53,000 Oriignal Miles 1964 Studebaker Avanti 1964 Studebaker Avanti Original California Car with 53,078 Miles! Absolutley Incredible "Survivor" _____________________________________ THE AVANTI - HISTORY & GENERAL INFORMATION The Studebaker Avanti was a sports coupe originally built by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, USA between June of 1962 and December of 1963. Designed by a team of stylists employed by industrial designer Raymond Loewy, the Avanti was all new on the surface and a radical design. Dimensionally, the car was very close to the Ford Mustang. Introduction "Avanti" is Italian for "forward" or "advance," and the car lived up to its name. While Jaguar began offering production-car disc brakes in 1957 on the XK150, the Avanti was the first American mass-produced car to feature standard disc brakes (check 1951 Chrysler Crown Imperial and 1949 Crosley Hotshot). The Acanthi's emphasis on safety, with seatbelts available as an option, safety door latches and roll-over protection bar, was also very advanced, befitting its name. The Avanti has survived failure after failure of its host companies and has achieved cult status, maintaining a loyal customer base large enough to support production as a luxury specialty car on and off for more than 45 years. Origins The Acanthi's classic design originated in an intense five-week session in a rented house in Palm Springs, California near the home of lead designer Raymond Lowey. The unique aesthetics of the car garnered a following, and it consequently saw production as a hand-built, custom-order model decades after Studebaker stopped production. In the early 1960s, Studebaker needed some excitement in the showrooms, but because of the precarious financial situation, it had little capital to invest in product development. Although the Avanti looked entirely new, it was mounted on a Lark convertible frame, based upon the 1953 design. For power, the Avanti relied on Studebaker's own old-design but rugged V8. For use in the Avanti, several high-performance modifications were utilized. Power The Avanti engine was available in four versions named the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4. They were based upon a 232-cubic inch V8 Studebaker engine that produced 120 hp (89 kW) when introduced in 1951. By 1963 the Avanti version of this engine, the R-1 289, produced 240 hp (179 kW). The optional R-2 version with its Paxton supercharger produced a rated 289 hp (216 kW), or one per each cubic inch of engine displacement. To put the performance of Studebaker's supercharged 289 V8 in perspective, the Ford 289 V8, as used in the 1964-1/2 through 1967 Mustangs, produced 210 hp (157 kW) with a two-barrel carburetor, 220 hp (164 kW) with a four-barrel carburetor, and 271 hp (202 kW) in Ford's high-compression, solid-lifter, four-barrel "K-code" engine. Thus, Studebaker's "Jet Thrust" 289 V8s were significantly more powerful than any naturally aspirated 289 production engine offered by Ford through 1967 (in 1968, Ford began relying on the new 302 cubic-inch engine). Studebaker had first used Paxton superchargers on the 1957 and '58 Studebaker and Packard Hawks. Subsequently, they bought the company. With the assistance of car racing legend Andy Granatelli, Studebaker developed an R-3 and an R-4 engine for the Avanti. The first R-3 was a 289 was bored initially to 299. Later versions were 304.5 cubic inches (just under the class-C five-liter limit). The R-3 employed special cylinder heads with much larger intake ports and larger valves, an aluminum intake manifold with correspondingly larger ports, long-branch lower restriction exhaust manifolds, longer-duration camshaft, and a Paxton supercharger blowing through a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor mounted in a pressurized aluminum box. The R-3 was rated at 335 hp (250 kW), but reportedly produced 411 at the flywheel. The R-4 engine was essentially the same as the R-3 engine except that it incorporated domed pistons for a higher compression ratio and a dual four-barrel manifold with two Carter AFB carbs. The R-4 was rated at 280 horsepower (210 kW). During the fall of 1962, on August 14th, the prototype R-3 (299 cid) driven by Andy Granatelli set several land speed records with the top speed of 168.15 mph (270.61 km/h) for the Flying Mile. This Avanti was later modified into the Due Cento for the 1963 Bonneville runs. In October of 1963, Granatelli took several Studebakers to the Bonneville Salt Flats, including an R-3 Avanti in which he reached a record speed of170.78 mph (274.84 km/h). By the time he was done, Granatelli had set or broken 34 U.S. land speed records in the Avanti, allowing Studebaker to proudly proclaim it the "World's Fastest Production Car". In addition to being fast, the Avanti led the domestic auto industry in the use of front caliper disc brakes (Dunlop discs produced under license by the Bendix Corporation). A one-off custom version of the Studebaker V8 was the Granatelli-developed, experimental R5. With Bendix aircraft fuel injection as used on the Novi Indy car and a Paxton supercharger mounted to each cylinder bank, it produced 638 horsepower (476 kW) on the Paxton dynamometer. The R-5 was mounted in Granatelli's special Avanti "Due Cento" (200 in Italian), with which he planned to break 200 miles per hour. Unfortunately, Granatelli could not get enough traction during his Bonneville run, achieving a top speed of 196.62 miles per hour. The R5 never officially competed again. The Avanti was heavily promoted - even named the Official (honorary) Pace Car of the 1962 Indianapolis 500-mile (800 km) race - and many enthusiastic buyers placed advance orders. However, long production delays depressed sales, and led to the substitution of the Lark Daytona Convertible to pace the "500." The major delay was caused by problems with the alignment of some of the fiberglass body panels and the rear window opening being too big for the glass. These difficulties were quite surprising to Studebaker executives, since body fabrication had been farmed out to the Molded Fiberglass Products Company of Ashtabula, Ohio: this firm that had been making Chevrolet Corvette bodies since 1954. To solve these problems, Studebaker was eventually forced to assemble the body panels themselves - but it was too late, as many sales had already been lost. Instead of offering separate model years of the Avanti, Studebaker made running changes until production of the car ended. In general, the easiest way to differentiate between the earlier and later variants is by the headlight bezels. All Acanthi's produced from June, 1962 through July, 1963 featured round headlight bezels. Beginning in August of 1963, the car was fitted with squared bezels. Most people refer to the models with round headlight bezels as 1963s and the models with square headlight bezels as 1964s, though a number of early 1964 models were made with the round headlight surrounds. On December 9, 1963, Studebaker announced the end of car and truck manufacturing in South Bend, and the consolidation of all vehicle manufacturing in its Hamilton, Ontario, Canada plant. At that point, the company dropped the Avanti, the Gran Turismo Hawk, and all pickups and trucks in order to focus on sedans, coupes and station wagons. Only 4,643 Acanthi's had been produced by the time Studebaker closed the South Bend factory on December 20, 1963. The final Avanti, a white fully optioned R-3 car, contained a letter signed by Studebaker employees advising the future owner of the car's significance under the carpeting near the spare tire well. Studebaker survived another two years by assembling Commanders, Daytona's, Wagonaires' and Cruisers at Hamilton that were equipped with 230-cubic-inch six-cylinder and 283-cubic-inch V8 engines sourced from GM Canada LTD (that were based on contemporary Chevrolet engines), but the thrill was gone. Studebaker ended automobile production on March 17, 1966. THIS PARTIUCLAR 1964 AVANTI Unfortunately, all too often the word "Survivor" is misused these days in discussions amongst automotive enthusiasts/experts. Well, this 1964 Studebaker epitomizes the definition of a true "Survivor" in every positive sense of the word. Not only has the car been in one family for the past 35+ years, it was delivered brand new to the Studebaker dealer (at the time), in nearby Palo Alto, California. We even have the business card of Mr. Ken Snowberger, the salesman that sold the car from the dealership of G.A. Baer. And, talk about a change in "customer service philosophy", the business card even has his home telephone number (Lytell 3-6305.how cool is that!) shown on the bottom of the card. Frankly, we cannot imagine that there is a more original, unmolested example. Sure, this Avanti has the expected "patina" of a totally original car but it has led an easy, California life and has traveled very few miles since being delivered to its original Bay area owner in 1964. What makes this car so very special? Well, consider the following: * 53, XXX Original Miles * Clear California Title * One California Owner for over 35 years * Original Factory Original Paint.Never Re-Painted * Incredible, All Original Interior, Trim & Working Gauges * Front Bucket Seats, Console & Rear Jump Seats * Original Fully Functional AM Radio with Working Front & Rear Speakers * Unique "Cockpit" Gauges with Red Backlighting * Full Compliment of Really Cool SW Gauges (Tach / Speedo / Clock / Vacuum / Oil * Center Consol and Beautiful "Wood" Interior * Rare, 1 of 750 Avanti Cars with "Square Headlights" * All Fiberglass Body with Claret (Ox Blood) Red Interior * Powered by a 289 c.i. Engine * Automatic Transmission * Original Paperwork Includes the Following: - Original Business Card of Salesman from 1963! - Original Owner's manual - Original Radio manual - Original "Owner Protector Service Booklet" (Warranty Booklet) Showing the Name of the Original Bay Area Owner in 1963 * Rebuilt Carburetor to Like New Specifications by Holly Restoration Services * New Disc Brakes, Master Cylinder, etc. by Studebaker West (Within 500 Miles) * Tuned at the Time Carburetor Was Replaced (About 500 Miles Ago) * Includes a New Set of Vintage Whitewall Tires Still in the Wrapper (4) SPECIFICATIONS Engines: All OHV V-8; 1963-64 289 cid (3.56 × 3.63), 240/290 bhp Transmissions: 3-Speed Automatic Suspension front: Upper and lower A-arms, Coil Springs Suspension rear: Live Axle Leaf Springs Brakes: Front Disc / Rear Drum Wheelbase (in.): 109.0 Weight (lbs.): 3140-3195 Top speed (mph): 115-120 0-60 mph (sec): 7.0-8.0 Production: 1963 / 3,834; 1964 / 809 OVERALL CONDITION / SUMMARY This 1964 Studebaker Avanti is a truly amazing, original California survivor from 1964. According to the information that we sourced, only 809 automobiles were produced in 1964 for making Avanti even more special. Perhaps what is most unique about this particular car is that it has escaped any modifications, changes or alterations to its factory produced condition. The car remains virtually 100% original and includes the original gauges, Interior, door panels, carpeting, driveline, and all of the body panels, trim etc., etc. It even includes a factory owner's manuals and related documents. There is an old adage that goes something like.. "You can restore the car over and over again but it is only original once." Well, this saying could not be more appropriate for this Studebaker. This Avanti comes to us from one of our more loyal, long time customers and is part of his personal collection of 1960's Muscle Cars & cars of interest. Actually, this was the car that his wife drove as her first car in high school, and it has remained in their family since that time. The car has been driven occasionally, but as the mileage reflects, only to ensure that it is in fully operational condition. It has always been stored inside, and has never been parked outside, except for the occasional show/display. We will describe in some detail the condition of the Avanti from both a cosmetic and mechanical perspective, but in summary, this car has all of the major attributes that a true collector/enthusiast looks for in an original "Survivor." Specifically, the Avanti has excellent "lineage", is very straight, free from any signs of accident damage, totally complete, and fully functional/operational. Finally, it is also a California black plate car. Exterior / Body & Paint Original, original, original. We hate to be repetitive, but if this car is anything, it is original. Over the years, the car has been a well cared for and all of the exterior trim, emblems, bumpers, hubcaps and other items appear to be original to the car. All of the original glass is in the car, the rear top out side windows work properly as do all of the door latches, roll up windows and door/trunk locks. The Avanti left the Studebaker factory with this very same paint (shade similar to Wimbledon white found on Mustangs of the same era) and it is in reasonably good condition. However, there are considerable chips in the paint from minor door dings. The Avanti also has its share of minor scratches and imperfections in the paint that it has accumulated over the course of its 40 plus years. For the purpose of this sale, the car has not been touched up, polished/buffed or "prepared" for sale in any way. While the paint has a number of imperfections there are no areas where the paint is warned through or badly damaged. There is, however, a very small section on the top of the right front fender where there are some minor cracks in the Fiberglass. The owner indicates that there has been no body damage to the car and this minor "crazing" may be a result of the Fiberglas stress cracks, or minor damage prior to their ownership. Please note that this area is quite small and would not be noticed by most inspections. It does not detract from the overall appearance/its original patina of this 1964 Studebaker Avanti. The body on the Avanti is very straight and the doors, hooded, and trunk lid line up well and close solidly. There are no major irregularities when it comes to the way the doors and other panels fit. The bumpers are straight and free from other than minor, normal wear. The front bumper shows a fair amount of light surface rust but no effort was made to clean this area prior to the photographs or presentation of the Avanti. From experience, we imagine that even slight cleaning with proper steel wool would certainly improve the appearance of the front bumper. There are also some chips on the rocker panels from stones being kicked up to the lower areas of the car. Again, no effort was made to touch-up these areas. The exterior emblems on the Avanti are all original and in good condition. There are no emblems missing and the car is, as it was in the day, adorned with multiple "S" emblems making it clear to every observer that this is a proud Studebaker. We must emphasize that we did not touch up the minor nicks and scratches so that the prospective buyer could gain an accurate appreciation for the originality of this Avanti. However, some minor touchup of the door dings would certainly go a long way to improve the appearance of the Avanti, as would a professional detail/polish. While we personally would be reluctant to repaint the car because of its originality, it would be a relatively easy task (since the car is white, a color that tends to look great when re-painted) and the car would look fantastic in its original white color but with fresh paint. Finally, the lenses are in undamaged condition as are the headlight trim rings, front grill and the exterior stainless trim around the windows. Interior Clearly, the interior is one of the major strengths of this Avanti. Frankly, we cannot remember seeing an interior that not only is amazing, original condition, but is more typical of the 1960's era. It is truly hard to imagine that this vehicle has survived for close to 45 years and that the seats, carpet, headliner, instruments, trim, etc. are in such fantastic condition. Also, the full complement of gauges, multiple rocker switches, toggle switches, "wood" trim and other amenities make this interior quite a sight. In what other car do you have a storage compartment in the glove box that opens up to a large mirror for "primping" by the passenger (refer to photos)? We just can't say enough about both the quality and uniqueness of this interior. The seats, both front and rear are in beautiful condition and are totally free from rips, tears, or damage (front or back). The rear portions of the passenger and driver's seats are equally as excellent. The seats are very comfortable, and the levers for moving the seats forward to allow access to the rear seats are functional. The door panels, dash and other trim interior areas are also in great original condition, and the dash is in beautiful condition with NO cracks, or issues. The dash is finished in its original, factory, period style "tuck & roll" that brings us back to the 1950's / 1960's. Note: The headliner also has a tuck and roll material in contrasting white and it too is in virtually perfect condition. Other than a few very minor splits in the driver's side sun visors, they are excellent and factory equipment to this car. The entire interior is finished in a lovely shade of "Claret" or what some would refer to as an Oxblood red color. Less creative descriptions of the color might be Burgundy. Whatever you call it, the color is striking, particularly in contrast to the white exterior of the Avanti. The carpet is black and is covered by red, rubber mats in front. When the mats are removed (refer to photos) the carpet is in very good condition and appears to be original. It shows some very minimal fading but is in far superior condition to even the nicest original 60's cars that we see. The windows and door handles function properly as do the door locks. The glass is very good on both the side windows and the windshield. The gauges are all clear and functional, there are a lot of them, and they are one of the best parts of the styling of the interior (IOHO)! In addition to the center mounted tachometer and speedometer, there are 6 additional gauges. They are all 100% functional and include; Fuel, Pressure Oil Pressure, Vacuum, Water Temperature, Amperes, and a clock. In addition, there are a series of toggle witches to operate the heating/defroster system and a row of "flat" toggle switches on the "ceiling" of the cockpit. The upper toggle switches operate the following: * Lights * Instrument Panel Lighting * Heat/Air Fan The interior / cockpit of the Avanti truly has the appearance of an aircraft, more than an automobile. The design elements are fascinating and the condition of all of the interior trim, chrome, and other components make this particular interior a real standout. All of the lighting systems work including the dash lights, interior lights, headlights, turn signals, etc. This interior needs absolutely nothing. The odometer is, of course, fully functional and the owner reports the mils to be 100% original based on his long term ownership and history of the car dating back to its original delivery in the San Francisco Bay area. There is no indication or report that the odometer has been non-operational at any time. Certainly, the coverall condition of the car supports low original mileage. The wheels and hubcaps on the Avanti appear to be stock, an original to the car. The hubcaps are in very good condition and show no major damage, dents, or rust. The tires are very old, 3 stripe BIAS PLY white walls that definitely should be replaced prior to driving this Avanti. We are providing a new, unused set of wide whitewall tires (still in the wrapper) to the new owner. The owner of the Avanti reports that these tires were purchased years ago (believed to be Goodyear's and uncertain as to whether they are authentic, or Coker copies), but have never been on the ground. Mechanical Condition / Running & Driving As the photographs of the undercarriage/engine reflect, the Avanti retains most of its original components and has not been steam cleaned or prepared for sale. No attempt has been made to remove the years of accumulated undercarriage road grime and the photos are provide in order to provide the prospective buyer with a feel for the true originality of the car. There is not indication of any frame damage and many of the suspension components are completely original. The exhaust system has a throaty, healthy sound that is made even "throatier" by the slight hole in the rear muffler (refer to photos. However, and perhaps most important, the car show no rust through on the frame, or other undercarriage parts. There is only the normal, very light surface rust found on even the best, most original, 45+ year old California car. The engine bay is also very original, complete and contains most of its original and valuable parts. Specifically, the chrome valve covers, air cleaner and distributor shielding are all in place and in good condition. Some minor chrome discoloration is noted but that appears to be confined to small portions of the valve covers. The Avanti has sound deadening under the hood that also appears to be original. The engine bay is tidy and the original stickers are legible, and in place. Again, NO clean-up was done to the engine area.it is all original and as it was when we received the car. The car runs and drives very well. It does not smoke, make any unusual noises, and has that great, throaty rumble that only comes from an American V8. We can find no fault with the engine, transmission or rear end. The Avanti has excellent power through all of the gears and does not hesitate, or exhibit any drivability problems whatsoever. The Avanti starts immediately when warm or cold. The car runs cool and does not overheat even in the warmest, California temperatures. The hoses and clamps have been upgraded over the years, and the car does not leak any water/fluids. The battery holds a charge and the car starts easily even after sitting for several weeks. Over the years, the car had been well maintained but the owner's growing collection and inability to use all of his "toys" necessitates the sale of the Avanti at this time. The brakes on the Avanti were redone within the previous 500~ miles or about 2-3 years ago. At the time, the master cylinder was rebuilt and the entire system checked and fluid renewed. The Avanti has very good brakes (power) that stop the car straight and sure. The emergency brake is functional. The transmission in the Avanti is excellent and shifts well, does not slip, make noise, or exhibit any problems. There is no noise in the rear end, the car does not wander and the steering feels like a car of this vintage should. We just returned from a drive on local country roads around our showroom and reached speeds of just slightly over the posted limit. The car is fun to drive, has a great sound and certainly draws attention. It is apparent that the Avanti has never been abused, raced or mistreated as is evidenced, in part, by the condition of the interior and engine bay. We do recommend that, if you consider this 1964 Avanti that you be prepared to meet a wide variety of new friends and enthusiasts. Everywhere we go in this car (and in our showroom) we are approached by admiring onlookers that are curious about the car and want to know "What's it got in it?" "Is it a '63, or a '64?" This is It is a wonderful piece of American automotive history from the 1960's and undoubtedly will continue to have widespread appeal for many years to come. OPPORTUNITY AREAS / NEEDS We are always asked "What does it need"? The following items are few items that we could come up with that might be considered as "Opportunity Areas." * We would definitely replace the tires prior to using the vehicle as they are entirely too old for on-road usage. The current tires are for display (Bias Ply) only. * Depending on the new owner's interest in originality, the car could benefit from a professional detailing. However, left alone it is a wonderful example of an original, rare, 1964 Studebaker Avanti. * Replace / repair the hole in the rear muffler (remaining exhaust system seems OK) MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION * The Avanti includes and owners manual, the radio instruction booklet and the original "Owner's Protector Service" guide (Warranty booklet). Of course, the black/yellow California plates will remain on the car for California buyers. * The car comes with a few extra parts including: * 4 new tires * The old, original fuel pump (removed for a replacement unit) * The original Fuel Sending Unit * The Avanti ownership Plaque (waiting for YOUR name) * A few Other Small, Misc. parts/Bits * The Avanti is located at our enclosed, climate controlled showroom and pre-inspections are encouraged. Please contact us in advance (we are in and out of the office quite a bit) at 925-846-1451. * The photographs were taken within approximately within the previous 7 days and are untouched, 100% as taken. The Avanti is registered (for California buyer's) until July, 2009. . * We have had very good success with UShip in locating transporters (especially for relatively short distances) and recommend giving them a try. For long distance enclosed transport we recommend Showtime Motorsports (strictly enclosed) for competitive national moves. * As with virtually all collector cars (thanks to the Internet) parts are readily available from a number of sources for the Mustangs. * PLEASE do not ask "what is the reserve'? We will gladly discuss the car with interested buyers and answer any questions about the car, shipping, the asking price, etc. However, we will not respond to questions online about the reserve amount.