, once you get the hang of it.

The option codes are given in that article. For example, let's say you wanted to know how many convertibles had bucket seats. You'd look on the option code list and see that non-reclining bucket seats were Option 44 and reclining bucket seats were option 42. Then, you would scan all the serial numbers looking for option 42 or 44, and tally them up as you go along. At the end, you'd know how many 1964 Daytona convertibles had bucket seats. (Seriously, it would take you less than five minutes to do that, the way the material is arranged.)

Obviously, the combinations are endless. Earlier this year, for example, a Jet Green 1964 Daytona convertible was on e-bay with tan bucket seat interior. Using the July 1986 Turning Wheels information, we determined it was the only one built with that combination. IIRC, there were two additional Jet Green 1964 Daytona convertibles built with tan interiors, but they did not have bucket seats.

The limitation to all this is that these are only South-Bend-built 1964 convertibles. There were an additional 286 1964 convertibles assembled in Hamilton for the 1964 model year, and the same detailed information on them is yet to be published. BP

[warrlaw1]

A very fun read. You guys all have lots of valuable input to give and the energy level is rockin'. Tonight may be the night my 55K gets its first engine start in years. Almost all of the parts came from SDC vendors and eBay. It will be a symphony!