Bob's Studebaker Resource Website
1963 Studebaker Avanti R-5643
The last Studebaker Avanti built in South Bend
On December 9, 1963, the Studebaker Corporation announced the cessation of automobile production in the United States.
The last Studebaker assembled was an R3 Avanti, serial 64R5643 on 12/31/63.
R5643 is an original R3. The order was written on 10-7-63 and the final assembly date was between 12/26/63 and 12/31/63.
R5643 was built with manual steering and the quick steering ratio.
It is in the Crawford Museum in Cleveland, OH, and has less than 10K miles. It was donated by former Studebaker dealer Joe Erdelac (now deceased). In 1975 he tried to sell the car for $100K (!), which made Cleveland TV and newspapers. There was a handwritten note in the trunk of the car that said something like "This is the last Studebaker Avanti built, 12/31/63, Happy New Year" and was signed by an employee with his badge number as well.
Mar 2005
"The Illustrated Studebaker Buyer's Guide" lists R5642 & R5643 as the "final production Avantis". These were two of the nine R3's made. They actually repeat that R5643 was the last car, three times!
The guide also says that there were at least five engineering prototypes, Ex2942 and EX2944 to EX2947. Those last four were given serial #'s R5650 to R5653.
So, as many as ten more cars may have been put together after production.
Issue 11, Spring '99, of "Jet Thrust News", says R5643 was in the Crawford Museum, Cleveland, Ohio. It had 6500 miles, and was all original. It was Joe Erdelac's car, white with black interior and auto trans, originally delivered to a dealer (Erdelac) in Jackson, MS.
Mike M.