Bez Auto-Alchemy

The Money Shot

2012-02-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

photo credit - GBZ

Ionized Bronze color on 1963 Avanti Studebaker

Avantis R1, R2 and R3

2012-01-16T12:21:00.000-08:00

All three, owned by a southern gentleman who's interest

in Avanti cars began when he was in his teens.

1963 Avanti R1 - full frame off custom resto'

Avanti R2 - mild clean up with new engine chrome

1964 Avanti R3 - full frame off show car resto'

Southern Cars Have A Certain Charm

2012-01-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

The Show Car

Finished full frame-off restoration.

Avanti Turquoise Paint Color.

Stude Turquoise and Black Interior.

Custom Ribbon Walnut Wood Dash

and console with refurbished gauges.

R3 Engine - Nemish Solanki built to Brad Bez spec's.

Super-tuned and strengthened.

Straight and Sleek.

Nothing like the body lines of an Avanti

Second Full Frame-Off Avanti Restoration

2012-01-08T14:07:00.001-08:00

The Driver

Ionized Bronze Paint Color

Custom Wood Dash and Console - Olive Ash Burl

Refurbished Gauges

R1 upgraded to R2+

Custom Butter Cream Leather Interior

Getting Close

2011-09-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

Photo - GBZ

...to finishing two full frame off restorations.

Avanti R2
Cleaned up - installed new engine chrome

A Smoothed Engine Compartment

2011-07-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

It's the details............boys!

R1 - Restoration Progress

2011-07-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Summer and the heat have rolled in! Between the 96-100 degree days and vendor order delays, I'm experiencing a fair amount of frustration. Even though I put two of my orders in 7 months and a full year ago, I'm still waiting. Which has slowed the finish-up of the R3.

However, I continue to work - progressing soundly on the second restoration project - the R1. I've hopped up the engine in this car from the original R1 to an R2 (with blower) power house.

Here's a sneak peek at the car owners color choice, Ionized Bronze.

Engine and transmission installed.

NEWS!! Lew Schucart's '63 Avanti wins Eyes On Design Award

2011-06-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit - Lew Schucart

This '63 Avanti, owned by Lew Schucart (body work and paint by Brad) won one of two highly desirable red ribbons in the Class C judging. It is a Design of Distinction award, given at the invitation only 2011 Eyes on Design show in Grosse Ponte Shores, Michigan, which is held at the historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford home. The judges select two vehicles, in each class, to receive these awards, recognizing stylish appearance and uniqueness of design.

Congratulations, Lew! All your hard work in bringing this car back to her former glory girl beauty has definitely been noticed. The award is well deserved. It makes us proud to see an Avanti, Studebaker win this honor at such a prestigious auto show. Great job!!

Dialing In The R3 Interior

2011-04-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

I was zooming along on the interior...until today!
Laid out all the carpet pieces - guess what?
I discovered six pieces of the carpet

ordered from a Studebaker parts vendor

were cut incorrectly, on the reverse side of the carpet.

Whatya' think - can I make it fit?

Back to square one and not happy about it!

Look What Came To Visit Us Today

2011-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

1989 Avanti

in sweet blue

This car is in immaculate condition.

Owned by two generations of the same family....

recently became the son's new ride.

Excellent to see a family take this type of

quality care of an Avanti.

Historic Car in Historic Garden District

2011-04-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Sunday morning - perfect weather and not much traffic. Great for fulfilling David's request (Raymond Loewy's son-in-law) of taking the Loewy Avanti out for a spin to check the car's road worthiness. The mechanical repair work checked out fine. Good thing we did get this classic out on the road, because......

Those signature yellow headlights!

Big Bad Brad Hanging with the '76

Photo Credits - GBZ

As we toured through the tree shaded old home district, slowly cruising along the bricked streets, Brad hears a low rumble that shouldn't be a part of the normal car noise and we feel a mild vibration coming from under the car.

Back to the shop we go, the Avanti is up in the air on the hoist and within 5 minutes Brad has nailed down the noise/vibration cause. It is a worn slip yoke bushing on tail shaft on the Turbo 400 transmission. Within a half hour, he has the drive shaft and the extension housing of the tranny out of the car and cleaned. Just waiting on the new bushing and seal, which will be available and installed Monday morning. Then this car is good to go!

Avanti Dreaming

2011-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

1976 Loewy Avanti Engine Video

2011-04-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

Raymond Loewy's personal 1976 Avanti. After storage and sitting on display (not running) for approximately 8 years, this historic Avanti is running again and almost road worthy.

New parts on the suspension and brakes, rebuilt carburator, boiled out - repaired radiator, inspected gas tank and filter, replaced hoses, checked for engine seize - turning first by hand, then gas primed carb and cranked it over. The engine ran rough for about the first 30 seconds due to the gas load-up in carb - then smoothed out. This is the Chevy engine that was put in later model Avantis - ready to rock and roll!

This car in the care of the Loewy family. RaymondLoewy.org

Loewy Update

2011-04-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Suspension and Brake Repairs

on 1976 Raymond Loewy Avanti

R1 Avanti Progress

2011-03-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

Body has been stripped by soda blasting.

I'll use this fast and tidy method again!

Chassis rebuild is nicely underway.

Photo Credits - GBZ

Photo Highlights From SE Zone Meet

2011-03-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

43nd Annual Southeast Zone Meet
March 18-19, 2011
Tifton, Georgia

57 Commander

Tom's Business Coupe
(with every possible option)

50 Champion

Studemino

63 Daytona

Supercharged Avanti II

64 Avanti Interior

Jeff Rice and his new Stude - 53 Racecar
waiting for the Stude power

(current engine wheezes - lol)

Photo Credits - GBZ

R1 Tear Down

2011-03-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

R1 restoration underway.

Prior to rebuild.
I'm bumping the engine horse with a re-ground cam, hyperutectic pistons, gapless rings, R3 intake valves, ARP rod bolts and main studs,

plus I'm porteing the heads for better flow.

Adding a modified supercharger set-up for performance longevity.

R1 Heads - prior to clean-up and porting work.

Photo Credits - GBZ

R3 Engine Compartment

2011-03-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

It's coming together!

How about this factory color cherry red underside?

R3 Color

2011-03-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

Custom mix pearlized Avanti turquoise

Raymond Loewy Avanti

2011-02-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

Photo - Courtesy of Loewy Design

This Avanti arrived at the shop yesterday, brought down by transport from the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana. It's Raymond Loewy's personal Avanti. The car is in the care of the Loewy family and has been brought to me for preservation work.

The above photo, shared by David Hagerman,Raymond's son-in-law and director of Loewy Design is from the family archives. The late Laurence Loewy (Raymond's daughter) is seated behind the wheel for a photoshoot.

The stickers on the windshield are interesting. They include parking stickers from France, as the Loewys resided their later years in Monte Carlo. There's also a logo sticker from NASA Skylab Space Station (Loewy designed skylab interior).

More pix to come as I work on the car. To start, I'll restore mechanicals, replace old hoses, do clean-up work on the carb, etc. Generally, return it to good running condition. Minor bodywork and paint to follow. It's a honor to be asked to work on this historic car.

Disassembled front suspension.

Suspension part teardown.

Checking Run-Out On R3 Avanti Engine

2011-01-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Every factory engine and transmission is aligned and dowel pinned at the factory. The dowel pins were missing from the previous engine work - approximately 20+ years ago. I checked the alignment and used oversize pins to hold the center line of both crankshaft and transmission. These have to be on the same plane or the flex-plate will crack and/or break and the front pump of the transmission will wear out or break.

Avanti R3 Engine - Dyno Report!!

2011-01-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

Initial dyno engine readings = 377 HP - with the wrong carb.
Second dyno output = 394 hp on 93 octane pump gas with moded Edelbrock AVS.
404 hp with 122 octane racing fuel.

Reading 7 lbs boost at manifold (after carb). Which means around 9 at the blower. Boost dropped off higher than 5700 rpm.....at the limit of impeller design speed. We calculated 37,000 rpm at the impeller is too much - just won't produce boost above 35,000 rpm.

R3 Avanti in Paint

2011-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

Pearly Aqua Girl
(pearl enhanced Stude factory color)

Vacation Time and Car Finds!!

2011-01-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

While tooling around the panhandle of Florida - enjoying the local scenery, our motorhead/car stuff radar went off. Look at this 'in progress' novelty. We found it sitting in the open doored garage of a gear-geek. We were tickled to make a pit stop and talk to him about his cars, trucks and more. All fiberglass - all hand-done.

Extreme Fins

Avanti R3 - Restoration Progress

2010-10-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

R3 Avanti Engine and Blower - Work Progress Pictures

2010-10-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

Nimesh Solanki in Duluth GA is rebuilding the R3 engine. He specializes in building high performance engines. http://www.solankiperformance.com/index.html

Before with Machined Crank

New Studs

Cleaned, Honed, Painted

Machined Out Blower Cover on Left

Top Curve Over Fins on aftermarket impeller

Coated Skirt Forged Pistons

High Deck Height to Reduce Detonation

Windage Tray

SDC - 42nd SouthEast Zone Meet - Highlights

2010-10-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

Sunshine day in Georgia - perfect for a car show.

Thanks to the North Georgia Chapter of the SDC

for doing such an excellent job of organizing

the Stude show and zone meet.

35 Land Cruiser - Best of Class

(Rare- not many produced)

63 Bez Avanti

Good turn-out of Avantis

63 Avanti - Best of Class

Best of Show - 64 GT Hawk

People's Choice - 51 Champion Business Coupe

62 GT Hawk - Best of Class

62 GT Engine

55 Speedster - Best of Class

61 Hawk - Stunning Flamingo Pink

Pea Green Lark

Custom 50 Champ

Blue 54 Coupe

58 Packard Wagon
(Rare car - only 159 produced)

Avanti R3 Restoration - Update

2010-10-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

New wheel bearings
(repainted white/green original factory markings on spring).

New Rear Brakes

Rebuilt power steering - center privot needle bearing
with rebuilt/resealed power cylinder.

In-line gas tank drain as per original factory spec's.

Note: new stainless line clamps

Replaced rusty rivets into hog troughs.

Underside ready for heat barrier.

Avanti R3 Restoration - Making Progress

2010-09-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Rebuilt R3 Trans

R3 Blower disassembled, cleaned, primed - waiting on parts.

Frame back from the powder coater.

Putting it back together.

R3 Transmission rebuilt and reassembled.

The original aqua body color.

Just a few areas left to be stripped, then fiberglass repair.

R1, R2, R3 Avanti Restorations - R3 Rear Axle

2010-09-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

R3 Dana 44 twin traction flanged axle.

Stripped, sandblasted and ready for rebuilding.

Axle is back together with new twin traction clutches,
pinion seal, axle bearings and seals.

Reassembled with new stainless steel brake lines.

When I stripped down the axle case I found the original factory markings.
I replicated this number mark which represents the axle ratio and was most likely
put on the case during assembly line inspection.

R1, R2 and R3 Avanti Restorations - R3 Transmission

2010-09-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Tranny parts as first pulled from powershift.

Beginning of trans rebuild.

Perfect fit!

Rebuild done!

R1, R2 and R3 Avanti Restorations - R3 Engine

2010-09-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Rare R3 Heads - very few of these original heads were produced by Studebaker.
Engine interior has some rust and is being completely rebuilt.

Spring side head view.

R3 ready to be worked on. This is a true Paxton B61 engine - numbered block.

R1, R2 and R3 Avanti Restorations - Start of Body Work

2010-09-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

All three Avantis in various beginning stages of repair and restoration.

1963 Avanti R2 in Avanti Gray.

Start of careful hand stripping process on R3.

Undercarriage fully stripped - ready for repair work.

Another shop view.

1963 Avanti R1 Four Speed

R1, R2 and R3 Avanti Restorations - Parts Room

2010-09-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

R3 Avanti 16:1 Steering Box after clean-up.

It was dry as a bone and rusted inside, every internal part has been replaced.

Shelves of parts that I've refurbished, plus new parts for R3.

Rear brake drums - rear sway bar links - cleaned, sandblasted,
high temp coating and sway bar links painted.

More parts for R3.

R3 parts sandblasted, painted to original factory appearance.

This is a '63 Avanti hood with cross brace. FOUND!! - a '64 or later hood with

no brace to clear supercharger pressure box.

We're On The Road

2010-07-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm available to work at your location on your car projects. If you're interested in my personal and up close auto repair/restoration services, get in touch. Email: info@auto-alchemy.com or call: 573-242-3530.

We'll visit about your car needs, work out all the details and schedule you into our travel plan. References are available, if you want them.

_____________________________

We're presently deep in the Southland, working on first of three Avanti jobs, an R1, R2 and R3. The black painted R3 Avanti is a body off - frame up fully stock restoration back to it's original P-4332 Avanti Turquiose color.

This late 1964 R3 car with a original Paxton was bought by a longtime Avanti fan/collector and has sat awaiting restoration since the mid-1970s. There are some light mods and a variety of incorrect parts that I've found in the dissassemble, but nothing that can't be brought back to full stock condition.

Cherry Gurl - Our '63 Avanti

2010-06-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

I've been reworking, upgrading, restoring and freshening our Studie. Lots of new goodies, including repaired front end boo-boo (a hit and run job - looked like a truck height hitch backed in to it).

Custom body paint color - Cadillac Metallic Red Pearl

(stripped to bare fiberglass pre-paint)

Red and Fawn interior

R1 engine bored out and rebuilt to early model R3 specs

AC and power steering

Transmission rebuild with 20,000 miles on it
Rear axle rebuilt
Front suspension rebuilt
All new suspension bushings
New duel master cylinder
New power steering
New upholstery
New carpet - red short crop
New headliner
New door and trunk lid rubber
Stainless steel moldings - dings removed, polished
Re-chromed bumpers
New exhaust system
Rebuilt window regulators
New engine compartment hood mat
Specialty paint on air cleaner cover
Dayton wire wheels and spinners
New tires
Paint freshly buffed

(Photo Credits - GBZ)

How To Repair Pre-1961 and Hawk Master Cylinders

2010-05-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

For new Stude Notes repair post - go HERE.

A step by step explanation for DIY-fers.

Stude Humor

2010-05-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

I've had this wrapper since the '80s...got it while living in Oklahoma. I'm not sure where it came from, I think I picked it up at one of the Studebaker Club OK Zone Meets. Guess this item qualifies as support material for perusing Studebaker literature while in 'the library'.

The Finished Avanti

2010-04-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

Lew Schucart's 63R-1250 Avanti

New Stude Notes Post

2010-01-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to read about Steering Geometry for Studebaker rack and pinion modifications.

Desired Customer Results

2010-01-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

Lew and his recently finished Black Avanti.
(Photo used with permission.)

Avanti Stainless Steel Trim Repair

2009-10-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

Restored windshield garnish trim...a hammer, dolly, file and polish job. It's always nice to save as much of the original car as possible. Stainless trim repair takes time to do right, but is well worth the effort.

Lew's Avanti With Original Wheels

2009-10-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Lew's Car - Close To Being Finished

2009-10-25T10:15:00.001-07:00

Last points of the restoration left to do - underbody protective chip coating, interior/exterior finish detailing, final buff and then this Avanti is good to go. Won't be long before Lew is back behind the wheel of this black beauty cruising down the road.

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

Shop Humor???

2009-10-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

(All images on this website
are copyright protected.
You may not use them without
permission from respective
image owners.)

Studebaker 1963 Avanti Interior Restoration

2009-10-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

Putting the interior back together.

Working on the interior windlace.

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

Lew's Avanti - Interior Shots

2009-10-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Interior work finished. Fawn color vinyl installed on doors, back and front pillars. Recovered back armrests in black vinyl and new headliner installed. Plus re-color dyed the dash and roof headliner trim bars. Replaced/repaired fiberglass bottom of passenger seat and replaced lower carpet panels on both doors. Put the window glasses back in - once again weather tight.

Lew had previously replaced floor carpeting and had both front seats recovered. The backseat vinyl is original and still in great shape.

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

Boo!! Ghost Car

2009-10-04T08:46:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit - Lew Schucart

Lew Schucart's Car - In The Black

2009-10-04T08:38:00.001-07:00

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

More of Lew's Avanti

2009-10-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Second prime with guide coat.

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

Lew Schucart's Car - 1st Prime

2009-10-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

For the leveling prime, I use a polyester primer. This high build coat sprays on thick to fill 'minor' surface imperfections.

Photos Credit - Lew Schucart

Cleaned My Carb Today

2009-08-13T20:42:00.001-07:00

Attention to detail is important!
Good as new and good to go........

Carter AFB 3506 - original to my '63 Avanti

Photo Credit: GBZ

Related:
Mom always told me to do a good job
of scrubbing behind my ears.

SDC Meet 2009 - A Few of the Custom Rides

2009-07-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
A sampling of the customized
Studies at the show

Low Flying P38

Still not sure what this started life as....

Marshmellow Stretch

Hot Pink 'n White - No AC Needed

Bright Stude-A-Mino
(Photo Credits - Brad Bez)

Stude Notes - Questions and Answers

2009-07-19T08:18:00.001-07:00

How's your restoration project or engine rebuild and tune-up coming along?

Are you hung up with a problem you can't solve?

Check out my Stude Notes. This is an ongoing column of Studebaker focused repair questions and answers and a bit more. You may find an answer to problems you're dealing with in my Notes. You can also email me with your question and I'll post an answer for you in the Stude Notes.
info@auto-alchemy.com

The back story: I've worked professionally in automotive repair and paint for 30+ years. You could say cars are in my genes. My grandfather, who emigrated from Bohemia, worked for Henry Ford. He made his way up to the top ranks of the Ford Motors tool and die department.

My Dad put me to work on his personal cars when I was 10. The first Stude I helped him with was a '54 Champion. From this starting point, there's a long list of Studebakers that my Dad and I bought, fixed up and sold. A few of the high points: a '50 Landcruiser, '53 Commander Hardtop, '58 Packard-Hawk, '56 Golden Hawk, '63 Daytona Wagonaire, '63 GT Hawk, '63 Daytona Lark. Add a '66 2+2 Pontiac Catalina and 4 Toronados into the mix and you get the picture... a family of bona-fide motor heads.

Today, I own and work on a '63 Avanti. This is one car that probably won't be sold anytime soon. My wife fell in love with it the first time she drove it and declared it as her car!! ...and you know, it never hurts to keep your women folk happy - grin!

Check out my Stude Notes.

The Show Girl Shots

2009-07-13T18:23:00.001-07:00

Bez '63 Avanti

These photos were taken in front of the Elgin Cottrell House in Clarksville, MO. This elegant old home is listed on the Natl' Register of Historic Preservation and has been carefully restored to it's former glory by Richard Cottrell, who also owns the Rose Cottage Antiques Shop located at Hwy 79. The house is open for tours. For more information, call Richard at 573-242-9688 or email him: cottrellprissy@aol.com

(Photo Credits - G Bez)

More Of Lew Shucart's Avanti Restoration

2009-07-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

(Photo Credits - GBez)

Here's some back story on this Avanti provided by Lew.

"A little history here: This Avanti R-1250 is the first Avanti restoration attempt by Jon Myer. The original owner ran into a southern California highway bridge abutement and died. Jon Myer got the car, changed frames and mated the body back on the frame. Here's an original picture before Jon started his work, parked behind Jon's old house in the early 1970s in southern California."

"It was originally the 15th black Avanti built, and the first black car with a black interior. The original owner from Pennsylvania had it painted in the dark gold color you see in the above photo."

"The late Ron Hall towed it home to Chicago about the mid-1970s using a 64 lark convertible, now owned by former Turning Wheels editor Larry Swanson. He eventually sold it to another Chicago AOAI member and bought a white R2 Avanti that his wife drove, and later went on to Bonneville fame. I bought it from the other Chicago AOAI member, partially restored it and put 18,000 miles on up to now, when Brad is doing a full restoration."

Lew Schucart
Editor, Avanti Magazine

Fly - nnnnnnnnn.........

2009-07-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

(Photo credit - GBez)

My wife's rolling purse!
It's much prettier when she washes it. ;-)

1963 Avanti R1.
I bored the engine out to R3-A (299cu in)
with R3 spec' heads.
Dayton wire wheels and spinners. Originally an
Texas show car.
We're the 4th owners and still working on it.

My wife passed one of our neighbors awhile back, out on the road and when he finally caught up with her at the local post office, he asked, "Just how much deeper will that gas pedal go? Your car was purring with a low slow rumble when it went around me. There must be a lot more."

She just nodded yes and smiled at him...my little speedy-gurl!

Bringing Her Back From the Edge

2009-07-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

July 2009

In the shop with restoration work underway is Lew Shucart's 1963 Avanti. Lou is a dedicated fan of Studebakers. Not only does he own two Avantis and a Lark, he is also editor of the award winning Avanti Magazine, produced by Avanti Owners Association International, Inc. Lew's fine photography, magazine layout skills and his willingness to hunt down great stories about Studebakers, specifically Avantis has earned the magazine, over the past three years, two Golden Quill awards.

This Avanti was wrecked and repaired sometime before Lew bought it. According to Lew, the body had really been through a lot of hard use during its life...especially the accident. The original owner ran into a bridge abutment and died in the wreck.

Many of the previous repairs were coming apart, literally, at the seams. I removed the radiator (and fan and shroud) and straightened the core support by putting a hydraulic ram behind the support to push it forward. Because the top of the core is fixed, this had the effect of lowering the far end (towards fan) of the fan shroud by nearly 1/2 inch. That made the fan shroud pivot downward where it now it clears the hood.

I also placed 1/4 inch of shims above the support for added measure and to take stress off the cowl area. When I set the hood back on it lined up perfectly!

I had to re-fiberglass all of the previous repairs underneath as they were hanging loose in many areas. Some of them were applied over undercoating!

This fender had been replaced, but wasn't bonded to the outer edge of the foot well or the hog trough where it meets the rocker panel. I re-bonded this area and tied it together with fiberglass repair. It will be good to go for a long time.

It was impossible to adjust out the passenger door to make it fit flush with the fender, so I split the outer door skin apart from the inner shell. I then re-bonded these pieces and the door now fits correctly without any bondo filler.

The seam above the shackle box was cracked. I re-fiberglassed this area and smoothed out factory wobble in the original body surfacing.

(Photo Credit - all above photos - Brad Bez)

The rear panel was cracked from the corner of the trunk lid to the bumper bracket hole. I repaired this with new fiberglass and then skim coated it with polyester finishing glaze.

All the typical areas of wear, repair and then some....a lot of fiberglass and smoothing work on this old beauty.
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Two Previous Brad Bez Restorations

2009-07-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

1963 Studebaker Avanti R2
Owned by Paul, Brenda and Peter Miller

(Photos taken by Peter Miller)
This '63 Avanti received 398 judging points
out of the possible 400.

(Photo taken by Lew Shucart)
Dr. Miller's 1963 Avanti R2 on display in the Automotive Hall of Fame Dearborn, Michigan

(Photo credit - Peter Miller)
Avantis restored by Brad Bez consistently place in
Studebaker Drivers Club Shows.
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Thom Gipe's Avanti

(Photo Credit - Gipe)

Thom, another Stude devotee edits a regional publication for St. Louis area Avanti enthusiasts. He does a great job with the Avanti Arrow Newsletter, as well as with his '83 Avanti. It's painted in Sterling Silver Blue with an Eagle Ottawa blue leather interior, has those sporty Recaro seats, a Nardi wood steering wheel, a moonroof and full power options...an early 83 with chrome bumpers.

(Photo Credit - Gipe)

The car was in basic good shape as Thom had done a quite a lot of work on it, including putting in stainless steel hog troughs. I evened out the factory body wobbles (it had a lot of wash board), reset doors, hood and trunk gaps...did general body work before it went into the paint booth.

(Photo Credit - Gipe)