R1 is a four barrel carb with high compression and hot cam, r2 supercharger, r3 a higher output supercharger (almost none of these made). there may have been an r4 with two four barrels....not sure.

We had a 1976 Avanti II in our family for several years. They were powered over the course of their post-Studebaker years by small block Chevy's of various displacements. I think that ours was a 400.

I think there was a redesign in the 80's. It might have been then or in the 90's that a Ford 5.0 was used. I could be wrong though. I think there were 3 to 5 other owners.

EDIT: Here's the Wiki account: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avanti_(car)
Seems the Ford power was basically a prototype or only 1 of production.

The Institute of Texan Culture has a Studebaker wagon on display. I tried to find a photo of just the wagon but was unable to.

I remember seeing this wagon years ago and the word Studebaker was painted across the front axle in a rather old west script. I was told this was a true example and not a reproduction that was discovered in Texas and put on display during the 1968 Hemisfair.

I always had a soft-spot for the Larks - the early sedans with the Mercedes-like grill, and the Wagonaire with the roof that slid open over the cargo-bay to accomodate tall objects.

Happy Motoring, Mark

The beer wagon that appears with the Clydesdales was built by Studebaker. There is a model of it displayed in the wonderful restaurant that is located in one of the Studebaker family's mansions.

I want a Lark convertible with the flathead six and three on the tree. Had a buddy who had one in the seventies until a drunk old lady in a Caddy took it out.

Studebaker is a not so common of a surname. German extraction originally?

There were a few car companies that left the automotive field and produced other consumer goods. Their brand names as cars are almost lost to posterity today but the companies still exist.

Unfortunatly Studebaker like so many others was not one of them. We had a local long standing company actually dominate in a field fold. The firm was totally family owned till the end.

The generations later family owners managed to get a large loan and collapsed the company on purpose. As far as I know they managed to keep the large loan for themselves or the bulk of it. They had bled the company for many of the preceding years as well.. Other than the owners greed it would have still been running today. It was a good company producing sound products. Even if there had been little effort to upgrade the production equipment for far too long.

Yes, they were German americans.

This thread finally got to ask my seventy something Church friend about this Studebaker he had mentioned a few times. He gave it to a friend Eric and when I was down at Eric's home, asked about it. Now after my conversation, I think he regrets his decision, and I am sad I didn't know what I was looking for. For some reason I thought I was looking for an inverted bathtub, partly because Moe said it was black. So on the ride home from Church, I asked. She is a 1958 Studebaker President hardtop coupe. He said it was rare, looked up the number... :eek: So now I am thinking I did see it, and trying to work up the courage to tell him. I am thinking since we are Mennonite, he did paint and body including custom, thinking if it, might also have had some shaving. But then, don't have a picture in my head, as wasn't looking at the vehicles crammed in the Quonset, but in and out of the restroom.

I wouldn't want a two door and don't need another project, :rolleyes: but maybe should find out what is what. Just get her running and back on the road. So, how tough are these engines? I now know to soak the rings. Oma's Chevrolet 283 put up a good fight, especially that four barrel with all its passages getting gummed. Smokes bad and could kill yourself in a few minutes with the garage doors open; light grey brown with a tinge of blue. I can taste the unburned gasoline. If this is how sitting engines act, not sure want to deal with it again.

How is basic parts availability?

Just something about her has got me thinking... :rolleyes: Looks for sure! So excessive, but the front is so beautiful, especially the wrap around grill.

You mean the Busch wagon is an original? That's great. I never thought about it before. It looks magnificent, but I never thought of it being original.

If you are asking about parts availability for a 283, you can get whatever you want and they are super easy to rebuild. I expect that even the Studebaker built engins are easy to find rebuild parts for, just not as economically.

If you can get your hands on that '58, my advice is to take it..keep her alive. I dont think many people have the opportunity to own one of these that you do.

I believe so.

It is true. the stude engines are pretty expensive to rebuild but are built to last with high quality materials and steel crank. Gear driven cams too. They're also very heavy....only outweighed by the 331 hemi, the Packard v8 and the international v8.