I find it hard to believe that you've failed to mention it being the fastest production car and all of the Bonneville records won with this car in stock form. With an average of 160 mph, it was an absolutely amazing achievement for 1963.

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

2 жыл бұрын

Good call!

@Ford363Stroker

Жыл бұрын

But that was an R3 rated at 335 hp but later dyno tested at close to 400hp.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

@@Ford363Stroker It was a an R3 "A" engine bored 0.060 over at 299 CID as opposed to the later R3 "B" engines which were bored to 304.5 CID. The reason for the 299 was to be able to stay in the C production class instead of C prototype class. 0.060 oversized pistons were part of the standard Studebaker parts catalog for engine rebuilding and therefore production parts. Later, when the 304.5 became actual production, that was run in the C production class which has a 305 CID upper limit.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

The best two-way run was 168 mph. This was with a 299 CID engine bored 0.060 over which could use standard Studebaker service parts 0.060 over pistons. These 299's allowed them to run in the C production class instead of C prototype. They called them R3's but the "A" engine version. Later came the R3 "B" engine version at 304.5 CID and when it became a production engine that is what they ran in C production class (which has an upper limit of 305 CID).

Grew up in Studebakers and my dad got an Avanti in 1971, we still have it. The sound still runs through our veins...

@kezzler9556

4 жыл бұрын

I got one to, 1973 with a 400 chevy sb. Fast little bugger as the former owner rebuilt the engine for the strip :)

And...how often do we find an auto of this vintage to be as relevant today!Truly ONE of a KIND !! WOW

In the 80’s I had the privilege of working with Tom Kellogg who was the one who actually penned the design of the Avanti. Raymond Loewy had hired Tom out of Art Center as his principal designer. During my time with Tom he shared all of the design studies and sketches he had so proudly kept from that time. I will always remember him as one of the greatest designers of our time.

Any Avanti seen ANYWHERE always gets my FULL attention. I remember when they came out and stated in their commercials that they were the "Fastest stock American car on the road". (167 mph at the Bonneville salt flats setting a record for a showroom factory built car.) Studebaker was dying on the vine but the Avanti was their last ditch attempt to stay afloat. These were the very FIRST factory so-called "Muscle Cars" (small body with fast motors) built in the USA. Chevelles, Barracudas and Mustangs came out in '64, so Studebaker beat them all to the punch by a year or two..... Thanks for posting!! You hardly see these anymore, darn!

These cars were years ahead of their time and Studebaker quality was super. My uncle had a Golden Hawk and it was like nothing else made in that era.

I have a 1963 Avanti sitting in my garage; I love these cars. The rule of thumb demarcation is round headlight bezels are 1963, while square are '64. But the truth is there was no clear changeover, and there were running changes. Apart from the color, which is not my favorite, to me this car is the perfect blend of features -- it has the better looking round headlight bezels of the earlier model, but the woodgrain dash of the later ones. This is a gorgeous Avanti. I really love the wheel covers on this car too.

@cliff7292

5 жыл бұрын

First, I envy you Darin.. Wanted one of these since they first came out. About 10 years ago I was looking at a pretty decent example for about 8 K but I held off buying it. Just saw a 1970 Avanti 2 for about twice that but my wife says NO ! She's so good to me in many other ways so I guess I'm never to fulfill my dream

@lindaelsner1959

3 жыл бұрын

@@cliff7292 my father bought this new Grand Island Neb in early 63. He let take the car to Kearney Neb car show when I was going to college. The drivers seat has 1/4 tear in the bottom section which I did when getting in the car. We kept the car for about 25 yrs & sold the car at Branson auction with 1500 original miles. Now I know the history!!

@donnaphen503

2 жыл бұрын

@@cliff7292 LOL Yeah, don't wanna lose the "benefits" over a car!

@edwardkrzynowek241

Жыл бұрын

@@cliff7292 When a wife puts her foot down about something I want, sometimes I simply counter with, "Shoes!". But, I'm afraid that probably won't help you here. The price difference is pretty large.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

True. There are at least 50 or 60 "round" bezel 1964 models. The bezel change was one of eight changes that happened at the same time starting with serial 4892. Also, in the 1964 model year, you could custom order round bezels so long as the still had front body parts available for it. And various repairs after crashes converted some round to square, and some square to round.

this 64 avanti is a beautiful car, I owned a gold 63 supercharged and a candy apple red 89 both great cars, and yes the early 64 did have round head lights. these cars were ahead of their time.

A few of the Avantis were built with an R-3 Engine, a 304 CID engine with the supercharger! Avanti engine options were available throughout the entire Studebaker line! I owned one of I believe less than 100 GT Hawks with the R-3! It was more than capable of pegging the 160 MPH speedometer! Yet if driven sanely it would average around 22 MPG at a steady 80 MPH cruise when properly tuned. There were 4 Avanti engine options I am aware of, all had performance upgrades from the standard 289, such as camshaft and valve springs. R-1, 289 w/4bbl. R-2 same 289 with the supercharger. R-3 a 304 CID with Supercharger, and a R-4 without the supercharger and as I recall 4 2bbl carburetors! Never saw one of those. I owned the Hawk for 30 years, put 240,000 miles on it. Sold it in '93, still running to a fellow who wanted to completely restore it! Wish I still owned it.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

Nine production Avantis were built with the R3 304.5. The much touted speed records were with a 299 CID R3. 299 is bored 0.060 over and Studebaker had as a standard service part 0.060 over pistons. This allowed them to run in the C Production class instead of the C Prototype class. The 304.5 was not yet in production. When it was, they then ran the 304.5 at Bonneville. Studebaker called both "R3" engines but the 299 were "A" engines and the 304.5 "B" engines.

I’m turning 70 this month. I remember these cars back in 64, loved them then and love them now. It’s a unique,polarizing design, people either love them or hate them. And I just love the paint and interior color, about ten-thousand percent better than all the black,white and grey cars that get shoved down our throats these days.

Very unique car thanks for showing it like the style definitely ahead of its time

I'm nearing the end of the restoration of my 1963 Avanti (supercharged as well). I love this car, and it turns heads everywhere I drive it -- it should do so even more now that it looks almost brand new again. The styling is unique, but it's not without its own little costs. That asymmetrical hood bulge, for example -- really cool styling touch, but man does it make installing and weather sealing the windshield a pain in the butt. (BTW, the car did not have leather seats, as stated at 5:15, they were just vinyl, like practically all other American cars of the period. Of course, the later Avanti IIs, built a semi-custom, hand built cars, could and did come with leather seats, if that's what the customer ordered. Studebaker just offered vinyl though.)

@caseyvee4419

4 жыл бұрын

Do you know anything about hog troughs needing replacement ? If I ever get rich I am going to buy one of these cars, but I have been warned about hog troughs, and some sort of makeshift unsatisfactory replacement of them by by owners trying to cut corners. Tips ?

@Hibernicus1968

4 жыл бұрын

@@caseyvee4419 Try if at all possible to find one with good hog troughs. Look especially closely at the corners along the bottom (not 4 corners, I mean where the horizontal bottom of the hog trough bends upward to the vertical sides -- if they rust out, they're almost certainly going to show it there first. Get a screwdriver and tap on the bottom of the hog troughs with the handle, listinening for changes in sound that might indicate the metal is thinner in some places. Poke the corners with the flat edge of the screwdriver to make sure the metal hasn't corroded thin enough to poke the screwdriver through. If the hog troughs have to be replaced, it can be done satisfactorily, but it's very expensive. They're bonded to the fiberglass body, so the body has to be cut away around them to remove the old ones, and then the fiberglass repaired after the new ones are installed. There's a company making stainless steel replacements that install in pieces and bolt together, and this avoids cutting and repairing the fiberglass body BUT... Dan Booth, at Nostalgic Motor Cars, who has been selling and repairing these cars for over forty years, warned me that this company's replacements do not bolt up to the base of the roll bar the way the original hog troughs do, and this leaves the roll bar unanchored to the frame and renders it useless in the event of a crash. My car has good hog troughs, fortunately. To keep them that way, I have followed another bit of advice from Dan Booth: I have drilled a series of holes in the bottom along their length, and periodically spray oil up in there to coat the insides -- not til it's dripping out or anything, but just enough to coat the insides. Water that drains down from around the windshield through the car body drains down into and through the hog troughs and out of a couple of holes in the rear that the factory put there. Depending on where your car is parked, if it's on a slight grade, all that water may not drain out like it should, and rust will start eating the hog troughs away from inside. Drilling additional holes and spraying oil up in there should combat this.

@caseyvee4419

4 жыл бұрын

@@Hibernicus1968 THANKS ! If/when I get closer to buying one, this will be valuable information. About all I had really known before was that ads on these cars said things like "hog troughs good", or "hog troughs rusted".

The commentary missed the aircraft controls above the windshield and of course..the integral Roll Bar behind the driver!!!! The car was beyond Kool..... I remember our local Studebaker dealer was Putnam motors in the East New York section of Brooklyn NY they were a former Hudson Dealer my family bought Hornets and Commodore 6's & 8's from. So it's 1963 and a neighbor bought an Avanti but an R-3 model which had the Paxton supercharger (modified by the dealer to put out 7-8 lbs boost) and the R-3 came with a hotter cam which he swapped out for a Much stronger Howard's "secret grind" cam...added Herman headers and...it was pushing at or close to 400 HP! (extrapolated on a local rear wheel Dyno) of course it's favorite food was Sunoco 260.... Forget what all Avanti's exhaust sounded like, but this one, wow! Well I climbed in and my neighbor drove near my school when the other kids let out and I got behind the wheel..when I went past the school I put in neutral and floored the engine! All the kids, assorted teachers and an assnt principal almost dropped dead. I just kept rolling and put it back in drive and chirped the tires....the school called my parents who laughed. It was the real America folks.....

@mjt11860

6 жыл бұрын

cool story. amazing cars, & even more when modded. thanx 4 sharing.

@joefoster6594

5 жыл бұрын

Only car I've ever had(seen?) with a Manifold pressure guage.

@coolcatjohnny380

4 жыл бұрын

You can also add that the Avanti had a padded dash when all other cars of that time had steel. The exhaust note is from the factory. Studebaker built a car far ahead of its time.

@opera93

4 жыл бұрын

Cindy S thanks for your Story..we had stories too: the Classmates Brother, who,had a Super Lark/ 4 speed, etc......My Great Aunt in South Be d had a Hawk( of some special) , but traded off to. Port Hole Thunderbird.... etc.i was born in Warsaw IN,....moving to Helena Valley MT.., Interestingly a few Studebakers out here in Montana: including some great stuff: WW2, four wheel Drives, TRUCKS, Larks, Hawks...

Back in the early 60s, the legendary autos were Sting Ray, XKE, Cobra, and Avanti.. Avantis were considered in the awesome category.

@rogersmith7396

2 жыл бұрын

Dennis Colins states these have exceeded 200 mph in stock form. They had many orders but the company lacked the resources to build them.

@rascal0175

Жыл бұрын

How right you are.

@FennixGamingYT

Жыл бұрын

That makes them technically the first supercar!

@rascal0175

Жыл бұрын

I wanted one when I was 15. Now I’m 75 and would still like to have one. They were ahead of their time.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

@@rogersmith7396 That speed is not true. The R1 engine (240 HP normally aspirated 4 bbl carburetor) got about 120 mph. The R2 (289 HP and supercharged) got about 140 mph. The R3 (335 hp, bored to 204.5, and supercharged with more boost and many other upgrades) got about 160 to 170 depending on who was fine tuning it. The R4 (280 HP and like the R3 except not supercharged and with twin 3 bbl carburetors) was never ordered in an Avanti, but one Lark was sold with it. The R5 was a special factory car for Bonneville ONLY and had twin superchargers. It developed 638 hp (per a paper Studebaker submitted to the Society of Automotive Engineers) and it best two-way run was 196 mph. So, in "stock form" you would have 170 mph at best. But a few have taken the Avanti and its 289 as a starting point and with twin turbochargers and intercoolers and everything else have hit 213 mph at Bonneville. But that is certainly not in a stock form. Incidentally, the 168 mph R3 Bonneville speed record was with a 0.060 over bored 299 CID R3 the called the "A" engines. This allowed them to run in the C production class since 0.060 oversize pistons were a standard Studebaker replacement part. After the 304.5 become a production engine, they ran that, and they called those the R3 "B" engines.

Great Car, you folks should do a bloopers production special. I got a smile from the silent burnout.

I grew up about 20 minutes from the Studebaker plant in South Bend. Studebakers were popular in the area and my dad had two of them although I only remember the 1962 Lark. They had such great engineering and that translated to the Avanti. This car was really designed on a shoestring budget yet it is a real classic. It also could beat anything on the street in 1963.

@opera93

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I grew up around WARSAW ( 1965 Wolf lake HS, NOBLE COUNTY) … my Great Aunt sold her HAWK, TO GET A 57 Thunderbird….etc.. Interestingly, the State bought a bunch of Studebaker small pick ups in 1960s, had & drove, at TRICounty Game Preserve,Syracuse , etc…

@BIGBADWOOD

Жыл бұрын

spot on 😀

@Retro_Husky

Жыл бұрын

I also grew up in South Bend around 15 to 20 minutes away. My great-grandfathers used to work there and loved it!

Beautiful car. My father’s uncle owns one and it’s his baby. Really amazing and ahead of it’s time. I just went to Das Awkscht Fescht in Macungie, where he used to show it off and I couldn’t believe there were only 4 Studebakers there and they were mostly overlooked! Way ahead of it’s time and truly a work of art.

My all time favorite classic car. Would love to own one.

@hyperion9131

3 жыл бұрын

There's one for sale around me

@trainliker100

3 жыл бұрын

@@hyperion9131 These have rather low collector value for the most part. So if anyone wants one, they are more accessible than most realize. Prices have been climbing slightly in the last ten years or so (as for Studebakers in general), but unless it is an extremely rare original R3 engine equipped model, or ridiculously perfect low miles original car, they can go relatively cheap. You might find one at or near #1 show car condition for 25K. Hagerty has, in my opinion, somewhat inflated values as to what they suggest. And there really isn't much difference in the real world in price between the R1 (normally aspirated) and R2 (supercharged) in spite of what Hagerty thinks. A 4-speed and/or positraction does often add a bit. For 10K to 20K you can get one that is usually reasonably presentable and runs. Financially, not worth restoring although some do anyway. Why does a car that's sharp, fairly old, and quite rare not draw a lot of money? I think it is because it just isn't on very many people's radar. They want what they grew up with in the 1950's to 1970's, what they saw advertised a lot, or what the high school quarterback who dated all the cheerleaders had. They seek a nostalgic connection - and that's not usually a Studebaker Avanti. (True, something like a Duesenberg is valuable and doesn't fit into those nostalgia categories, but such cars are more art objects than collector cars.) So most want Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, Tri-five Chevys, and such. I like to say regarding all those others that once you've seen five hundred thousand of them, you've seen them all. They are common. When many people see mine, they say "What is that?"

@sundial6919

2 жыл бұрын

It looks like a 2021 model but stuck in '64

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

Start checking the prices. Not only for the original Studebaker version, but also the later ones. You might be surprised how affordable they are. Some that are special (like ludicrously low original miles or and original R3 engine equipped one) are costly. But ones that are in near show car condition, or just daily drive condition, can be pretty low.

I love this car, it kicks ass elegantly....

@lesliehorwinkle

2 жыл бұрын

On par with a Ferrari of the day IMO.

Always found this car as being ahead of its time when I was a kid, and even more so now.

Raymond Loewy is also given credit for the outstanding 1953 Starlite and Starliner coupes and hardtops. He also helped design the first post war Studebaker.

But, but, you didn't mention the land speed records! 167 mph at the Bonneville salt flats setting a record for a showroom factory built car.

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

7 жыл бұрын

Great point, they did have the record.

@rollingstopp

7 жыл бұрын

John Cobb built a car and was doing 367 mph on the salt flats of Bonneville in the 1930's record kinda stood for ever....

@thorstry

7 жыл бұрын

LOL! his car was a 25 litre PURPOSE built Railton mobile special!!! FIVE times the engine size. This is a factory PRODUCTION car (for the road) no comparison!

@thorstry

7 жыл бұрын

It actually broke 200mph!

@rollingstopp

7 жыл бұрын

@ Dave strydom hello,, have you heard of henessy,,those hennessy cars are considered record breakers for a type of production cars but are never owned or mass produced (your previous lol inserted here used against you) but no one owns them ! .. lol at you

Avanti was my dream car when I was a kid. Come to think of it, it still is.

I remember being super impressed (still am) the few times I saw them-I was 10 on 1963.

What a beautiful automobile! And that V8 sound! I am in love.

My grandfather owned a Studebaker dealership Mitchell motors in Lufkin Tx. Thanks for showing this

Love these when I was a kid. Faster than Corvettes and at Bonneville, with Hilborn-injected twin-turbocharged 664-hp Studebaker V-8 topped 200 mph. According to Hemmings.

My buddy had a supercharged 63 the exact color as this in 1966. I owned a 65 Corvette convertible and we had a blast with these cars. The ladies LOVED them and we had some good times! ;)

@garyfrancis6193

Ай бұрын

You must be out of your teens by now.

Excellent video & beautiful Studebaker Avanti too! Thank you for posting your video(s)!

Raymond Loewy was arguably the greatest industrial designer of the 20th Century. His unique perspective inspired a fresh approach to everyday objects including cars-his Avanti looks like nothing else and remains gorgeous to this day-as well as to refrigerators, Greyhound buses, the Shell logo, Coca Cola dispensers, streamlined locomotives, and the interiors of Air Force One and Concorde. By all means stretch the “muscle car” definition to include fabulous autos like this.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

Some of those things were a refinement of an existing design. For example, the Shell Oil logo was fundamentally a shell long before Loewy came on the scene. He simplified it and made it bolder. His most noteworthy contribution to Air Force One (technically not that number unless the president is aboard - any airplane he is on is "Air Force One") was the exterior paint job which he coordinated with Jackie Kennedy. Most of the actual Avanti styling work was done by design team member Tom Kellogg. Of course, Loewy gave direction regarding styling cues, suggested changes, and made approvals.

Great share. Thank you.

Couple features: REAR SEATS are higher than the front so when sitting in the back, it feels like Stadium Seating (!) SHOCKS are Gabriel Adjustables (!)

Love your shows! I have learned soooo much!

They came out when I was in high school. Still the coolest all-American car. I had never heard that it was built on Lark chassis.

One of the most elegantly designed American production cars. Interior is just as striking as the exterior. A real gem.

Wow ! Never seen or heard of this car ..... Now I want one...beautiful !!

Man 6500 miles! Not only does the paint look original but even those bias ply tires!

@RivieraByBuick

6 жыл бұрын

only a brain -dead person would consider driving on 50 year old tyres

@markg.2501

6 жыл бұрын

Pretty sure brain dead people don't ever "consider" anything?

Always dug these mysterious Avantis lol. Great review, nice interior and styling notes, and a gracious host! I’ll Sub to that.

Very very good. Thanks for posting this one.

I never see these anymore, but when I was growing up I'd see one or two here and there. VERY COOL cars

Couple weeks back I picked up the AMT model of the 63 Avanti and I just always kind of want those cars they were very neat especially for their time

I remember as a kid in the mid 60s a faded yellow Avanti always parked (never saw it driven) at a duplex near where I lived. I only could only see the front of it. Didn't know it was a Studebaker. I thought it was some Italian import. I could never decide whether I liked the look of it or not. Now I love it!

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

Yellow was not a Studebaker color on the Avanti. Of course, it could have been repainted. The "Avanti II" which it might have been was available in ANY color the buyer wanted.

Awesome and beautiful machine. Thank you for this video. And thank you for all the great videos

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

This car is absolutely beautiful and so way ahead of its time.

THIS CAR WAS THE VERY FIRST ONE I STOLE FOR A LONG JOY RIDE. I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT NIGHT AND CRUISING AROUND AT THE BEACH. WHENEVER I SAW A STATEY MY HEART JUMPED. I DIDN'T TAKE BUT TWO OR THREE MORE BECAUSE I WASN'T CUT OUT FOR IT. IT WAS FUN THOUGH.

@howardblasingame7961

2 жыл бұрын

That is fascinating

I have always wanted one, when I was a teenager my Dad bought a '63 Silver Hawk 3 speed on the tree. It was not very fast at all but it sure looked good. My Dad installed the F.G. fins onto the rear fenders, way ahead of its time.

thanks for showing this Avanti, very nice!

A fantastic car. Thanks for telling us so much about them, I did not know.

Great job. Thank You.

Looks like it has a Pontiac "slim-jim" gear shift lever complete with the little lock-out button on top. We had a '62 Grand Prix 389 Tri-Power that had the same exact gear shift lever. That's a beautiful Studebaker though. A supercharged 289 should move that car along pretty quick too. Thanks for another great review, Semper Fi!

I grew up with a guy named Al Parise in massapequa ,n.y. he had 2 of these in his garage great car great memories !!!

always wondered about this car. I just found your show tonight I'm already a HUGE fan, would love to visit the brothers collect if they let people in. every car I think is awesome or wonder about stats you have a show on. you sir are awesome!!!

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you Corey!

Either you love the look or hate it. I love it and marvel at how fast Loewy designed it and Studebaker brought it to market. This '64 is a solid 10!

Back in 1963 My dad was a Studebaker afficianado, I became one too. I love the Avanti, wish I had one and am going to look for one now. My dad ORDERED A Lark Wagonaire which had an Avanti R(?) 289 bbl carb, engine installed in it with a 4 speed transmission, with leather bucket seats. It was a rocket. It had a 160 MPH speedo. While I never "certified" the accuracy I could attest to 120 or 140 or so! Loved that car!

One of the best and cool luxury sporty cars. And did GREAT at the Bonneville Salt Flats ,establishing speed records,etc!

The only R2 I have ever seen was in a showroom when they were first introduced and it was love at first sight until I saw the price. A dream crusher.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

They were priced about the same as a Cadillac. The R2 supercharged version, without many other options, would have been about $4655. The supercharger option was only $210 which was actually pretty reasonable. They didn't expect to sell many Avantis. They were meant to get people into the dealerships. Most were expected to be dazzled by the Avanti but leave with one of the regular lineup like the Lark model. But too many people saw Studebaker as a failing company and didn't want to get stuck with a car with no company behind it.

Soooo glad to see this car on your show.

as a kid, one of my favorite models to build was the AMT Avanti. If i recall, it had steerable wheels, which is pretty cool in modeling. I know I built more than one... a very cool car. The Avanti has always been a favorite to me. There were 2 different headlight styles, round or square. I think square was the later year.

@rogersmith7396

2 жыл бұрын

They have changed since Stu went broke. My understanding is the current owner wants to build them on Camaro chassis.

I loved the Avanti the first time I saw it back in the 60s and still do to this day. I've built many plastic model kits of this car.

One of my favorite cars. The Loewy design team was Andrews, Ebstein, and Kellogg. This is a superb example but please loose the auxiliary driving lights and reinstall the original wheel covers. A true modern beauty.

There aren't that many of them. So I was really surprised to see 2 parked next to each other. While walking thru the "Hood" no less. (Jeep was broke down a couple of weeks) Owners were cool. They were car guys. And a childhood wish list car. So I met two enthusiasts that met each other ....and just happened to be there grabbing some bas ass spicy barbeque like me.

This stuck in my memory seeing an Avanti for the first time on how futuristic the car was . I was disappointed that I being 12 years old had this impression and not my Dad . The Ford Mustang became the hot seller . Still looks sharp . Studebaker became American Motors , I think . Sixties , the Golden Era for Muscle Cars . Thanks .

my dad had 64 avanti red 4spd r2 sqr lights. I had 63 auto avanti gold r1. we both sold them. my dad bought another 63 r1 still has it. had the motor and transmission rebuilt in it probably has 8thousand miles since. we both wished we had our original ones to this day.

It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that production V8 supercharged cars have been around for 60 years and the era is coming to a close.

I always loved the look of these, seen one setting in the yard a few years ago with weeds growing all around it in the elements.quite the sad sight to see.

For those who don't think Studebaker built muscle cars, the 1963 Super Lark was one of the fastest American cars made in the day. Same blown 289 as the Avanti, but in a Rambler looking sleeper body. Would love to see a red one like the "Stewed Tomato" on MCOTW. Kevin, BTW should definitely host a Velocity Channel show. He's got great delivery and voice and of course knowledge for TV.

@Hibernicus1968

8 жыл бұрын

+Mechan Knuckle (mechanknuckle) My father (like me) was a police officer, and he told me that in the early sixties, he blew the engine of a Ford police cruiser trying (unsuccessfully) to catch a Studebaker Golden Hawk.

@gregorytimmons4777

5 жыл бұрын

Actually the stodgy part of the late 1950's Lark was the rear of the car. By 62 the Lark was a pretty stylish car after sharpening up the rear styling.

@baddawg3380

2 жыл бұрын

Dennis Collins just picked up a 62 and he goes into pretty good detail of how fast these cars were. He also goes into their demise.

One of my 5 all time favorite cars.

Love the interior of these cars. Well done and very cockpit-like, same feel as a Pantera to me.

I remember the show Mr Ed.... and Wilbur pulled up in an Avanti, in one of the scenes. The show had Studebaker as their sponsor of course...... Wonder if Wilbur ever put his foot in it. One of my favorite cars of that time.

@JeffDeWitt

6 жыл бұрын

Are you sure it was Wilber? If I remember right that car belonged to Mr. Addison, the Post's rich neighbor. That car was also the first Studebaker I noticed (I was probably 10 or 12 at the time) and I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Studebaker's product placement advertising worked on my, I've got two of the things, (not Avant's), but sadly by the time I was old enough to buy cars Studebaker was long gone.

@mjt11860

6 жыл бұрын

wow, i'll have to look for that episode.

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

It was definitely the more upscale neighbors, "The Addisons", who drove an Avanti. Wilber had a Lark. The Avanti was very rarely seen.

@mousearebec

Ай бұрын

@@JeffDeWitt Hmmm maybe, havent seen the show since the 60's

@mousearebec

Ай бұрын

@@trainliker100 Yep you could be correct..... haven't seen the show since I was in 5th grade, 1964

I love Studebakers, had a 56 Power Hawk in 63. In 66 I took on an R3 at an on ramp in my 396 Chevelle, but backed off out of respect... and cowardice. It disappeared very quickly. It was a beautiful thing to see.

Well presented and accurate history. Usually most reviews on Studebaker are way off on facts. They also enlisted Andy Granatelli to create other high performance versions of the V8 and set many records for production cars at Bonneville in 1963. Unfortunately, Egbert succumbed to cancer soon after the Avanti was launched and that was the beginning of the end for Studebaker. Avanti was brought back into production as the Avanti II as a hand built car with Chevrolet power.

Wish I still had mine that I owned for 10 years. Never could go anywhere without everyone staring lustfully. It was the fastest production car in America at the time. D Production record holder at the Bonneville Salt flats.

Thanks, great video & quick overviews…. In, spending some 69:years in N Indiana, & lots of Studebaker stories…. Really seems these Cars should be “driven & used ”, etc…

Outstanding car, great design, so many styling details to like.

@BuzzLOLOL

6 жыл бұрын

The styling was never quite right/appealing...

@BuzzLOLOL

6 жыл бұрын

It failed... must have been a lot of people's opinion...

@BuzzLOLOL

6 жыл бұрын

show, don't even need to know the story... looked at it back in the day and it didn't appeal... most others felt the same way...

Man I’ve always wanted one. Growing up I thought those were as Cool as it got ! Beautiful car and fast !

Isn't that a 1963 model? Didn't the 1964 model have square headlight bezels? Beautiful original car! Too bad the company quit building cars. The Hawk GT was special too.

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

8 жыл бұрын

There are a handful of '64 models referred to as "transition" cars, which had the '63 round lights. Good catch!

@5610winston

8 жыл бұрын

What was the serial number? New year serial numbers did not reset to 1; RQ1001 through RQ4834 would have been '63 models, and RQ4834 to RQ5643 (the last Studebaker Avanti) would be '64 models. The transition models were those on which the leftover trim parts were spent out. Further complicating the matter, the '63 models did not have a grille over the air intake under the bumper, but some owners of '63 models installed the grilles and cut-outs for the rectangular headlight nacelles. I've heard (and any historians out there please correct me if I'm misinformed) that even more confusion arose because some Avantis built during the '63 model production period remained unsold or untitled well into calendar year 1964, and these were titled as '64 models. Incidentally, the steering hub cover "horn button" on the earliest '63 models would have read "STUDEBAKER PACKARD CORPORATION", changed to "THE STUDEBAKER CORPRATION" when the board of directors deleted the Packard name.

@jacobfleming565

6 жыл бұрын

You could buy a avanti up until 2006

@JeffDeWitt

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, but those weren't Studebakers, and while most of them were based on the Studebaker Avanti the later ones were reskinned GM cars and a very few at the end were based on the Mustang.

@ZachGRocketBossZach

6 жыл бұрын

56 1964 models had circle headlights.

I've seen two different models of these locally that a collector has but didn't know much about them! Great details.

I remember them well they always stood out in a crowed like a jewel on a ring elegant but it had style and performance and everyone would say that's a "Studebaker" ? looks cool !

When I was just 12 I took care of a stock traders lawn and he had one, One day they took me for a ride and it was a beautifully built car , all stewart warner gauges set in leather and very well finished overall.

@williamcervini1416

5 жыл бұрын

Not leather. Great vinyl that looked like leather.

Terrific review. Nice work.

Been my dream car since 74' when I first read about it.

What a Story! What an Exemplary Car! This is another significant example of an uncomprehended piece of American Genius so advanced to its era. Another remarkable matter aside genius, is the fact that Studebaker applied themselves to the task of proudicing & desinging "marrying" existing parts and innovations. For ending; What a unique example of an Avanti! Thank You MCoW!

I bought a 1963 Lark, that had the Avanti disk brakes, a 259 V8 and 3 speeds & overdrive, it was a good car real nice on the highway

I really never appreciated the Advanti until your showcase. Thanks so much for this. Keeping the stumble blooper in is great, after all, that is how they likely ran most of the time. But as much as I hate to say it...the included music is just way over the top for this car. Regardless, keep up the great work. Looking forward to more, Cheers, Mark!

@williamcervini1416

5 жыл бұрын

no "d", it's Avanti

There was a guy who tuned a stock Super charged 62 Avanti and took it too an average of 198 at bonneville. The fastest Production American car for a LONG time!!!

@trainliker100

Ай бұрын

I don't believe any stock Avanti came close to that speed at Bonneville. Andy Granatelli put together a factory prototype Avanti with twin Paxton superchargers and many other changes and had a best two-way run of 196 mph. A paper Studebaker submitted to the Society of Automotive Engineers stated it had 638 hp. There is no way any stock Avanti could be tuned to anything near that. A 299 R3 version, tuned by the Granatelli team, had a best two-way run of 168 mph at Bonneville. It's hard to imagine that anyone could do even a little bit better than Granatelli. In later years, some have taken HIGHLY modified Avantis based on the 289 engine but with twin turbo chargers, intercoolers, and such and hit 213 mph at Bonneville. To be a bit pedantic, there were no 1962 model year Avantis although some were made in 1962. The first model year was 1963.

Have this car saved in my camera roll. It’s a wondrous car.

I like this "stretching of the envelope". And you should too- in the future, you might end of repeating subjects. More "stretching of the envelope"- All the usual "muscle car" suspects are of course, great, but there are many in the muscle car orbit worth covering like this Studebaker. Thanks.

@bobr.6312

7 жыл бұрын

This care definitely was 'muscle'...I believe it would pretty much walk away from most cars of the day, as a muscle car should...And how many records? Yeah, and unusual one, but none the less 'muscle'!

@thorstry

7 жыл бұрын

It did!

For me, tied w/ the ‘63 Corvette, as the most beautifully designed cars, ever…

This was a design that was way, way ahead of its time. It is timeless IMHO. Too bad the Avanti was not enough to save Studebaker. Great video.

@rogersmith7396

2 жыл бұрын

They refused to join AMC. My guess is the Indiana plant would have been closed.

Absolutely Stunning example....this designer also did the paint scheme of Air Force One for JFK

Good info on the frame & suspension. Never knew that before.

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Great show

Tach, disc brakes, blower, and soo pretty. My fav American car, ever Even the Camero copy. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

Very detailed authorative review!

@MuscleCarOfTheWeek

4 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Not to mention the hidden roll bar...my brother's boss Dom Lambert of Lambert Firestone in Saint Louis Missouri was wanting a new corvette. But the 63 vette didn't come with a storage trunk, so he got an avanta instead to carry his wheelchair. He wanted to keep up with his rich spoiled friends who lived in Ladue Missouri...also the Studebaker company is still making cars and trucks in South America...

Cool car great video, I have a 62 Studebaker Transtar pick up, 02710 miles 289 ,5 speed with overdrive and 2 speed rear end, duel wheels, Lockheed breaks,19.5 five bolt rims.

I'm 61. I've wanted one since I was a young child. Will get one someday

@ronaldwilliams3861

4 жыл бұрын

I’m 71; was so thrilled with it in every way; i begged my dad to buy one but he was an Olds 98 guy. I also loved the 62 and 63 Grand Turismo Hawk. From the advanced thinking of the Studebaker Corporation!

@jakekaywell5972

3 жыл бұрын

@@ronaldwilliams3861 Well, it might just please you to know that this 20 year old has a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk as his first car. It took me seven years to get her and I don't intend of getting rid of her anytime soon. The GT Hawk story, like the Avanti's, is one full of desperate creativity. That ethereal quality in a more European and elegant car than most American metal is highly attractive to me.

I had a 63 R1 with AC. Forget Mustangs, this was the first Pony Car. I should have kept it but safety concerns and with two children kind of forced me to let it go. It was my daily driver and the car pool I was in was always anxious when it was my time to drive. I looked at some Avanti II's but the body language was not the same. Maybe one day... Thanks PS: Same Turquoise paint, love it.

@emjayay

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, unlike some I think the turquoise metallic paint is perfect.

one of the best looking cars ever made by americans ! brilliant

My parents had one of those. Glass packs. I was the coolest kid in grade school. Mom would pick me up and the whole school watched