Regarding the dealer Simonson-Schactmeyer, they were a large and very old dealer that
 started selling Packards back in the 1920's or early 30's. Because of their prime
 location in Santa Monica they catered to the rich and famous. I believe they sold
 more new Avantis than any other dealer. Another interesting connection is that they
 were in close proximity to Andy Granatelli's place of business and the local speed
 freaks could buy their Studebakers at S&S and go down the street and pick up all the
 speed equipment that they could afford.

Long time SDC and ASC member Darrell Dye (1938-1998) worked at S&S for many years
 specializing in service work on the Avanti and other high performance cars before
 moving on to focus on the Mercedes. I know he serviced actress Greer Garson's (1904-
1996) Avanti. She did not purchase it there but at another high volume Avanti dealer,
 Snuffy Smith Motors in Dallas, Texas. It was Avanti #5576 and I think it has survived.
 Darrell told me she invited him to her desert villa in Arizona many years later and 
offered to sell him the car, though he passed on the deal.


Richard Quinn
SDC Forum #8576   Oct 2004