mr moto Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 True confession: I am a Studebaker geek! The rest of you may not be familiar with the R3 package that Studebaker offered only in 1964. Not surprising since only 9 of them rolled out the factory although a lot of others have been "cloned" over the years - most of them with a little bit of poetic license. This build depicts an original factory car as close as I could get it. The R3 package included a 304.5 c.i. version of the Stude V-8 that was developed by Andy Granatelli and boosted the Avanti's top speed to over 160 mph. The carb was enclosed in an aluminum pressure box that allowed for higher supercharger boost than on the R2 engine. Of course, it got high performance cam, valves, etc. and the air cleaner was relocated to the area directly behind the grill for cool air intake. This is built from the new Round 2 release of the AMT kit but I also used a number of parts from the Aurora kit including basically the whole engine (some scratch building required). Aurora missed the body shape by a mile but they included a lot of great detail parts and way better front seats than AMT. The paint is the factory Avanti Turquoise color from Model Car World. It's good stuff and looks just like the original color. The Halibrand wheels in the new Round 2 kit were available on all Studebakers in 1964. The luggage set was a dealer available option that was shown in some Studebaker sales brochures and Aurora actually include it in their kit. The photetched grill comes from Model Car Garage. It was intended for a '56 Chevy Nomad but if you turn it upside down and trim the ends it's a great fit for an Avanti. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Pugh Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 WOW!! That's FANTASTIC!! GREAT job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne swayze Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Great looking model! I walked the line on whether I liked the Avanti or hated it, but after seeing your lovely work, I've decided that they are a very cool car! BTW, I once owned '61 Hawk and loved it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helix Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Very impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr moto Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 (edited) Great looking model! I walked the line on whether I liked the Avanti or hated it, but after seeing your lovely work, I've decided that they are a very cool car! BTW, I once owned '61 Hawk and loved it!The '61 Hawk is my dream car! That's some classy tail fins.In my mind, the Avanti is the only car that looks more contemporary and up-to-date now than when it was introduced over 50 years ago. Edited February 19, 2016 by mr moto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixties Sam Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 WOW!! That's FANTASTIC!! GREAT job!!I agree 100%! Great detailing, and the Nomad grille is genius! Excellent work!Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard Racing Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Studebaker was never afraid to break new ground.Great model! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I never liked the look of the Avanti myself.Always thought it looked "cobbled" together, styling wise.Way too much going on.But I do know a great build when I see one!Terrific Job Manuel!! Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 (edited) This is a fabulous model in all respects. The Avanti has always intrigued me from the time I first ever saw one and read about them at Bonneville. It was also the first previously owned kit I ever bought but have yet to build. Edited February 19, 2016 by Phildaupho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slotbaker Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Very nice job. Love it.Studebakers are the forgotton about, muscle car.Wish I could get a model of my 63 Lark Cruiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CometMan Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Outstanding work!! Maybe a little black wash around the filler door though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Great build!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Excellent model.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peekay Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Fantastic model of a car I've always been fond of. A pity there haven't been more Studebakers in plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 This is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DumpyDan Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Great job, looks beautiful and a tuff kit to build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Superb build, I'll get to build mine one day ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard McClelland Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 The Avanti was the most exotic car in the 'Ladybird book of Cars' that any self respecting 6 year old British Boy had in his library, Your rendition brings back happy memories, great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landman Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Beautiful job. I have a resin '62 GT Hawk waiting in line. I'd like to try and replicate the'64 I once had. I love how your R3 turned out and your interior. Years ago I saw a .'57 Golden Hawk with an R3 in it.He said he found the engine in a crate in California in the late sixties or early seventies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Very nice Manuel. The Studebaker logo kinda reminds me of the Grateful Dead logo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ed Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 If that's not the Best looking Avanti Kit Build I've ever seen, it's sure on a VERY Short List! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Awesome build..! Id love to have a 1 to 1 supercharger like that one for our truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 That is very nice. Well done sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ed Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Awesome build..! Id love to have a 1 to 1 supercharger like that one for our truck. Here ya go Mark. Nothing between you and it 'cept a (fairly Large) pocket full of Money!http://www.paxtonauto.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie8575 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 It's an Avanti, what's not to like? Great job on this.Charlie Larkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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