Avanti secret serial # location

Yes, I know. I've had a "B" in a Ca #. I think that may have signified an eng transplant? On the the serial # of this car, we cleaned the shock crossmember pretty well as it wasn't very rusty but not sure where to look on that crossmember ie. rt side, left, center, front, back, inside, outside. I just looked at a 53 HT I have on the lift and the # was easily visible.

Someone on the Avanti group recently explained that in '63/'64 California required a six-digit VIN on all cars. Since Avantis only had five, they arbitrarily added either an "A" or a "B". I have owned two California 64s and both had a "B" suffix. Paul Johnson

I am not an Avanti expert, but isn't that serial number (4829) at the point of transition from 1963 to 1964 models, with your car being an early 1964 with round headlights?

Actually it's a late 63 with some unusual detail such as a solid black interior, woodgrain but still the split "T" control on the console. The prod order calls out the 64 interior trim code. R 4892 is usually considered the break point on model year as that was the first square lite car. I have seen a half dozen or so later #'s with round lites but their body #'s reflect an earlier car. They probably were in the finish shop or repair area lying dormant when the 64's went into production.

For what its worth your car was originally sold by the American Service Center in Arlington, Virginia on December 12, 1963 to Eugene G. Grewis of Oxen Hill, Maryland.

On most post war cars the serial number was stamped into the center of that cross member.

R.Quinn

I find the paint code seems to be the 'break' in the production between what is a 1963 and a 1964. Does your paint code start with P63__ ? P64__?

Craig.

Craig, I don't know as I don't have the prod order in front of me. When I get a chance I'll look at that and let you know. Could be though. The round light 64's may have been in the body shop during the transition and ended up with 64 on the paint code. When you refer to paint code are you looking under the glove box or at the PO?

Well I went over to get the Avanti today at the highway patrol ins sta. The boss was there and had looked at the car and serial plate. He determined that everything was ligit. (obviously). He handed me the inspection papers and told me to go get the title. Looks like I'm in the clear but I still don't know where that secret # is.

Hi Dick, Thanks for that info. I tried to locate the fellow today but no listing in Maryland. A national search turned up a good possibility in NM. I think I will try that fellow tonight and see if its a match.

snipped-for-privacy@cinci.rr.com wrote: .

This would be the one on the Production Order. These paint codes were also on the color chips in the gold covered Avanti Color & Upholstery binder. The tag under the glove compartment only shows a part number for a quart or a bottle of touch-up paint in that color.

Craig.

I located the original owner in NM. I called him this evening and talked for about 45 minutes. He said when Stude announced they were going out of business he decided he better get an Avanti. He wanted a 4 spd air car and the Arlington dealership found one for him in NJ. He kept it for several yrs. Said he had problems getting it serviced at the Stude dealers and parts needed were always on back order. But, he loved the car. In fact it was his personal favorite of all the cars in his lifetime. Nice to talk to an original owner. They are getting scarce.

It was a very light stamping and a rust problem would often wipe it out. Here's what it looks like on a 54.

begin 666 frame8.JPG M_]C_X `02D9)1@`!`0$`8 !@``#_VP!#``@%!@5BG8$G/X#BD^TA41_\`0XU?E2SA1_+@U%;R MBYY-(MA?GA1'$B_P[QTI$LW3+3WB1\\C=_D47CTS02 !@G\:>Z%?4=U;/K[?Y]:3JO)Z]A^5('QR1FD#X'/K18$ MQRG.>P%.7:5&YL ?YS3"-QZ=?>G,F /0BEH-"%HPW?Z#M4L3`*W.%QT-0;0_ MU]2:08QSDX]^E/=!>Q(LFX8#'ZU-"Y0/@XYP:@557+8X'''>GG2,$Y]:$T #=N/4_2G -W--*,,[6-&QL$L3^-(!Q..O!H+C!RU(( M2P))Z4FWGK^=`"EU8 1P!CZ4[*Y'H*7 !Z"D+88=V0",8I5& P'>E#?,3D MDTW/S9 S3 =N;U'_`'S12A>.E%%QD&[/2@CZ4C9!Y'6G8VG&5Q[4"$0*!M;)I2H&1DFF'?Z=:0HX4]E(+DC'+>F/PI$ MSU!.`>QJ( ]A3U5CQ0!)O8]>WJ:"=IIAC8 ;N_--$38YSQ0!+O/4GBC=_>ZU M$48?_7I"C=\T: 3$[",L/QIPEY/S"H!&Q//;O3Q#P3Z4:#'M(A.6;)STIA8' M'! MQ3LC()QGT)IM@D1;'Z"G>4XX)Q^-/SD`GKFCJ?PHV#1B$CK2D'G@T`@YP:..YI@(00?TI>XZT$ M``'L:!G.,&D`G0XP?Q%.]LAI[.F[H>M&]>..G09IB&>7G&P'CN:4Q,"-W&:D,^!]T9QCI35D+'D8 M],4@T$\L`YY_&E5%/08_K4A92,GJ:8&7'!_'- `4`&-O3TIZ@