John Poulos wrote in message: > It's for the wipers, a vacuum pump on the fuel pump. ----------------- Yes JP, but I believe it was an option just like a heater was an option. Vac Boost was strongly recommended in wet and hilly climates. I remember when my Dad bought his Champ in early 50 from Owens Studebaker - 113th & Halsted on the Far South Side of Chicago - Mr. Owens strongly recommended them to the point that he said he would not sell a car without the Vac Boost for the wipers. Said they were a really cheap safety item. Dad fumed about this at the dinner table for a week. I was almost 10 and already a car nut. I finally got up enough guts later in the week to tell Dad that Mom's 48 Commander had the vac boost wipers which he liked. The next Saturday we went to Owen's and he ordered a dark green Champ with Vac Boost Wipers, OD, Heater, Radio, Bumper Guards and I think those side Stone Guards for the front edge of the rear fenders and another chrome guard for the gas tank filler area. She was one sharp looking buggy! (I tried but could not talk him into the propeller for the nose which I thought was neat, but he didn't.) Isn't it funny what you remember when your born with the car nut gene. I haven't thought about the three days of "Vac Boost wipers dinner conversations" for 50 years! Thanks for the memory refresh. Ken Matson =================== Avanti Prototypes June 2003 Hi Robert, (get a cup of coffee - this is long and perhaps boring) My name is Jack Heidel and I frequently lurk around here without much of interest to add, so I usually remain quiet. Regarding this subject, however, I may be able to contribute some information that will perhaps pose more questions than answers. In 1986, I was employed as a pilot for Piedmont Airlines and at that time we had layovers in South Bend. One layover was especially nice in that it was a very long layover and we stayed at the Marriott located near the Century Center. In those days, the Studebaker Museum had a very nice display there and I and my crew toured it several times. I had been flying frequently with a very nice Flight Attandent by the name of Pam Tomlinson (? I think) . We were a Charlotte, N.C. based crew but Pam lived in SBN and she knew of my interest in the Avanti. She told me that the next time that I had a long SBN layover to give her advance notice and she would arrange a tour of the factory. The prearranged date arrived and there began my biggest Studebaker adventure since high school. (another story) Pam picked me up at the hotel in her new Caddy and we first went to the Museum which at that time seemed more of a storage facility than a museum with organized displays. It was being tended by an elderly gentleman who was a volunteer and had been a Stude employee. Next stop was a brunch or early lunch at Tipecanoe Place. I was impressed with the food and with Clem's house and have since returned several times. When we came out, there was a new Red '87 Avanti in the parking lot. It was one of the first built on the Monte Carlo chasis and didn't fit quite right. The rear wheel was too close to the leading edge of the rear wheel well. Next stop was the Avanti Factory where we went directly to the reception area which also seemed to be a display area. There I first saw the prototypes that you ask about. One was black and the other was a light color (cream or gold - it's been a long time) The light colored one was a three door car. I understand that it was common practice to build 3 door prototypes to save time and money. Of course, from one side it would show what a two door would look like and demonstrate the look of a four door from the other side. I didn't know it at that time, but Avanti Motors was just emerging from the Blake bankruptcy. This was spring or summer of 1986 I think. I could check my log book to varify that. They were working on several unfinished '85's in the assembly process ??? I didn't understand what I was seeing at the time, but several of the cars there were '85's. Why is that?? In studying the photos that I took there that day, it is plain that I was looking at '85 cars and not '87's. There were also several older Avantis there being repaired and reconditioned. The gentleman giving us the tour was very vague about the companies future plans and didn't seem to be forthcoming with information on the new cars. Perhaps he just didn't know the information I was seeking. To answer a question as to the status of the Studebaker Factory buildings, those (Avanti Factory) were torn down in the mid '90's. Avanti motors occupied Studebaker buildings 33, 34, & 35. They were built n the 1890's and were 4 story brick. The show room and reception area was in an attached 1 story building that was built about 1945 and this was building 108. These dates may not be exact but they're close. My wife and I toured the Avanti Factory in Youngstown, Ohio in August of 1989. I didn't see the prototypes there and wondered what happened to them. Fast forward now to 1994 or '95. We were at a swap meet and car show in Shelbyville, Tennessee. While driving our '83 Avanti downtown, we came upon a building that had STUDEBAKER RESTORATIONS written on it. While we were looking through the front window at a Lark undergoing repair, a young gentleman came up to us (my wife and I) and said, "I was just admiring your nice Avanti. I think that I can show you something that will interest you." We followed him into an old wooden warehouse that was near the Restoration building. By the way, we learned that the restortion building had been an old Ford Dealership. We entered this warehouse and among the many cars stored there - behold THERE WAS THE THREE DOOR AVANTI PROTOTYPE that I had last seen in SBN in '86. WHY HERE??? There were several other Avantis, at least one G. T. Hawk and maybe a bullet nose along with several brand X's there all dirty and covered with pigeon s--t. Upon being queried about all this, the young man said they were going to start an Avanti Museum. Why would you have an Avanti Museum in Shelbyville, Tn. of all places I asked. I never got a definative answer to that but it seemed that the young man was employed by? or partners with ? an older gentleman who was backing the project. The older guy was a car nut and the investor. He was in Minn., Wisc., Ill.??? Man, all those northern states just run together in my little southern head. I just don't remember that part now - it's been a long time ago . What I do remember is that one of the AVANTI PROTOTYPES was in that warehouse that day. I remember hoping that it had a better fate than to remain here covered with dust and bird droppings. When I first saw this thread, I varified my memory with my wife. She shares the same memory - or is equally demented. I have since been back to that warehouse and there are no cars of any type located there. Now that I have completely confused the prototype issue, maybe someone else out there has seen them since I. As I said, this transpired in the mid 90's. Jack (jack767@highland.net (jack767)) ----------------- I had an old high school buddy who worked at Avanti from '88 to '90 in Youngstown. He took me on an unofficial plant tour somewhere in that time period, on a Saturday and both the black and "Avanti Gold"-like prototypes mentioned were in their collection at the plant, along with other Brand X old cars. I have Polaroid photos of them somewhere in my house. Bill Pressler Kent, OH '63 Daytona Skytop R1 ======================================================= June2003 BTW..off topic..but interesting. In Jacksonville, Texas there was a dealership that was Plymouth on one side, and Packard on the other half. There was some sort of legal mess (I don't remember what the details were) in 1950..and the place closed..but for some odd legal reason (my dad told me what the deal was but I don't remember) the property including the cars just stayed there through the 60's and 70's. We would stop and look at them..3 brand new 1950 Packards (4-door Clippers) and three new Plymouth 4-doors..just sitting in the sun and rain and rotting for 25 years..0 miles on them. One day in 1977 or thereabouts we drove through Jacksonville and the place was cleaned out. We never heard what happened. ======================================================= June 2003 There's a motel on the main drag in Santa Fe that has almost two dozen Studebakers and Packabakers lounging under tarps out front and in the yard behind. Hawks, Presidents, wagons, etc. I've driven through there for years and they always seem to have a couple more when I drop by. None seem to leave, however. Steve Brown 1955 Packard Panama Super Clipper ======================================================== As a kid I always went with my dad when he went for an oil change at Sheenan Zary motors in New Rochelle NY. He was a salesman and he would get an oil change every month. They always had tire protectors under each tire to protect the linoleum floor, and they always had a piece of fresh carpeting under the engine area. The carpeting would soak up any oil leaks and was not very visible. Out in the back of the building they had a stack of carpet cuttings that they got from a carpet store own the block. When it was time to lube the steering I always was the "pilot" who would sit in the car and ride the lift, and the mechanics would tell me to turn the wheels in neach direction, and a brake job was real fun. I would be up there for half a day while they fiddled withthe brakes and thenit would come time for me to step on the brakes to see if they worked right. Great memories. BBG ========================================================= DON RETSON CanWest News Service Tuesday, November 30, 2004 CREDIT: RICK MACWILLIAM, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE Curtis Lagasse owns five Studebakers, which include (front to back): '63 Lark Daytona (maroon), '66 Lark (light green) and a '53 Champion (white). Not shown are his '55 Commander and '66 Cruiser. Curtis Lagasse remembers Dec. 21, 1963 - the day the last U.S.-built Studebaker rolled off the assembly line in South Bend, Ind., - with a sense of sadness and historic loss. Although the independent car manufacturer continued to churn out cars for a few years after that at its Hamilton plant, that date in 1963 stands out as a dark day for Studebaker lovers such as Lagasse. He's always carried a torch for the Studebakers - a love affair that sizzles to this day. "People who own the cars are quite dedicated to them," said Lagasse, vice-president and a founding member of the Edmonton chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club. "Dedication" is an understatement when used to describe your average Studebaker owner. The fact it's been more than 35 years since production ceased means Studebaker owners take a back seat to no one in the way they baby their beloved antiques. That dedication is perhaps best reflected in the feisty club motto: "We'd rather fix than switch." The parent international club came up with the motto in 1970, when the car manufacturer had been out of business only a few years and replacement parts were still readily available. It's much tougher now to keep the cars running, but that just makes for a very tight- knit club. At club meetings, normally held each month, anecdotes are swapped about the ease or difficulty of hunting down certain replacement parts. "A lot of the members really want to keep the heritage of the cars alive," said Ted Dirksen, the owner of two Studebakers - a 1963 Gran Turismo Hawk and a 1966 Daytona. The latter, a sports sedan, was one of the last cars produced by the automaker. "Some of us consider them basically travelling museums," said Dirksen, who serves as the Edmonton club's director of activities and is the international club's Alberta manager. "We go to car shows and we educate the public. There are many people born after '66 (who) really don't know what a Studebaker is. My wife and I spend most of the summer at car shows or tours with the car, and a lot of that is talking to people about the make." Lagasse wasn't quite 17 when he bought his first Studebaker, a 1966 V-8 station wagon. He now drives a modified 1953 Studebaker coupe, but he still has the station wagon at his farm. "It's all worn out," he said ruefully. He'd still rather fix it than switch, though. Edmonton Journal © The Gazette (Montreal) 2004 =================