1954 Studebaker coupe - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 06-29-2021, 07:12 PM

The company was in a free fall at the time economically, losing millions each year. The Lark sold well and helped them go a few more years. The 53s were very complex to build and nobody wanted to go down that road economically. Besides copying a car that did not really do that well in the marketplace compared to the big 3 probably did not seem like a good idea.

Idle · #17 07-06-2021, 05:46 PM

Packard sold a version called the Packard Golden Hawk. But by that time Packard and Studerbaker had merged so I don't think that really counts as another car company using the styling.

There were, at the time, still stand along Packard dealers.

Before Packard got it's own version the Studerbaker Hawk was using the Packard engine, so it was nothing more than applying different badges after assembly. That and various trim.

t walgamuth · #18 07-06-2021, 05:56 PM

yes.

The Packard hawk was a bit unlovable in its styling. Also had an engine up front that weighed as much as a four cylinder cummins. It was also four inches or so longer than the stude engine and they pushed it forward to avoid cutting the firewall. Very nose heavy. It would go fast in a straight line though

t walgamuth · #19 07-14-2021, 09:51 PM

I've been gathering my thoughts and some parts. First thing is to get it running and stopping. There is something wrong in the fuel system....possibly the needle valve in the carb. I plan to put on an electric fuel pump, a four barrel carb and manifold, and expand the exhaust system for free flow....and possibly a lightweight flywheel and a more aggressive cam.

Routine maintenance... attend some leaks...rear main and transmission probably. And go through the brake cylinders and E brake cable. Change oil and filter.

cmac2012 · #20 07-15-2021, 12:01 PM

I saw a cherry looking Avanti on the street yesterday. Just now did a web search and I see there’s a good chance it was not an original Studebaker.

There were a few in my hometown Roswell when I was a kid. We all thought they were quite the thing. Search also indicates it was the fastest production car in the world at the time, the model with the supercharged 289 anyway.

t walgamuth · #21 07-16-2021, 08:26 AM

I don't know how to tell if it is a avanti 2.

Yeah, they ran one at Bonneville 177 mph I believe...the Granatellis. At the time I had no thoughts but now I suspect the cars were a bit better than stock, but they did the times.

The Bodies were relatively narrow and the rear end was shaped well. With the nose lowered down and the tail up it would really skedaddle at Bonneville! They did some pretty sophisticated things...little vents to allow high pressures out from inside the car etc.

Mxfrank · #22 07-16-2021, 07:32 PM

The continuation Avantis have square headlight surrounds, the originals were round. They mostly all look good, because the bodies are fiberglass. But watch for the steel "hog trough" sills.

I interviewed Orval Selders years ago. He was a Loewy designer who worked on these cars. I'll try to find my notes, lost in 20 or 30 years of accumulation.

t walgamuth · #23 07-17-2021, 11:03 PM

I like the original round lights.

t walgamuth · #24 08-02-2021, 10:48 AM

If I had a square light Avanti I would want to convert it to round. I doubt it would hurt the value. The Granetelli Avantis were round headlights. The Bonneville records were the high point of Avantis, imho.

I saw an Avanti 2 at a car show over the weekend. Lovely shade of blue which seemed to have a smidge of green in it. As I walked around it I didn't notice it was a 2 but went back and looked at the motor....Chevy... and the nose was high like they are.

I like the looks of the original A but am thinking a very clean two would be alright if you lowered the front a bit and added back the round headlights.

P.C. · #25 08-02-2021, 08:14 PM

While the ‘63 Avanti had round headlight bezels, the 1964 had the squared-off surrounds that continued in the Avanti II, at least until they dropped the round headlights sometime in the 80’s. An uncle of mine once purchased a new Avanti II in 1976. These cars were essentially bespoke products at the time, with my uncle flying to the factory to review paint chips, upholstery swatches, etc. He chose silver paint, and this salt and pepper tweedy cloth for the seats. It had the then-unusual Blaupunkt Berlin radio, which had its control head mounted on a flexible metal stalk. Michelin whitewalls mounted on Magnum 500 wheels rounded off the package. It was powered by a Chevy small-block 400. Price was approximately $16,500, which was Mercedes 450 SL money at the time…

t walgamuth · #26 08-03-2021, 08:48 AM

Cool story PC...thanks!

t walgamuth · #27 06-08-2022, 11:12 AM

a few days ago I received a set of real wire wheels with center lock nuts (like an Indy car) from a gentleman in Wash state. They came complete with adapters. In my mind they will look oh so elegant but they are a little rusty and will require some refurbishment.

Unfortunately probably there are not many Studebaker buyers out there who will pay up for a set of Borannis on a stude. ...so if I do it I'll probably be married to it.

The hot thing now is painting these sort of wire wheels black or some other color. I really love the chrome finish especially with polished aluminum rims. I might just go with the painted silver on the wheels and spokes.

Do my paint knowledgeable friends here think I can soda blast them and do touch up with a rust binder on the spots and a small brush to apply paint? The spokes are looking pretty rust free so I could leave them alone.
Or I could blast with something stronger like beads and paint the whole thing.

P.C. · #28 06-08-2022, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

The continuation Avantis have square headlight surrounds, the originals were round. They mostly all look good, because the bodies are fiberglass. But watch for the steel "hog trough" sills.

I interviewed Orval Selders years ago. He was a Loewy designer who worked on these cars. I'll try to find my notes, lost in 20 or 30 years of accumulation.

Actually, the later Avantis did come with the squared-off headlight bezels. The most reliable way to tell an Avanti II from the original is to open the hood. All Avanti IIs were powered by the Chevy small block.

t walgamuth · #29 08-10-2022, 06:11 PM

I need to do some paint repair on the 54 now. I'll have to figure out what kind of paint it has I suppose. Anybody know how to do that?

t walgamuth · #30 08-29-2022, 04:17 PM

We are struggling with the fuel pump(s) today. I bought a six volt accessory pump. It is very large so we are having trouble finding a place to put it.

Will a six volt system run a 12 volt pump?