moparnut
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1963 Studebaker Avanti - $25,000 - Enola, PA - 1963 Studebaker Avanti, Real Studebaker Avanti R2 (may be R3 see below), 1963 Last inspected Nov2010 and registered Sept2011. One of about 3834 total made by Studebaker in 1963, this one is one of the later ones at #3329. Garaged, unrestored but new interior and dash, all knobs and parts, stude seatbelts. Reliable, starts and runs everytime! Speedo shows 42,573 but unverified. Front bumper needs re-chromed. Wire wheels not original stock, stock steering wheel needs restored, original radio doesn't work but included, everything else ready for concourse restoration. Losing garage, must sell, Best Offer!Sent Date: Sep-13-12 13:26:28 PDT Dear harbin765,
I'm not disputing what you believe, but... R1 and R2 engines were painted black, not red like that car shows. The red engine was for the R3 engine which is quite rare. That engine also has an R3 carburetor enclosure box rather than the R2 carburetor bonnet.
If that is a genuine R3 engine, it should have a total of five oil breather caps...two on each valve cover and one on a pipe from the oil pan on the passenger side of the engine. The engine number would be the best way to find out...
Don't be surprised of other Avanti owners contact you about the same thing.
- double-b-ranch
Dear double-b-ranch,
Interesting. I was told that the guy I bought it from had engine work done. He said "he liked the cast pistons better and put them back in..." I didn't give it much thought at the time as it works fine. The bonnet clearly says R-3, but I thought that R3's required two superchargers. Again the seller said he had the supercharger rebuilt professionally. Said it was a Paxton.
The engine number is #RS1097 stamped in the front corner of the drivers side. The casting number (passenger front corner) is #1554841. I'll add photo's of each.
The valve covers each have one breather, but the oil pan breather pipe does connect to the supercharger intake.
Thanks for the info. As you can see I'm just one who loves the design!
Harrison
The concept for the '63 Studebaker Avanti was conceived by Sherwood Egbert, the president of Studebaker, who took over the company in February of 1961. He felt that an exciting and daring line of cars would help Studebaker's struggling automotive division. What the dynamic Studebaker president wanted was a sports car or powerful 'Grand touring car that was futuristic'. Something to really catch the public's attention. He hired a famous industrial designer of the day, Raymond Loewy, who assembled a styling team in his Palm Springs home.
The Avanti V-8 produced 240 horsepower from its 289 cubic inches in the stock R-l engine. For a few dollars more this one has the R-2 option with a Paxton supercharger on the V-8 putting the Avanti in the same performance league as fuel injected Corvettes and the sleek Jaguar XKE sports cars. However, the engine is red, and the Bonnet casting is R3!
Avanti stock cars broke records at Bonneville both In '62 and '63. The Avanti enhances it's sporting image with a set of throaty dual exhausts and the natural "rake" it had when viewed from the side, sitting nose down and tail high. The sleek body set on a solid separate frame. It was the first American four passenger car to have front disc brakes as standard equipment so it could stop as well as it could go. The doors featured "cone" locks and the fuel tank was tucked up between the back seat and trunk wall. A lot of original thinking went into the Avanti making it a unique and beautiful American car.
Initial response to the Avanti was strong and preproduction orders poured in. The Avanti established numerous speed records and won the praise of the automotive community. But, while Studebaker as a company prospered, the automotive division was doing poorly. Avanti sales were hindered by production problems and orders were canceled by impatient buyers. Studebaker decided to end the production of all automobiles in the United States in 1964.
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