Weird.
That car was so far ahead of its time, it was used to depict what an auto might look like in the near future in the movie "Gattaca".
The 1963 Studebaker Avanti had a rustproof fiberglass body, produced by the same factory that made bodies for the Chevy Corvette. The Corvette had just introduced the revolutionary "Sting Ray" body style, and the factory making these "glass" bodies was having trouble keeping up with orders for both cars. Quality suffered.
TD indicates it was a good/bad year for him.
Looking back, most of us could probably say the same thing. President Kennedy was killed in November. I lost my driver's license for six months for receiving a ticket for reckless driving...
Completely deserved, by the way! I worked that year at "Hatfield's Service", the Standard Filling Station at the corner of Smith Valley and Morgantown Roads. Part of my remuneration for working there was to have been a free tank of gas per week.
Oh well!
But the tunes, as indicated by the songs from that FANTASTIC "American Graffiti" soundtrack, were great... and are still heard regularly on the radio.
Surely, VK's have stories to relate about 1963, don't you?
That's the reason we started this blog... to share stories about then, and now.
Care to comment on YOUR 1963?
UPDATE-
For some reason, on Firefox the Avanti picture is cut in half.
If that's true for you, click it to see the full pic.
8 comments:
1963 is the year Joker started winning ribbons at the local horse shows, I think.
Egads! I cannot remember that particular time in my life or what was going on.
I friend of mine owned an Avanti way back when, but I can’t even remember his name or the color of the car.
I remember the summer of 1964. I went with the guy I was dating and his family every weekend to the lake. That’s when I learned to water ski.
But 1963? What was going on in the world?
Joker, good to have you back! We had a pony named Buck and a horse named Loco. Loco - because I bought her from Carey's ranch when the rodeo was in town. She had been a rodeo horse, was carrying a foal, and they couldn't use her. Paid $100. for her and thought I was getting a real bargin. She could be a crazy girl at times,so we called her Loco. Never got her to the point of competing her. Ha - could barely stay on her. Had a beautiful foal and I enjoyed all three for several years.
Sometime during the summer of '63, I shared a 59 Ford 2 door sedan (w/post)6 cyl., manual trans. (on the column) with my Mother. Gary P. had one just about like it. Never got to drive my brother's car much so I considered the '59 mine. 'Our' next car was a '61 Chevy 2 door hardtop. 283c.i. w/auto. - really liked that car.
Loved the look of the Avanti. Studebaker had a reputation for being 'out there' as far as design goes. And best that I could tell, always struggling during the 50s and 0s though. The name change to American Motors didn't really change things for them. I do not remember whether that was just a name change, a buyout, a merger or a newly formed company. Had a friend who own a Javelin. Small car, big engine, but had some fit and finish problems. Mark's family stayed with the American Motor line for years - they either must have liked the cars OR no one would trade for them except the local A.M dealer.
Tap, tap, tap....
Is this microphone on?
Anyone out there?
Oh ha!
Well, at least two of you are.
It was a pretty turbulent year, history-wise, Joker. More than you might want to know here at Wikipedia.
I remember the Winter being pretty normal... cold with snow, but less snow than the year before when we had nearly 20 foot drifts on Smith Valley Road North of 135.
My folks owned two Studebakers. They loved one, and absolutely hated the second, a convertible that frequently refused to start.
Studebaker made wonderful wagons...
When you take the Anheuser Busch Brewery tour in St. Louis you get to tour the stables there. The wagons I could see that the Clydesdales would pull were all Studebaker products.
They suffered economic troubles and went out of business. Now the "Big Three" seem to be having the same difficulties.
Interesting times.
I am wrong about the connection between Studebaker and AMC. Seems that there was none. I have read bits and pieces of history of both corporations, even some of the family history of the Studebakers. Originally blade makers from Germany. Came to America and started to produce wagons. I don't think I knew anyone who owned a Studebaker except you, GB. When did your family own them? I do remember seeing one around every once in awhile. Could that have been your Dad's car? Any other VKs (or family member) who owned Studebakers?
Ahh, reading through the 1963
Wikipedia I do recall a lot of that stuff. I remember, now, I had a babysitting job at the time of the JFK shooting, because I didn't work that whole week. Everybody just sat around watching TV and JFK's funeral. And I did start showing Joker in 1963, because in Dec. '62 my dad gave me Joker for my 16th. birthday.
Isn't it funny how you think you can't remember a thing, but something or someone refers to a moment in the past and all of a sudden, you start remembering - and realize you really don't have alzheimers.
TD-
I didn't remember an American Motors/Studebaker connection but wasn't sure, so I kept my yap shut. I think the two corporations may have had talks and found Studebaker was just too far in debt to be attractive to AMC.
Studebaker and Packard did merge in the early 50's... maybe that was what you were thinking about?
Mom may correct me, but I think they bought a new Studebaker in 1950 or '51. It was about the same time we moved into the house on Morgantown Road. We have old home movies of Mom getting out of that white Studebaker and walking around it. I was too young to remember that car.
Some years later Dad bought another... a used, red one with a black convertible top.
I vividly remember the troubles they had with that car...
So many problems that Dad, in a fit of rage over it, sold it to Bill D. at the Standard station for much less than it was worth just to get rid of it. That would be a neat car to own today if it was restored!
And Joker, the Avanti line continued even after Studebaker closed down. Someone bought the rights to produce the Avanti alone, and produced the car for a few years under the name Avanti II. At one point Avanti II's came from the factory with Chevy 350 engines.
A new version of the car is still in production down in Georgia...
Totally new car, but like the new Dodge Challenger, the new Mustang, and the upcoming Chevy Camaro, looking very much like their 60's forebears.
Neat.
couldn't pass up the chance to comment on Stubebakers. I moved to Smith Valley from South Bend in the fall of '63. My Dad had owned many Studebakers and at that time had a 2 tone brown President 4 door(ugh!).
I took my drivers test in it. Just one added thing--thanks to all vets who may read this. I, for one, appreciate your contribution.
Veterans ...Bless you for all you have done for our country, you make my heart proud....always have.
Bo
We didn't own a "new" car until 1963 when I somehow persuaded my dad to buy a '63 Chevy Impala Supersport...metalflake blue. I loved that car and still do. We saw one for sale in 1981 for $8,000 of course we didn't buy it but I'M NOT OVER IT -- HA!!
Bo
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