I got a card in the mail today from a woman named Mary Anne Hanson of Leawood, KS. She must have gotten my name from the Hemmings article, I don't know. But she asked me if I had any "Studebaker News" magazines because at age 20 she bought a new Avanti from Wavra Motors in Grand Forks, ND and her photo was used in a "Studebaker News" magazine. She'd like to show it to her grandkids, although she has no idea what ever happened to the Avanti.
I thought it sounded familiar. I only own three "Studebaker News" magazines...but by gosh, her photo is in one of my three....May 1963, with this information below the photo:
"North Dakota premiere finds the first delivery of an Avanti in that state to a lady. The recipient here, Mary Anne McElroy, a student at the University of North Dakota, is shown taking delivery from George Wavra, Wavra Motors, Studebaker dealership in Grand Forks, North Dakota".
I'm going to send her the magazine gratis.
If I were out at the SNM archives, I'd look for her serial number in the production orders. Probably wouldn't take all that long...she said the car was gold and one could just look for the first car to go to North Dakota (although I realize 'first delivery' doesn't necessarily mean first car to get shipped to that state). The serial no. could be confirmed to the Retail Sale Card (Univac-style card) at the SNM.
I sure wonder if the car survives. I'm going to ask her when I send the magazine, if she knows the serial no. but in all actuality I'd say that's a slim chance.
More people have a warm connection with Studebaker than we ever know!
Besides being a college girl with a new Avanti, her return address shows "Dr. and Mrs...." so she apparently has done OK!