Story and photos by John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
This article started out to be an update on the current status and whereabouts of a truly one-of-a-kind Studebaker Avanti originally owned by Joe Granatelli and powered by a Cadillac 429-cid V-8. It evolved into something a bit more as some additional facts and circumstances surrounding this unique Avanti emerged.
A Supercharged Background
In 1962, Paxton Products, known for its supercharger business, became a subsidiary of Studebaker. Paxton Products ownership had consisted of Andy Granatelli and his brothers, Joe and Vince. Collectively, they were well-known and recognized for their mechanical and engine performance-enhancement abilities. At this time, Andy Granatelli was also the head of Studebaker’s racing division. Hence, the supercharger venture was well within the Granatelli brothers’ wheelhouse. As a subsidiary of Studebaker Corp., Paxton had a working relationship with Studebaker that allowed for many unusual situations from which the new Avanti would benefit (most notably, the installation of a Paxton supercharger to several Studebaker models, including the Avanti).
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
Evidently, Joe Granatelli contacted Studebaker and arranged for a new 1963 Avanti to be built and delivered directly to Paxton. Normally every Avanti had a production order associated with its build. However, the production order for this particular car has never been located by any of the known sources of production records. The only known factory record of this car indicates the following:
• “99 19 – Special Tag information” on the production order, indicating it is a vehicle for car show display or an unusual or other out-of-the-ordinary purpose, but the intended use is not indicated;
• “OOJ Paxton” which is believed to mean Joe Granatelli at Paxton;
• “07 31” which is believed to be a July 31 order date;
• and “0R04795” for its vehicle identification number.
There has been a great deal of speculation and discussion regarding why Joe Granatelli decided to outfit this particular Avanti with a 1964 Cadillac 429 engine. Perhaps Paxton was looking for new supercharger applications, or Granatelli just wanted something different — with performance — to drive. The engine comparison sidebar provides some indications of performance of each powerplant, although sources such as the “Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975” did note that “Performance gains from the 429 showed best in the lower range, at 20 to 50 mph driving speeds,” hence the somewhat low 3,000 rpm engine speed for the torque.
It’s also possible that Paxton wanted something unique to use as an auto show display car. We do know that the Avanti with a VIN including “R-4795” was ordered and subsequently delivered by Studebaker to Paxton without an engine or transmission.
As noted, much of the foregoing is speculation and guesses. If anyone reading this knows and can document anything regarding this car, please share.
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
The chain of ownership
The car first appeared for sale in an advertisement placed by Joe Granatelli in the Avanti Owners Association International’s Avanti Newsletter #8 from the winter of 1966; a similar ad for it appeared in the May 1996 issue of Turning Wheels, the Studebaker Drivers Club’s publication.
Dick Hulse, a longtime enthusiast, eventually became the car’s fifth owner. He researched its history and wrote an article based upon his knowledge in the summer 1996 issue of Avanti Magazine #96. That article is very much recommended reading and includes Hulse’s correspondence with noted Studebaker historian Fred Fox, who confirmed that this is, indeed, the Granatelli 429 Cadillac Avanti based on evidence available to him.
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
In recently speaking with Hulse, I learned he is well and was looking forward to observing his 90th birthday in 2023. He confirmed that he had purchased the car at an estate sale in August 1984 because, unfortunately, its prior owner, a man named Lawrence Benjamin, had been murdered, and the car was being sold as part of his estate.
Hulse enjoyed the car for 13 years before selling it to Jerry Thielen of Illinois. In January 1997, Thielen drove the car from Upland, Calif., to Bensenville, Ill.
Accompanying the car, from when Hulse had purchased it from Benjamin’s estate, was a package of receipts detailing expenditures of more than $ 10,000 from Nov. 15, 1982, to Oct. 27, 1983. Receipts are for items such as “replacing many parts, including front springs, windshield, Koni adjustable shocks, American wire wheels and many other mechanical parts.”
Hulse had noted in his Summer 1996 article for Avanti Magazine that “a fantastic amount of work was involved in the engine conversion. The frame was altered to accommodate the extra engine height. The drive line was shortened to allow the engine to be positioned farther back. The radiator was rotated 90 degrees and straightened up to a vertical plane for better cooling.”
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
Additionally, it was noted by Hulse in that same article that this Avanti included some unique features. “Hamilton front disc brake conversion kit using Mustang rotors and Chevrolet calipers and pads and Recaro Type C front seats.” It is believed the brake conversion and Recaro seats had been done after Granatelli had sold the car.
At my request, Brad Bez of Bez Auto Alchemy reviewed photos of the car’s frame and chassis at that time, and as configured after Hulse’s ownership. I asked him what appeared different from a standard Avanti. Bez sent an email which tends to confirm some of the items Hulse discovered upon purchasing this car.
“I see that the lower front cross member has a reinforcing beam welded to it from underneath,” Bez noted. “[I] also see Koni shock absorbers. I don’t really see many other modifications from stock. Perhaps the rear transmission mount. The sway bars look stock. The front brakes look like Jim Turner adaptations with Ford rotors and GM calipers.”
He later added that the radiator looks like it has an electric cooling fan. Also, it has the Twin-Traction differential. “Possible Jaguar rear view mirrors?”
This correspondence with Bez helped confirm Hulse’s research that it was, indeed, the Avanti that Joe Granatelli had converted to Cadillac power.
As noted earlier, Hulse sold the “Avanti-Lac” on January 1997 to Jerry Thielen, who subsequently drove it from California to Illinois. Thielen had called Hulse to let him know the car performed flawlessly on the trip.
John Hull, courtesy of Avanti Owners Association Intl.
Retrieval and Rebirth
Thielen was very active in the Chicagoland Chapter of the Avanti Owners Association International and had amassed a 10-plus Avanti car collection. His cars had ranged from a 1963 Avanti to a supercharged 2002 Avanti. He viewed these cars as part investment and part retirement projects.
Unfortunately, Thielen stored many of his cars in a large purpose-built pole barn and gave them little use. After Thielen suffered a stroke, members of the club’s Chicagoland Chapter went to his property to retrieve all of his Avantis from long-term storage. It proved to be quite the undertaking as many of the cars had been parked for an extended period of time and had become housing for squirrels and other varmints.
Once the vehicles were removed from storage, they were photographed and offered in advertisements listed in Avanti Magazine. The unique Avanti-Lac was offered for sale in the Spring/Summer 2015 issue of Avanti Magazine.
Henry Mann, a consummate auto enthusiast and fellow AOAI member located in Pennsylvania, acquired this unique Avanti from Thielen’s collection. Under Mann’s direction, the car underwent an extensive restoration starting with the frame and mechanicals, exterior body and paint and then the interior. The restoration took more than seven years. Suffice it to say that Henry Mann’s restoration results speak for themselves. His collection currently numbers more than 70 automobiles (including the Avanti-Lac) and can be found online at HanksCars.com.
Sources/Resources
Avanti Newsletter #8, Winter 1966; Avanti Magazine #96, Summer 1996; Special Interest Autos #96, December 1986*; “Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975”**; Chiltons**.
Avanti Owners Association International: aoai.org
Studebaker Drivers Club: studebakerdriversclub.com
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