A Studebaker with a New Car Smell

[mbstude]

Grandma never let me drive her Avanti!! I certainly did ride several thousands of miles in the back seat, though.

I had just turned 10 when I was put in through the vent window of the '81. And yes Jeff, I was a skinny kid!

[jallen]

That is one BEAUTIFUL CAR, and I don't even like the color. But I would be first in line for a ride.

[Edsel G. Tattooer]

Great looking car.

I don't think Iv'e heard of that St Paul Studebaker dealer before....

I think If I am not mistaken it was on Grand ave in St. Paul. Where Caffetto is now My car was purchased there as well. I'll have to dig up my sales slip for the car. Or the build ticket has it I am not sure which one said the dealer name on it.

[Jerry Forrester]

Alex, you need to change your signature. Your not a 15 kid any more. You're all grown.up and are the ripe old age of 16. Happy belated birthday. Did you get your driver's license yesterday? Oops, yesterday was a holiday. Are you gonna get it today?

[N8N]

I *bet* the exhaust sounds great. Glasspacks seem to just get better with age (fondly remember driving a 56J with same...)

nate

[8E45E]

That's an excellent photo, Matt! It shows the unfaded original carpet real well. I sure hope he's protecting it with mats when its being driven!

Craig

[jclary]

That's an excellent photo, Matt! It shows the unfaded original carpet real well. I sure hope he's protecting it with mats when its being driven!

Craig

Let's hope he's protecting it "From" Matt while he's drooling!

[mbstude]

There was plenty of wax on the paint, so the drool wiped right off.

I *bet* the exhaust sounds great. Glasspacks seem to just get better with age (fondly remember driving a 56J with same...)

nate

Jim found some things he wasn't too happy with inside the engine, so while he was working on it, the heads were done and a much more aggressive cam installed (not sure which one). Add to that a new Simmons stainless exhaust system with the LOUD mufflers, it's not nearly as quiet as a stock R2. Take the sound of Ted's Tomato with the R2, turn up the volume, and you have Jim's Avanti.

[studegary]

Jim McCuan's 10K mile R2 Avanti. I just have to post a picture of the interior of this car. It still has that new car smell.

I was never really an Avanti person until I drove this one. Now an Avanti is definitely on the list.

It may have a nice smell, but I doubt that it is the new car smell of this car, unless it is sprayed in for shows. The interior smell of 1960s cars comes mainly from the outgasing of the plasticizers in interior plastics. That would be long gone in 47 years, no matter the miles or storage conditions.

[studegary]

Jim drives the car, it had just over 5K when it was pulled out of storage a couple of years ago.

I want to drive the thing across the country.

Having owned a few Avantis and many Larks, I would rather drive that 1963 sedan, pictured across from the subject 1963 Avanti, across the country. I would prefer the Avanti for short hops.

[studegary]

Matthew has been riding in Avantis since he was 5. His Grandma would pick him up and take him to kindergarten in her '81. When he was 12, Nollie Hinton and I lifted him through the rear side window because I locked the keys inside at the So.E.Zone meet in Memphis. NT

Driving is much different than riding and an R2 is much different than a Chevrolet 305.

[jlmccuan]

The only thing ever sprayed in the interior is a dust repellant/vinyl conditioner. Doesn't smell much like "new car" smell, but the car sure does. Especially after I pulled the 5 cigarette butts from the ash tray.

Rauschnot's was at 868 Rice Street in St. Paul. No sign of the original building now, just some apartments and commercial space. I spoke with the owner of the tile company across the street. He said the building was taken down in the early '80's, but I'm on the hunt for some pictures.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=century+tile+rice+street+st+paul+mn&sll=44.967435,-93.105935&sspn=0.092668,0.2635&ie=UTF8&hq=century+tile&hnear=Rice+St,+St+Paul,+Minnesota&ll=44.96747,-93.105869&spn=0,0.2635&z=13&layer=c&cbll=44.967282,-93.105934&panoid=qZ9BIupuPMJ6A3J3immjJg&cbp=12,28.14,,0,0.03

[silverhawk]

I believe the "new car" smell. I've been in a Avanti that smelled just like it left, and it didn't have anything sprayed in it to make is smell better or preserve it. And yes, it smelled rather "off" from the vinyl and plastic, LOL! That is a gorgeous car, thanks for posting pictures!

What cam are you running in it? Is it the R2+ cam?