1963 Studebaker Avanti R1

The main difference between the R1 and R2 Avanti is the supercharger!

R1 (like the car you’re looking at):

• 289 cubic inch V8 with 240 horsepower
• Naturally aspirated (no supercharger)
• 10.25:1 compression ratio
• Could be ordered with air conditioning
• Base engine - most common

R2 (the hot rod version):

• Same 289 cubic inch V8 but with a Paxton SN-60 centrifugal supercharger
• 289 horsepower - that’s 49 more ponies!
• 9.0:1 compression ratio (lower to handle boost)
• No A/C - the supercharger took up the space
• Cost about $210 more when new

Both engines share the same “Jet Thrust” DNA - things like 4-barrel carbs, high-lift cams, dual exhaust, and dual-point distributors. But the R2 was the performance choice, helping the Avanti hit 0-60 in around 9.5 seconds with the 4-speed.

Value-wise, the R2 commands a premium these days. I see them typically selling for $40K-$65K, while R1s like yours tend to be in the $25K-$40K range. That said, your burgundy R1 looks like a sweet driver with all those nice options (power stuff, aftermarket stereo) - perfect for cruising without the supercharger maintenance headaches!

Want me to check out any R2 models that might be available, or are you pretty happy with this R1?