Vehicle Description Up for auction is a 1964 STUDEBAKER AVANTI, not running and in need of a good home. It is a R1, with the Studebaker Avanti 289 cu. in. engine, automatic transmission, PS, PB and A/C. Background We purchased this Avanti in 1999 with the expectation of performing minor restoration and using it as a local driver and for the kids to drive to highschool, etc. As an old Corvette buff, I thought this car, with its fiberglass body and unique sound, would provide an opportunity to recapture some of the old days, but with more than two seats. Not so, my oldest daughter didn't like it... it was too old. After driving it around for a month or two (it really got the looks around the neighborhood), we got her another vehicle and decided to sell this one. It was always hard starting after sitting for three or four days. So, we rebuilt the carburetor and then it wouldn't start at all. We had it transported to our neighbors automotive shop and after much consternation, it was determined that because the rebuilt carb didn't leak fuel any more, the engine didn't build up enough compression to start. The mechanic found that it had low compression and a rod knock. After driving it home, we turned it off and it hasn't been started since. That was around October of 1999. In the summer of 2002, my younger daughter took an interest in the Avanti and wanted to restore it as a father/daughter project. We drained the oil, water and a/c coolant, took off some basic engine parts like the air cleaner, ignition shielding, fan, generator, etc. all in preparation to pull the engine. Unfortunately, her interest and my time didn't last long. She got a boy friend and a part-time job, and the car sat in the garage for another two years before I needed the garage space. Its been rotating between outside and the garage; and, needs a new home and someone to take an interest in her. I don’t know much about the history of this Avanti prior to our purchase. We bought it from a collector of sorts up in Thousand Oaks, near Los Angeles, CA. Reportedly, he hadn’t had the car long, having purchased it in Palm Springs, where he found it with a for sale sign stuck in the window. General Condition The car seems to be in fair to good condition; and, appears to be fairly complete and un-molested, except for the following: 1. The wheels are not the original - it has True Spoke wire wheels that have some rust on them, with old but fairly good tires. A full size spare is in the trunk, spare tire compartment, and the tire may be on an original rim... I don’t know. (The jack and related tools appear to be missing.) 2. The body color was originally Avanti red, but was painted over at some point in black. 3. The interior dash board (which is in poor condition and needs to be replaced) and the center console are believed to have been originally red; but were dyed a black color (see photos). 4. The radio does not appear to be the original, as it has a cassette tape player integral with the radio (see photos). Other Items of Note include: 5. The interior seats, door panels, back deck, and head liner are white or light beige, and appear to be original. They are in fair to good condition considering the car’s age. The carpet is black. The front seats have Studebaker seat belts, which look to be original. 6. The odometer reads 75,285 miles, but this is not the actual mileage, as the odometer does not work. Given the condition of the car, I don't think the actual miles are too many more... but I don't know. 7. The fiberglass body is in good condition and does not appear to have ever been wrecked or damaged. I have not found evidence of any fiberglass repairs. There are a few areas evidencing stress cracks at the front of the hood/headlight area, near the fenders/windshield area, and a few other places around the car, as is common on older fiberglass bodies. 9. When we purchased the car, the previous owner indicated the car had new brakes, installed a new battery, and installed a new exhaust system. I never checked the brakes, but the car always seem to stop well. That said, the brakes will probably need to be serviced at least, as it has been sitting for 6 years. 10. NOTE... The engine does not run, and the air-cleaner, fan, electric ignition shielding, generator, have been taken off the car. However, all these parts are in fair to good shape and will come in a box with the car. The oil, A/C refrigerant, and cooling water were drained from the car in 2002. The carburetor was rebuilt back in 1999, but will likely need rebuilding again, as the car has not run since that time. My mechanic reported the car had low compression and a rod knock, so we did not run it after that. It seemed like a better idea to rebuilding the engine, before it became broken. 11. The window glass is in very good condition. The stainless steel trim is in good condition. The bumpers are in good, original condition with the exception of the right front bumper section which is evidencing some chrome cracking and peeling. (See photos) 12. When we last drove the car, back in 1999, it seemed to handle, shift, and generally run well. As best I can recall, all the gauges worked with the exception of the odometer and the clock. I think the A/C worked; however, the heater did not (the fan worked). The water hoses to the heating coil had been disconnected and by-passed at the water pump, suggesting the heater hoses leaked or the heat exchanger leaked. We never explored this. After the engine is rebuilt, and with some TLC, this car could be a neat little driver. It would make a great restoration project, as it appears fairly complete and unmolested. This vehicle is somewhat rare for a 1964 Avanti. Reportedly, there were only 54, 1964 Avantis made with the round headlights (common to the 1963 models), as most of the 64s had square headlight bezels. This car is believed to be one of those 54 cars with round headlights. (See: http://www.theavanti.com/Production.html) This is all I know about this car. There are a few small parts that come with it, including a new odometer cable, a repair manual, and a copy of a video tape of the history of the Avanti (if I can find it). Please e-mail me with any questions you may have, and I'll try to answer or give you my best guess. If you want a particular picture of something, e-mail me and I’ll try to take a digital photo and e-mail back to you.