Avanti Provenance: Understanding Build Sheets, Dealer Invoices, and Born Reports
Summary:
How was your Avanti "born"? For over 35 years, owners have turned to Nostalgic Motor Cars to uncover the factory DNA of their vehicles. In 1984, Dan Booth acquired the exclusive rights and original factory archives for all 1963–1985 Studebaker Avanti and Avanti II production records.
In this deep dive into automotive history, Dan explains the significance of the "Nostalgic Born Report." Discover the secrets hidden in original Build Sheets—including "tested on rolls" notations—and learn how Dealer Cost Invoices reveal the true wholesale price and original dealership destinations. You will also learn about the rarest documents in existence: the 1963-64 Factory Inspection Tickets, which provide a raw, handwritten look at the quality control repairs made to each car before it left South Bend. Whether you are authenticating a rare 3-speed standard or tracing a car’s original owner, these archives provide the ultimate proof of provenance.
Key Historical Insights:
The Archives: How Nostalgic Motor Cars became the steward of original Studebaker and Avanti Motors records.
Build Sheets: Understanding the codes that determined your car’s original color, interior, and options.
Dealer Invoices: The difference between wholesale cost and window sticker price in the 1960s.
Factory Testing: What it meant when a car was "tested on rolls" during the final inspection process.
1963-64 Avanti Build Sheets
(1/2 page) Available for about 99% of the original production
1965-85 Avanti Build Sheets
Available for about 99% of the original production
YOU MUST INCLUDE VIN WHEN ORDERING
1963-64 Avanti Inspection Tickets
(usually 4 full pages) Available for about 50% of the original production
YOU MUST INCLUDE VIN WHEN ORDERING