1963 studebaker avanti

Today on what’s it’s like 1963 studebaker Avanti.. this was studebakers swan song vastly underrated car, why didn’t it get the praise it deserves. Period correct ads specs dash tour enjoy this episode
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[@markw208]

Cheap Trick, The Flame

[@What.its.like.]

You got it =)

[@What.its.like.]

I’ll go back to 60s tunes I figured you guys got the other one Gloria pretty fast and that was a 70s song I think.. i’ll have to look up when the flame came out I think that was a 70s song as well I was gonna stick to the 70s because it seemed like more people got it.. i almost did Jim Croce operator.. because he was an artist that was gone too soon much like this car

[@noneed4me2n7]

Nice, check out Sweet home Alabama against Warren Zevons “Werewolves of London”, followed by Kid Rocks “All summer long”.

[@markw208]

@@noneed4me2n7 , Haawwooooww, Werewolves of London. Haawwoooooww

[@What.its.like.]

That’s a great song

[@nboothful]

My brother inherited my Dads '64 Avanti w the 289 and its been fully restored to showroom condition. Beautiful car and I spend time with it whenever I visit him.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome =)

[@georgekrem7057]

According to the Studebaker AMA Specs published November 15, 1962, page 3, R3 Avantis could be ordered with any of 13 different axle ratios, ranging from 2.53 to 5.38. I've personally inspected the Bonneville R3 back in the 1960s when I changed a bad starter motor on it at Arlington Motors Studebaker, and I recently inspected it in the museum. It had, and still has, the factory optional 2.87 ratio. When Ron Hall and I first ran an R3 Avanti at Bonneville in 1988, it was stone stock except for open exhaust and a 3.07 axle ratio..no taping or other aerodynamic mods. It did 172.746 mph with fairly tall Bonneville tires. We eventually ran speeds up to 201, still staying within the 5 liter class and one supercharger, but with a hotter cam and lots of head work. Not bad for a basic engine design that was first introduced in 1951 .

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information thank you so much for added this =) Question why didn’t they utilize the two speed rear end could have the best of both worlds 5:14 and 3:73 some companies did it in the 30s amc offered twin stick on some marlins but was there any other company that dabbled with that idea

[@georgekrem7057]

@@What.its.like. I suspect that the development of five and six-speed manual transmissions that have an overdrive gear made two -speed rear axle units unnessary. Now, some automatics have 10 gears or so, keeping the engine constantly in its optimum power band.

[@vernanderson4358]

Thanks George. You highlighted some items that need publicity. I try as often as possible to Correct, on these posts, the plethora of misinformation offered frequently.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I've always admired the Studebaker Avanti!!! It was a car that was ahead of its time!!! The interior reminds me of the cockpit of an airplane. Thanks for sharing this informative video!!! 👍👍

[@What.its.like.]

I forgot to mention the R3 did 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.. it bothers me that it’s over shadowed by other cars that arent have as good.. such is life

[@christopherkraft1327]

@@What.its.like. sadly, Studebaker, like American Motors never got the respect it deserved!!

[@c.d.porter9366]

The interior was designed to replicate aircraft.

[@mgabrysSF]

@@c.d.porter9366 Well - ya - the designer did work for Learjet.

[@lecleland1]

The Avanti was the hot car that the Mustang always wanted to be.

[@vernanderson4358]

You are 💯💯 Per cent correct. Ford museum admitted to me personally in 1968 that Ford deliberately used the Avanti THEY bought new and disassembled and reassembled as a basis for final changes to the soon to be introduced mustang.( 2-1/2 years AFTER the Avanti). Yes the stang was always just a wannabee Avanti - never made it.

[@Hibernicus1968]

I have a 1963 Avanti. Supercharged. I've just about finished a years-long restoration of the car, or more of a restomod really, though all the improvements are very subtle, and no one not very familiar with Avantis would be able to spot the modifications. As I wanted a fun driver, not a show car, I don't mind, and everything is completely reversible. The car is tremendous fun to drive, and gets lots of attention whenever I take it. It really is impressive in its own right, and even more so when you realize it was an example of parts bin engineering -- Studebaker had no money to develop an all new engine or chassis as they wanted; they had to make the car out of parts that were already in production. So, they used the Lark convertible chassis, because its X brace made it stiffer. They used the Lark police package front suspension, and Lark station wagon rear for greater stiffness, which made for better handling. Hot rodders' tricks and a supercharger wrung more power out of relatively small displacement, and rather heavy, but extremely reliable and durable engine. The result was an imperfect car, with a front weight bias thanks to the heavy engine, but it was a genuine high performance car for its era. Funny thing is how similar the car is in concept to the Ford Mustang: a parts bin engineered car with really sporty styling. The Mustang was basically a Ford Falcon economy car with sporty sheet metal and an optional V8; the Avanti was a Lark with a unique fiberglass body and an optionally supercharged V8. Both were designed to bring style and performance, while keeping production costs as low as possible. The Avanti, thanks to production bottlenecks that made impatient buyers cancel orders, and (sadly accurate) fears people had that the car would soon be an orphan, didn't sell well enough to save Studebaker, while Ford couldn't churn out Mustangs fast enough to meet demand. it's sad, and more than a little unfair. It's a shame the car didn't save Studebaker's automotive division as Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert intended, but the truth is that probably nothing could have saved the company at that point, and if the company was doomed to go out, I just think it's great that they went out with a bang instead of a whimper.

[@What.its.like.]

I totally agree with everything you said =)

[@doctorwacky5680]

Thanks Jay for finding one. As far as I’m concerned it is truly the first muscle car, now if you can find a AMC marlin that would be awesome

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you I did a marlin but it wasn’t that nice here is the link I plan one hitting it again just haven’t seen one and honestly never saw a 67 in person kzbin.info/www/bejne/onm5qJ1jrpuHiNE

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Of course, Avantis weren't attractive... and the public couldn't buy the models that set the speed records... unlike the Corvette where anybody could slap down the money and buy the Fuel Injected 327" 360 HP Corvette... and go 160-170 MPH... if they were crazy enough...

[@What.its.like.]

Corvette had high performance models average person couldn’t get a hold of either. I have nothing against Chevy just not the best of the best of everything. Someone said in the comments Chevy is a religion The more I do this the more I’m finding a lot of truth in that. Both the hawk and Avanti don’t have the compromises that the early vets or thunderbirds have

[@allenwayne2033]

Kiddo, your passion and enthusiasm nearly moves me to tears!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you it means a lot if I had access to a time machine I’d go back.. I was born way way to late at least with this channel can reminisce about the good ole days even tho I wasn’t around for them.

[@allenwayne2033]

@@What.its.like. If I had a time machine, I would go back too! I grew up within 40 minutes of South Bend, IN. Studebaker was gone by the time I was cognizant of anything besides food and diapers, but I remember as a kid, there were still many Studebakers around the area. If you ever happen to be in the S.B. area, check out the Studebaker museum!

[@What.its.like.]

I need to make a point to get out there one day =)

[@neildickson5394]

Your 100% correct about perception. If this super iconic car had a bowtie, it would be burned into our brains, in fact we might be sick of hearing about the fastest car in the world. But, because it was a Studebaker, which had taken on some of the Edsel failure aura over time from the mid 50's on. Once Packard failed, then several brands went down, the public lost ALL interest in being different by driving something different. Even Motor Trend played a big part in these perceptions. When they included the last year 66 Studebaker in a new car issue, the article heading was, *Doing everything but laying down". They even called the reintroduced 66 Avanti and the 66 Studebaker's as hybrid cars just because they did not produce all their own parts, but used some outside sources. Your also right that Studebaker intended to reintroduce the custom built Avanti's back into their dealer network. In fact, it had already started in late 65. I have a photo of the last exclusive Studebaker dealer here in Louisville, with a new Avanti II sitting next to new Studebaker's on the 66 showroom floor. The Avanti was still a Studebaker under the skin, still getting their chassis direct from the Canadian plant. Your yet again correct about the merging out of existence of the Studebaker name...except Studebaker Leasing. It is still is an existing business from the old Corporate days. And, the last Avanti's again carried the Studebaker name, circa 2006. Sad for the oldest transportation company in the world.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree and thanks for sharing =)

[@timbukh3]

I remember seeing the Avanti and many of the cars on this channel on the road. What I like about this channel is the close look at the dashboard layout and the over the hood view. I miss the cars where the entire hood was visible from the front seat. One of the best hoods to see was on my 1971 Ford Maverick Grabber. The Grabber package consisted of stripes down the sides ot the car, hood scoops, and sport lights in the grill. Mine was red and the only bad part was it had a six cylinder and a 3 speed manual transmission. I had planned to change that to a 302 and a four speed but did not get the chance. Maybe someday I might buy another one.

[@What.its.like.]

Maverick is definitely on the list of cars to try to do this year I’m a huge fan, thank you so much I’m glad you enjoyed this channel it means a lot to me that’s one of my favorite things to do is show the dashboard like it’s never been shown before.

[@zeon5323]

I had a 1964 round headlight R1 auto Avanti for about 30 years! Of all the cars I have had I miss the Avanti the most.

[@What.its.like.]

It’s never too late go find another one Facebook market place is a good place to start =)

[@bobmitchell1086]

I was in the 3rd grade when I saw my first Avanti on the street. It was love at first sight. This car was so radically different from every other car. I was hooked. I even bought an AMT model of the Avanti. It is my favorite car even to this day. What a shame. I was born too late. Now I can't buy one because of the price. I always remember my "firsts"; my first girl, my first dog, my first movie star crush (Natalie Wood), etc. That's the way I remember my "faves"...and I will love the Avanti until my dying day. BTW, the song is "The Flame" by Cheap Trick...also one of my "faves."

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome memories thank you so much fir sharing those

[@asteverino8569]

I remember loving this car when it was new and on the streets. I was too young to have a license but that didn't matter.

[@johnrandolph1539]

As a lifetime car buff (by age 7 I could identify any American car!) I love & appreciate your channel!! Keep up the great work...please!!!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much it means a lot really cool comparisons coming

[@tigre7739]

Very sleek and cool automotive design! 😎 This is one that I'm not sure that I've ever seen one in person, it's very memorable so I think I probably haven't, but it is one that I have always thought it was very unique and cool when I saw them in an ad or TV show possibly. I've been an auto enthusiast my entire life it seems, primarily from the design aspect, but I've always appreciated learning the mechanical specs of them as well. I think I can appreciate just about every American make and model, and a whole lot of foreign models as well. When I was growing up in the 70s, we had a '74 Opel Manta that was in our family, since it was new. In the early '80s, it was the first stick shift car that I learned to drive, and it actually became my first car. I drove it probably less than a year before it was finally traded away, but it was really a tight, sporty feeling little ride. I have some vintage commercials saved, that feature early 70's models Opels, sold by Buick of course. I really liked the look of the Opel GT, I wouldn't mind seeing one of those featured. My sister and brother-in-law had a '79 Fiat spider convertible, they purchased new and kept until the mid 80s, I had the opportunity to drive it on occasion, which was a great driving experience also. Fiat x19 was one of my dream cars at the time, that I would have really loved the chance to drive.

[@What.its.like.]

I want to do a opel on the channel here soon I’ve only seen one this year and the guy wasn’t around it was an opal GT that’s like a poor man’s Corvette stingray in my opinion.. Super cool car that’s another underrated company =)

[@tigre7739]

@@What.its.like. 😎 I agree they were much more affordable, they were well past their production days when I was old enough to drive , but I always thought I had a certain unique appeal. I definitely choose any '70s model vette over it of course, the '82 collectors edition 'vette has always been one of my absolute favorites! Not long after I was able to drive the new '84 came out, and that would have been a real dream car for me, at the time.

[@joanstehlik235]

I was running a radiator shop 85' and put a new radiator in a later bowtie powered Avanti. Def a cool ride.👍

[@c.d.porter9366]

I was envious of a guy who graduated one year ahead of me and his daddy bought a 63 Avanti with everything for a graduation gift. I got mine but not until I was in my 50's and it was used. Regrettably, I am selling it. Will miss it more than my ex!

[@What.its.like.]

Man that sucks.. that’s all I’ve been reading is people having to give up their cars for one reason or another.. good friend of mine has to sell his car because he is losing his Health insurance it just sucks I wish I could help him figure a way to keep the car.. just sucks

[@eddstarr2185]

I read in a history book about Studebaker that the Avanti suffered order cancellations in it's first year due to production delays caused by the extremely high rejection rate from the fiberglass body panels. It's frustrating for everyone involved to have a flagship car that many people want to buy, but no one could find a dealership with a single Avanti.

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah totally agree.. it’s kinda like that now with any new car ford maverick was supposed to be 19,995 for hybrid now double that price if you even find one

[@5610winston]

The bodies were initially built by the same shop that built Corvette bodies, but the high rejection rate was improved when Studebaker took over body production itself.

[@Radiowild]

I'm amazed that you were able to find a supercharged one. These are uber rare, and this is a really good one!

[@What.its.like.]

Car was super clean and the owner was really cool =)

[@5610winston]

Certainly not seen very often, about 20% of total calendar 1962-1963 production, about 900 or so from a total of 4643 Studebaker Avantis. . The supercharger ran off the double-pulley that would have driven the air conditioner, so you couldn't get A/C on a supercharged car.

[@garylangley4502]

I knew someone in the 1970's that bought a 1964 Studebaker Hawk. It definitely had an R4 engine, and the serial number confirmed that it was built that way. The serial number was 1004, or the 4th car off the line for the 1964 model year. It had a metallic red paint job that was very faded. When the car was washed, we could see that the paint under the repaint was a lighter red, and on each door was a white circle. He did some research, and found that this was one of the cars that Andy Granatelli took to Bonneville. He took the interior out to restore it, and he found where the roll cage was attached to the car. I wish that I knew where this car is today.

[@What.its.like.]

That’s a holy grail car. =) thank you so much for sharing

[@opera93]

Thanks, great stories.. any more , & other. Interestingly,I am from NOBLE/ KOSCIUSKO COUNTY areas: Studebaker is a great Part of Indiana.. We even had little Green Pick - Ups Trucks ( Rumour OF FACTORY CLOSINGS, at our GAME PRESERVE, STATE OF INDIANA, WORK , summer 1962,:etc. ALSO,a classmates Brother ( WOLF LAKE HS), had one of those 4:Speed , SUPER LARKS OF 1963? ..64… Anyways those Avanti,Hawk GT, SUPER Larks , etc were great….ALWAYS, RUMOURS OF FACTORY and** some Dealers ADDED,PARTS, UPGRADES TO some Vehicles…..

[@UncaDave]

Really appreciate the attention to detail on each vehicle you present. This was the first I ever heard of that monster engine they made. Wonder if it ever go put in any vehicles?

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you I means a lot =) I didn’t know about the r5 until a couple days ago.. I think they only made one I could be wrong could go 200+ miles per hour.. I wish they got the coverage they could have probably survived.. until the 70s lol

[@tomholley4725]

I had 5he privilege of driving one my friend had one and I done all the mechanical work on it loved it

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome how did it drive this is another car that just never got the press overshadowed by chevys finest the corvette...

[@tomholley4725]

It was pretty stable and handled like an early Camaro and excelarated similar to a Javalin

[@uox179]

Cars like this make me wish I restored cars, I love it so much.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@richardwarren7492]

These were and still are AWESOME cars! My Uncle had a R3. When I worked in the auto business we had someone trade one in for a 1987 Accord. I nearly bought it but someone beat me to it. Darn!

[@What.its.like.]

Wow.. just wow some things people trade for other things

[@StratKruzer]

Back in the day, Newman and Altman continued selling Studebaker parts.

[@josephcrafa2694]

You are correct in everything you say and I wonder if they didn’t get the recognition because only 9 R3 were sold . Just a FYI the 63 was the first car to have front disc brakes and everything inside was padded for safety and had a built in roll bar . Truly an amazing vehicle for the time . I believe it had a Dana rear and in 64 you could get up to a 5 something rear gears . I believe the 64 had a 3:31rear .

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that added information the first car to offer for wheel disc brakes was 1949 Crosley =) That’s fresh in my mind because I just did the episode yesterday with automotive industry firsts

[@josephcrafa2694]

@@What.its.like. yes that’s true to a point . In actuality the first car to have standard disc brakes on it was a Citroen . I’m talking about standard not optional and American .

[@josephcrafa2694]

@@What.its.like. thanks so much for bringing so many unusual cars to light .

[@What.its.like.]

I love the orphan cars and the cars that don’t often get talked about plan on trying to head and cover as many as possible because the Classic Car hobby is so much more than Mustang Camaro Firebird Corvette there are so many cool cars out there The ultimate goal is to keep all the information relevant and available for anybody that wants it.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

Good video on a great rare car. It's interesting to note that the Avanti was such a beautiful car, it was built in various forms for years. It's a shame that quality issues plagued the original upon release. (BTW, the picture you show when you mention the Ferrari Daytona is not a Ferrari Daytona.)

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that correction I’m not that well-versed in Ferraris if I’m honest I typed in the year of Ferrari I was looking for 365 Daytona and that’s what came up..

[@garyduncan450]

I still think that it is the most beautiful car ever built!!

[@vernanderson4358]

You are 💯 Per cent correct.!

[@21stcenturyozman20]

Congratulations on getting the pronunciation of Avanti right this time! 🙂

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

The Avanti does have a model kit. AMT/Round2 is bringing it back out again as a re-release possibly later this year. It also has parts to make the Avanti II with the rectangular headlights. Here's a link to an unboxing i made of the model a few years ago. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHy4oKFtrNahj9k

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you so much for sharing that link =)

[@davidpolott1250]

Song title Studebaker Hawk Rainbows, Pots Of Gold And Moonbeams by Steven Cooley. And song title Studebaker by songwriter David Liska.

[@What.its.like.]

Hahaha =)

[@georgekrem7057]

The Avanti's 178.5 mph speed at Bonneville was a one-way run, accomplished by a stock R3. It's two-way average was 171 mph. That very car is now in the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, IN. As a former Studebaker mechanic, I've inspected the car, and I've owned several R3s. The R5 (two superchargers) did 196 mph under poor salt conditions. Correction: According to a 1963 letter from Bill Dredge, Studebaker's PR man, the R2 was rated at 289 HP, not 290. I have a copy of that letter.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you for those corrections as well as insight =) 171 mph is still faster then the iso grifo and the Shelby 427 cobra and ties Lamborghini

[@opera93]

Thanks,I born, raised in NOBLE , & Kosciusko County;; lot of Studebaker use, & exposures… Interestingly,mfew here in MONTANA also…

[@edarcuri182]

Criticized early as a just a Lark in a gilded cage; the Avanti had considerable staying power in the market best demonstrated by the endurance of demand for the car. The tough hit this car took early on when production was slowed by difficulties with the fiberglass components weighed heavily in its initially slow debut. Unfortunately, many of the potential buyers were not inclined to wait and bought elsewhere. The Board of Directors had already decided to invest elsewhere and let their automotive interests end. Sherwood Egbert came to the company and wanted to breather new life into the automobile part of Studebaker's business. His ill health and early death ended that dream. Congratulations to Altman and Newman for keeping this beautiful car in production. The seats were modeled after seats from an Alfa Romeo owned by a Studebaker employee.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information thank you so much for taking the time to share it on here =)

[@williamjeffreys2980]

A guy in my town had one. I thought it was completely cool. Great look.

[@What.its.like.]

=)

[@rbprafcolman3438]

As a 9 yo the Avanti was the car in 63' I always had a thing for Studebaker especially with the Golden hawk. My buddy's dad had a 50' push me pull you bullet nose as a daily driver. Jay, if you run into a 63' Gran Prix I would like for you to do a review on it. Great looking and driving car.

[@What.its.like.]

I will look for a 63 grand free there’s also a couple other 63 cars that I wanna look for or early 60s cars like Oldsmobile F85

[@mikeweizer3149]

@@What.its.like. A car that's in the same category is a 1968-70 AMX by American Motors!!!!.

[@5610winston]

15:55 "...no rust body..." but watch out for the "hog trough" torque boxes in the frame, a labor-intensive fix when done right, and if the cross member at the rear rusts out, you'll be fabricating a new frame.

[@richroj]

Hi Justin, I would like to see featured on the channel a 1969 and a 1970 Torino GT because they were 2 cars that my father bought brand new when I was a kid. thanks👍

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome I’ll look for those thank you for those requests =)

[@glennso47]

Someone tried to bring back the Avanti sometime in the 1980s. It didn’t get anywhere though. Thanks for mentioning that.

[@What.its.like.]

I saw that they were producing the Avanti until 2006 that car is been revived more times than Duesenberg or stutz.. I left most of that story on the cutting room floor so to speak so if I ever hit a later Avani can talk about that

[@glennso47]

@@What.its.like. Thanks. I remember seeing an article in an old magazine or newspaper back in the day where someone was going to bring back the Avanti. But I never heard what came of the idea.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

I think Avanti was made off and on in South Bend and Auburn Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, Mexico for 40 more years using Chevy and Ford drivetrain/frames... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avanti_(car)

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you for sharing that information =)

[@danr1920]

They look better in person than photos.

[@glennso47]

Those two gauges look like they would be easier to see without distortion or glare if they don’t point straight ahead relative to the gauges in the center of the dashboard.

[@What.its.like.]

It was super interesting I never saw a gauge cluster like that it had almost wings that were pointing inward on the ends the clock was pointed one way in the vacuum pressure gauge was pointed another way

[@nygelmiller5293]

I think the reason why the Avanti didn't get more attention from the press, is because they weren't into the STYLE! It's a personal thing - but I've always been addicted, myself!

[@What.its.like.]

The style is an acquired taste but there have been worse looking cars

[@nygelmiller5293]

@@What.its.like. incidentally - which do you PREFER? America's Avanti, or England's JENSEN INTERCEPTOR? If you like one, you will probably like them BOTH, but in different ways!

[@What.its.like.]

Awe man that’s a though one the Jensen became or am I thinking of a different car Volvo p1800.. I honestly don’t know they are both cool

[@gvet47]

One of the first cars I got to drive as a 14 year old was my grandpa's Studebaker. That must have been a late 50s model but too long ago to remember. Alway thought some were well ahead in design. I know it had an overdrive so how many other cars did in that time.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

The avanti was made in 1 form or another until the mid 2000’s .. they were made on Monte Carlo chassis at one point, 4 door versions were made on a caprice chassis, they also were made on both a mustang and gm f body chassis..

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information thank you so much for sharing =)

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

@@What.its.like. also the very 1st 84 avanti convertible was featured in karate kid . It was Johnny’s car

[@hank41652]

This is just a guess but It stated in the snippet you showed " on a return run . . . ". Offical times are recorded as the everage in both directions. As far as I am aware, there is ususally just a few mph difference in top speed between directions but who knows, maybe to down stream run was slow. Sorry all, I had to edit this for grammar.

[@markw208]

Congratulations 🍾🎉🎈 on 8k subscribers

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you 10,000 subs going to do a video on sears homes remember those there are some in Pennsylvania weather they are the actual serious homes or another company built versions of the same floor plan either way you’re still really cool. Thank you I miss seeing you in the comment section hope all is well

[@leightonfarms4962]

Great car

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah it was super underrated

[@captaccordion]

I'm a Studebaker fan, but it must be said that the 170mph car was modified. At the very least it would have had a very tall rear axle ratio fitted, and the panel gaps taped over. I'd guess that from the showroom floor, even with the R3 motor, that 130mph might have been achievable. Studebaker's biggest problem for over a decade was insufficient development funds. So plenty of 1953 remained in the chassis and suspension right to the end. The motor too was very much 1951 - plentifully overengineered, with supercharging having always been envisaged, but that made it heavy. So with a heavy motor over the front wheels of an old chassis design, no Studebaker was particularly exceptional to drive. A word which would never be applied to any Stude V8 car would be nimble! Though some of course were fast. Again, I love 'em, but you've got to be realistic about them too.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for the correction. =) it would be really hard to test that now being that there was only nine made I don’t know if you made more than 64. But what you said makes total sense =)

[@automatedelectronics6062]

First, the Avanti used for the speed test wasn't an off the showroom floor car. It was modified and tuned by Andy Granatelli. Studebaker actually did manufacture the 1964 model, identified by the square headlight bezels. After Studebaker closed the plant in South Bend, the Avanti continued to be produced there for years afterward, by different owners. The 1964 Avantis used the same running gear as the previous ones until supply was exhausted. I believ that it was 1965 when the Avanti II stated using Chevy running gear, supposedly Corvette, with a Powerglide automatic. The only automatic available in a Corvette to the end of the C-2 was a Powerglide. There were many Studebaker bodies and chassis left over, so they used those up. When the chassis were all gone they switched to buying Chevy El Caminos, removing the bodies, modifying the frames and putting Avanti bodies on them. When the El Caminos stopped production, they next bought 2-door Chevy full-sized coupes. By this point, GM wouldn't sell them chassis or drivetrains so they had to buy new complete vehicles. This was one reason that the Chevy 305 V8 was used because that was the only engines available in the vehicles they bought. Unlike the parent company which continued to manufacture cars in Canada, those cars used all Chevy running gear, 194c.i. 6? or 283 V8. The automatics were Powerglides. Avanti's continued to be manufactured well into the 1980's(as seen on the TV show "Remington Steele"). They were available in different models, all with fiberglass bodies with no bumpers. There was a 4-door and a convertible model. The last new Avanti I ever remember seeing was a convertible based on a Camaro or Firebird, using Avanti-type front and rear sections grafted on.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for taking the time to add all of this additional information greatly appreciated =)

[@mgabrysSF]

335-400 is quite a bit of range.Pity we can't get better numbers to drill that gap down a bit. Was the 575 variant the orig or the Avanti II? Seems like an aftermarket mod given the size of the plant. I'm not even sure how the hell it fit in the compartment.

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

Good video J. I didn't know what happened to Studebaker after they closed car production in 1966 (In Canada). Wow! That R5 engine looks insane! - The wire wheels on there look nice! How did you get 8000 subs so fast? I must be missing something on my YT strategy. I hope you clicked that "monetization" button. - Keep up the good work!

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you just got to keep pushing trying to get to 10,000 by the end of next month it’s just a goal just to say it’s possible to get there in a year. If we don’t get there no big deal just would be cool. 10,000 sub video is going to be on sears homes which is a really cool off topic.

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

@@What.its.like. IDK...your audience is growing so fast and giving you those subs. Mine is so slow and I've been on YT for decades. Do I just suck or something? 🙄- sorry to be a bummer...but my performance on YT baffles me.

[@MonsterHobbiesModelCarGarage]

@@PS-js9oh It's all in how you get your videos out there. J gave me some good advice on Facebook messenger.

[@vernanderson4358]

Comment herein about notoriety if a GM label on the fender. Absolutely true. There would have been Hundreds of thousands sold. Reference the hemmings motor magazine classic cars. Hemmings noted the greatness of the 56-57 Studes. Stated clearly that if those Studes would have sported a GM fender badge they would have sold a million. Grew up in a 56 commander V8 and can personally attest to it's superiority over the same years Ford Chev and Plymouth. Experienced all of them and the Stude was far AHEAD of those big 3.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

The R3 was the 304 cubic inch version of the 289, and was an over the counter option..

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree =)

[@Valor_73737]

HOLD IT! The R-3 was a supercharged 304.5 CID engine! The supercharged 289 was designated the R-2! I know this because my first new car was a '63 Gran Turismo Hawk with a dealer swapped R-3. I didn't know until recently that it was the only Hawk in existence with an R-3! Owned it for 30 years, put over 240,000 miles on it! Still kicking myself for ever selling it.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for the correction information was spotty at best which sucks because this was the car that could have saved studebaker.. if only they had better management

[@Valor_73737]

@@What.its.like. Yeah! That Hawk was the best car I ever owned, and a superior road car. Long 120.5" wheelbase, low center of gravity, and the engine setting not directly between the front wheels, but just behind, made for terrific stability at any speed. Mine had 4 on the floor and turned about 2600 RPM at 80MPH, snooze cruise! At that speed, when properly tuned, it averaged about 22 MPG. It was perfectly capable of sustained 100MPH+. At 100MPH it turned about 3000 RPM. Peak Torque was 2800-4500 RPM. I don't recall what that was. In the '63 model year the entire Studebaker line was available with Avanti engine upgrades. The R-1 was the standard 289 with some performance enhancements such as cam, valve springs, and I have forgotten what else The R-2 was the same engine with a Paxton Supercharger! The R-3, as I mentioned, was a 304.5 with the supercharger. There was an R-4, as I recall it was the 304 with 4 - 2 barrel carbs, but I could be wrong. I have heard there was a R-5, but I have no idea what that was. In addition to the upgraded R series engines, the Avanti option package included beefed up suspension, front disc brakes, stabilizer bars front and rear. R-1 equipped cars came with a standard 140 MPH speedometer. R-2 and R-3s came with a 160 MPH speedometer. Any R equipped Studebaker was capable of pegging those gauges!

[@6193derek]

This car was ignored so greatly, that I personally always wondered why the Ford Mustang got the title of the first Pony car, yet this came out a year and a half earlier, and certainly meets the definition of what a pony car is. IMHO

[@denislandry7577]

Attaboy ! Well done !

[@What.its.like.]

=D

[@What.its.like.]

This is from a Facebook thread lots of added information Just a couple of comments. The Avanti was in no way or form a successor to the Hawk. Completely different vehicle. Yes -shared Studebaker technology but chassis design and body shape only started the variance. The info on the R3 needs clarification. True only 9 Avantis were factory produced for public sale. This does not include the Bonneville equipped units, nor the Avantis and sundry Studes retrofitted with R3's or R4's by Granatellis after the fact. Records are scarce but somewhere around 100-200 R3's and R4's were completed by the Granatellis . The records set by the Avanti and others Studes in 1963 included not just speed but also endurance records. The official speed record for the Avanti R3 in 1962( was a 299 cube engine) was 168.15 mph--1 mile. In 1963 same R3 ( now 304.5 cubes ) was 171+ mph- mile. The 178 mph one leg run is close to accurate, however some information cites it just touching 180 mph. The R5 engined Avanti was rated at 575 hp, but even Granatelli dynoed it closer to 638 hp. Subsequently it ran 196 mph at Bonneville but could not keep "traction" to achieve the potential 220 mph that it was estimated to run. WAY WAY ahead of ANYTHING domestic or foreign alike in that decade. Quite an achievement for a company with minuscule sales using an engine that was designed and built 14 years earlier. Try achieving these accomplishments with ANY Ford, GM or Chrysler engine produced in 1950! "Good luck" would be a moronic statement. It was not ignored as I have scores of articles from the automotive press in that era. However it was downplayed precisely because the Big 3 knew that Studebaker had them for lunch and they were quite simply embarrassed- albeit silently behind closed doors. If you think not?, then I suggest you know very little about big business in the USA then and now. This WAS "AMERICAS MOST ADVANCED AUTOMOBILE" and the big 3 knew it. Check out the cars that followed- with the wanna be Mustang and the plethora of wanna bees that flourished in the 64- 70 era. All basically Avantis only modified forms thereof. In 1968 Motor Trend tested all the "HOT" pony cars. Read for yourself- the best any of them could achieve was the Standard of performance already set by Studebaker and its Avanti, BUT 6 YEARS AHEAD of the big 3. And that is the R2 form Avanti. None of the wanna-bees ever saw anything but the taillights of an R3 Avanti including the vaunted hemi cuda 69-70. The Stude super car-the R3 Lark-1964 --0-60 in 5.5, 1/4 mile in 12.6-12.9 at 112-114 mph, top speed =150+ mph Now the 69-70 hemi cuda-- 1/4 mile 13.42@108 mph. Next the GTO RAM air 4--13.2@107 mph. (R3 was a giant slayer!) NO big 3 muscle car nor the vette duplicated the Avanti R3 in top end for a LONG time after 1963. Studebaker"s "S" still stands for superiority. Disc brakes, gorgeous body, safety and comfort features unheard of in a big 3 car for more that a decade after.

[@HarborLockRoad]

How the stude avanti got screwed, was that the fiberglass body maker did a botched job and it had to be done all over again, ( the windows even with rubber gaskets fell thru the holes!) It took time to straighten out the issues, and, by then, potential buyers had simply purchased corvettes.

[@What.its.like.]

I saw that there were production issues they couldn’t build the cars fast enough I’ll tell the whole story when we do the 66 Daytona

[@mattbalik2585]

Was this at the car show in Beaver PA, August 6?

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah it’s one of the best in the area in my opinion it’s better than the vintage Grand Prix

[@JosephNugent-ez9tl]

I loved mine--64 R2

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome =) we are going to cover one of those real soon friend of the channel just got one and I’ve been waiting until the leaves come back on the trees here will be able to get video of it running and driving and I can’t wait

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Jay, that song "fit" what the Avanti WAS! You know why the car didn't get "props". Studebaker wasn't even highly regarded as part of the #4 US automakers. For them to have a car that looked that good, fiberglass, with that hot 'arse" engine!!!! Oh! the punch bowl of HaterAIDE came out. Corvette had its fiberglass car a decade prior. Studebaker by comparison was older than most, even Ford. If only they could have gotten Howard Hughes interested in that company?

[@What.its.like.]

Yeah I thought that song fit pretty well.. it was between that song or operator by Jim croche because he died in a plane accident gone too soon I think he was my age 33

[@Colin.Smith.Pianist]

You should do a video on the Morris Minor :)

[@What.its.like.]

I will totally do a Morris minor I will add that to the list thank you so much for the request =)

[@JeffHogge-n1f]

You know I just love this car. I'd do anything to own It. (You wanna get married)? Ah, well... that's ok. But I like your guess about what the "R" stands for "RADICAL"! And YES... I did know it sits on a "LARK" frame. Studebaker could have used that to their advantage if they would have told the public that, instead of trying to hide it. Everybody trusted the"LARK" as a SAFE, STRONG, RESPECTABLE "FAMILY" car. Studebaker certainly drove that concept home by HIGHLIGHTING the "LARK" as Wilbur Post's car of choice on the 1963 TV show "Mr. ED". Every scene that opened up with Wilbur hunting his newspaper in his driveway, there was that Great -Big "LARK" parked right in front of the Double -Doors of that $5 million dollar house he and his wife "Carol" lived in... AND ED's BARN ("OF-COURSE")! (Get it)? Nah... Too LONG ago. (Listen to the Theme -Song). Well, If I was the advertising agent for "Mr. ED", I'd have an episode that opens up with Wilbur pulling up in that LARK. ED meets him with the suggestion that he buy himself a NEW car for his birthday, because driving around in that LARK makes him look like Carol's Grandfather. ED (OF COURSE) talks Wilbur into it. Next scene opens up with Wilbur drives up in front of those Double Doors of his $5 million dollar house with a Beautiful WHITE 1963 Avanti - R1. His wife Carol comes running out the front door (in her TIGHT stretch slacks), throws her arms around him and says: Ooo-Daddy Let's go find the ACTION! They both hop in the Avanti and the scene fades to black. Then.... Studebaker's Avanti sales goes jumps right off the charts and straight through the ceiling. Then, everyone lives happily ever after. (Included Studebaker).🎉 Well they missed their chance. Jeff

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing all that insight and information =)

[@JeffHogge-n1f]

@@What.its.like. My pleasure friend, but your song has me stumped. Jeff

[@tim_g3478]

One correction: you said they were only made in 1962 and 1963. Actually, 809 of them were sold in 1964. They are distinguished by the square headlight on 750 of them (different from the Avanti II square headlight)

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for that correction I really appreciate it it was confusing because I think the 62 is for the 63 model your 63 was for the 64 model year but could be wrong about that as well it was conflicting thank you for correcting that =)

[@elizabethcherry920]

The funny thing is the Avanti went on after 64 as the Avanti II and it came with various Chevrolet V8s

[@What.its.like.]

They went on for a long period of time I found out they produced Avanti until 2006 I’m not entirely sure how many Avantis were made total after studebaker closed Altman and Newman made 3,000 I think they ended up selling and then somebody else produce it for x amount of year or somebody else the company has been with five more times than Duesenberg Or stutz

[@charles1964]

Don't be too sad for Studebaker, they made a killing with STP Oil

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Studebaker didn’t go under. Studebaker stayed in business until 1980. They quit manufacturing cars in south bend in December of 63, they made Larks in Canada until 66.. they simply quit making vehicles.. they made gravely tractors, stp, Paxton superchargers, and several other things until they met their demise January of 1980

[@noneed4me2n7]

Always wanted to drive one as a classic mustang owner (65 coupe for a time, now 69 Fastback), as it had a 289 supercharged and a four speed. What more was there to be said.

[@What.its.like.]

Which one did you like better did you like the 65 coupe or the 69 fastback I had a 67 coupe and I loved mine Also important to point out studebaker came out with that 289 back in 1957 it’s a totally different animal than the Ford version

[@noneed4me2n7]

@@What.its.like. the 289 - 65 coupe was my second car and was special as my wife to be and I used to ride around in it and I taught her to drive a 4 speed classic. The 69 is turning out beautiful (check me out if you want to see it) but was originally my dads retirement project that we started on ages ago after the 240z we were restoring was totaled in a pileup. He passed over a year ago and I dove into it mainly because I could throw money at it. Though it was still work finding people willing to work on it. I’m a disabled vet and heavy car work is not my bag anymore. Still once it’s done it’ll be 100 times better than new and my old beat up 65 but I’ll always have a soft spot for the first year mustangs. Maybe one day I might get another. Edit: we were doing a 67 fastback 289 3 speed in the 80s when it was also totaled out parked on the street by a drunk driver. My dad for a time had bad luck with cars. He did complete a 70 coupe but had to sell it for divorce reasons.

[@What.its.like.]

Wow.. thank you so much for your service I’ll check it out if you have Facebook feel free to check out the page if you’d like can share on there as well =)

[@kapzkya6381]

1958 Packard Hawk made by Studebaker, have all the front end and the hood made with fiberglass...

[@What.its.like.]

Totally true but Avani is made Entirely out of fiberglass

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

You should do the fastest car of 1957, the Studebaker Golden Hawk..

[@What.its.like.]

I want to do a 57 Goldenhawk but I don’t think that was the fastest car in 57 I think the AMC rambler rebel was 0-60 7-7.5 seconds It’s the most underrated downplayed car of the 50s it was faster than anything especially the Corvette but nobody gave it any publicity because nothing could be faster than a Corvette NOTHING! =)

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

@@What.its.like. do your research.. you’ll find out it was.. it was also rated at 1 hp per cubic inch just as the corvette was, but with a simple pulley adjustment, the boost could be turned up and it made well over 300 hp.. studebaker advertised it as the 5 passenger family sports car.. anyone who owns a studebaker knows the performance history of these. Actually the 56 golden hawk with the packard v8 was also the fastest production vehicle of 56.. it beat the Hemi.. I’m friends with Arnie the farmer Beswick and in 58 when he first started racing Pontiacs the only car that beat him in his class of c gas was a 57 golden hawk.. your avanti video is good but has several untruths to it as well. You should contact the guys at the studebaker National museum in south bend. Their archives will tell you anything you’d ever want to know about studebaker, and all the products they made.. btw the studebaker electric cars had a range greater than today’s modern Tesla and reached speeds higher than 20mph.. unheard of at the time for a vehicle

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome information if you get the chance check this episode out it’s has some good points kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKasi6GQrsxgps0 I would love to do a this vs that 57 rambler rebel vs anything else but that car is and was rare

[@TropicTrdr]

Close on the seats but not MG. They were patterned after an employee's Alfa Romeo when the stylists were doing the interior.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you for that correction =)

[@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars]

I've often wondered about the cooling of the engine in these with only an under bumper grill.. but I guess it must have been adequate. As much as it was a landmark, a halo car is never going to save a company financially ,that was the task of the Lark ..perhaps the money should have been spent there.

[@What.its.like.]

I need to check out a lark I was never that big on them but they are growing on me =)

[@vernanderson4358]

Errors to note in presentation.( Not nit picking just clarifying) 1-12000 was production goal not 20000. 2 -R2 torque was 310-320 not 360. 3-pic of 178.5 car is that of the R5 experimental, not the R3. 3-R5 did 196-198 MPH but capable of 220 MPH. 4- R4 engine shown with wrong intake air cleaners. Ones shown are R2, not used on R4S. 5- 63-64 model production was 4643 units. 6 -nine R3'S sold to public. More units produced for testing and Bonneville runs. Perhaps over 100 R3'S Produced for after market. 7- ONLY USA car produced with disc brakes in the 1963-64 Era. ONLY USA car produced with built in roll bar. 8- TOO much more to Mention here.

[@gailmrutland6508]

*Meatloaf* Nice car.......

[@billolsen4360]

178 miles per hour? Never knew that.

[@What.its.like.]

With the R3 178.5 the thing that gets me it’s always been over shadowed by cars that are slower. Idk the avanti might have been the fastest car of the 60s… it’s sort of the amc rambler rebel of the 60s

[@dlrbsf]

There’s no MY 1962 Avanti. There are MY 1963 and MY 1964 Avantis.

[@davidhouse3683]

turn signal indicators look like MGB ones.

[@What.its.like.]

Now that you mention it they do

[@davidhouse3683]

I have an MGB

[@What.its.like.]

What year how do you like it

[@davidhouse3683]

@@What.its.like. 1972 Roadster. Love it as weekend toy..if not working the weekend. Parts availability excellent, easy as a tractor to work on.

[@jimhernandez3563]

I don't think DUAL superchargers were offered on the road going versions of the Avanti. Granatelli drove one that was race-prepped... it didn't qualify for the "list".

[@What.its.like.]

That was the R5 they only made one

[@waltergolston6187]

steady breaker was always ahead

[@davidhouse3683]

Read the rear glass could pop out at speed.

[@What.its.like.]

I didn’t know that thank you for sharing that information =)

[@davidhouse3683]

@@What.its.like. I am an automotive history encyclopedia.

[@What.its.like.]

That’s awesome =)

[@michaelcallahan5358]

So sad that studebaker was’nt given credit for their achievements.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree they were a great company

[@jamesstuart3346]

Well slow down a bit...the Salt Flats car shown was a specially-prepared vehicle in no way available in a showroom. You can't compare it with the stock models of other cars

[@What.its.like.]

My knowledge you could buy an R3 and that’s the one that broke all the record the one that they hopped up for the R5 as well as the R4 were experimental engines 178.5 miles per hour was in the R3. Studebaker got screwed and are still getting screwed frankly

[@iamrico2099]

How much?

[@What.its.like.]

It wasn’t for sale

[@lkmsl]

A lincoln from the 50s , 60s, or 70s. Please . Thanks

[@What.its.like.]

There are Lincolns coming I met a really cool guy a couple weeks ago I just have to get time the next two weeks is gonna be really hard I got a lot going on but I’m gonna really try =)

[@tedlawrence4189]

The supercharged model was one of the fastest us cars of 1963. Fuelie Vette was faster. Might be a couple of others.

[@What.its.like.]

The fuelie Corvette really isn’t all that great.. 1962 Plymouth Savoy max wedge 413 willeat a Corvette stingray for breakfast lunch and dinner.. I would love to put those two up against each other I have access to a fuel injection stingray I don’t have access to an Avanti..

[@tedlawrence4189]

I forgot about the 413's. The Avanti was not meant to compete with Corvette.It was a personal luxury coupe. Most had 289 4bbl. Auto. Trans. The 413 had much more power than the fuelie 327. The Corvette was quite a bit lighter. My guess is: about equal 0-60, 413 faster quater mile and higher top end. Corvette superior in handling. Also more expensive.

[@What.its.like.]

The 413 We did a comparison video of the fuelie vs 413 just like The Beach Boys song shut down the 413 is 5 seconds faster in the quarter mile for about half the money.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKHZnoeLh92ad8k

[@bcn4138]

PLEASE PUT THE SALES FIGURES,,,,,FOR A REAL CAR LOVER YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY ACTUALLY SOLD,,,,THANK YOU

[@What.its.like.]

I usually do.. information wasn’t there for this truck could be customized different ways different beds etc

[@leewilliams2094]

The reason the Avanti is not on the list of fastest cars of 1963 is the Studebaker Avanti that ran 178 at Bonneville was not a stock car it was highly modified by Andy granatelli with twin superchargers. The top speed of a stock supercharged Avante was claimed to be 147 by Studebaker.

[@What.its.like.]

I read the R3 could go that speed unmodified.. they made nine but same goes true for the 427 cobra only a hand full of 427 cobras were made but it still made the list

[@dcsapporo]

Chrysler crown imperial 64

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome request I’ll look for one =)

[@wendellworth353]

I'll tell you what the "R" stood for. It stands for "Rubbish".