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Image credits: Studebaker
The R3 Avanti was introduced in 1964 to add more performance to the already sporty Avanti lineup. The R3 and R4 Avantis employed many high performance Paxton products (such as the R3s supercharger) because the Avanti had caught the attention of Paxton president Andy Granatelli and he wanted to make the Avanti even greater. The Avanti R3 broke 337 national stock car records, but this high performance car arrived too late. When company president Sherwood Egbert retired, as he was ill with cancer, Byers Burlingame replaced him and moved all operations to Canada. This move unceremoniously dropped the magnificent Hawk and Avanti lines, and only nine R3 Avantis were ordered by this time, making them rare indeed.
Studebaker came into existence in the very early 1900's where they specialized in making wagons for the Union Army during the Civil War. The company later switched over to producing automobiles and by the 1920's had built a reputation for making a fairly good car at a reasonable price. As the 1920's came to a close, the Great Depression coupled with stiff competition made business difficult for the struggling Studebaker Company. An acquisition in 1928 of the Pierce-Arrow Company nearly sent them to bankruptcy. Though the Pierce-Arrow vehicles were some of the best in the industry, they had not done enough to stay competitive. They were supports of the six-cylinder engine while the rest of the competition had outfitted their vehicles with larger eight- and twelve-cylinder vehicles. By the time Pierce-Arrow began using the larger engines, their competition again changed their marketing plans and moved 'down-market', producing lines of inexpensive cars in order to stimulate sales.
During the late 1930s the Studebaker was again able to turn a profit and their business began to prosper. After World War II they were the first American company to introduced new and dramatic designs while their competition continued to create outdated vehicles. By the close of the 1950s, the Studebaker Company was once again faced with staggering sales. In an attempt to redirect their misfortune, Raymond Loewy, a renowned industrial designer, was hired to create a performance car. With the help of three other designers, Loewy began creating a new vehicle that would surly resurrect the troubled company. Locked in a private cottage for two weeks, the team was able to create a clay model accompanied by detailed drawings which they presented to Studebaker.
Studebaker quickly began creating the car but since money was scarce, the company performed many cost-cutting measures such as modifying a Studebaker Lark convertible chassis and using that as the basis for the vehicle. By 1962 the car was ready and dubbed the Avanti, Italian for 'forward'. It was an instant love-or-hate design. Since this was to be a performance car, Studebaker employed the services of Andy and Joe Grantelli to modify the engine. In forty-days the task was completed and the result was a power-plant that could propel the Avanti to a top speed of 171.10 miles per hour, which it achieved on a clocked-run at the Nevada desert. Further fine tuning of the engine, chassis, and body gave the engine the name 'R3'.
Though it had captured the title of 'fastest production car in America' it failed to generate sales. The styling of the vehicle was too much for buyers to bare. In total, only nine examples of the Avant R3 were ever ordered. The company was forced to close its doors on December 9th, 1963 and production ceased. Production of the Studebaker Lark continued for two more years in Canada.
During the late 1930s the Studebaker was again able to turn a profit and their business began to prosper. After World War II they were the first American company to introduced new and dramatic designs while their competition continued to create outdated vehicles. By the close of the 1950s, the Studebaker Company was once again faced with staggering sales. In an attempt to redirect their misfortune, Raymond Loewy, a renowned industrial designer, was hired to create a performance car. With the help of three other designers, Loewy began creating a new vehicle that would surly resurrect the troubled company. Locked in a private cottage for two weeks, the team was able to create a clay model accompanied by detailed drawings which they presented to Studebaker.
Studebaker quickly began creating the car but since money was scarce, the company performed many cost-cutting measures such as modifying a Studebaker Lark convertible chassis and using that as the basis for the vehicle. By 1962 the car was ready and dubbed the Avanti, Italian for 'forward'. It was an instant love-or-hate design. Since this was to be a performance car, Studebaker employed the services of Andy and Joe Grantelli to modify the engine. In forty-days the task was completed and the result was a power-plant that could propel the Avanti to a top speed of 171.10 miles per hour, which it achieved on a clocked-run at the Nevada desert. Further fine tuning of the engine, chassis, and body gave the engine the name 'R3'.
Though it had captured the title of 'fastest production car in America' it failed to generate sales. The styling of the vehicle was too much for buyers to bare. In total, only nine examples of the Avant R3 were ever ordered. The company was forced to close its doors on December 9th, 1963 and production ceased. Production of the Studebaker Lark continued for two more years in Canada.
1964 Studebaker Avanti R3 |
|
| Year | 1964 |
| Make | Studebaker |
| Model | Avanti R3 |
| Body Style | Sport Coupe |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1963 - 1964 |
| Body Designer | Raymond Loewy |
| Price | $4,445.00 |
| Weight | 3195 lbs | 1449.3 kg |
| Performance | |
| 0-60 mph | 5.8 seconds. |
| 1/4 Mile | 13.2 seconds. |
| Top Speed | 171 mph | 275.1 km/h Similar top speeds |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Supercharged |
| Displacement | 304.00 CU IN. | 4982.6 cc. | 5 L. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Horsepower | 335.00 BHP (246.6 KW) @ 5350.00 RPM |
| Torque | 320.00 Ft-Lbs (433.9 NM) @ 4000.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 9.5 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 67.0 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Transmission Information | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Similar Automakers |
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| Studebaker History |
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| View Specifications |
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| Articles and Event Coverage |
| Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum |
| Additional Resources and Links |
| Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum Official Website |
| 1964 Studebaker models |
| Challenger |
| Commander Super Lark |
| Eight | 1964 Studebaker Concepts |
| Studebaker Avanti R4 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com