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| A Studebaker
Avanti R-3 driven by Andy Granatelli at
Bonneville shattered 29 U.S. records in 12 hours in 1962: American
class "C" Flying Start; 1 mile—168.15 mph; 5
mile—167.82 mph; 10 mile—163.90. American class "C"
Standing Start; 1 mile—92.03 mph; 5 mile 139.69; 10 mile—151.66
mph. All 29 records are the average speeds of a 2 way run, and
are not the top speeds obtained. Granatelli came back that year
with his R3 to score 170.78 mph, and broke five other Class
C marks. Altogether twelve Studebakers smashed 337 different
USAC records in six classes. Production R-1 models listed 0-60
mph times of about 10.5 seconds, the standing-start quarter-mile
in 17.0 seconds at about 80 mph, and top speeds of 115-120 mph. |
World's Fastest Production Car
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Studebaker
took full advantage of the Avanti's stock racing records (so
did Champion Spark Plugs, Valvoline
Motor Oil, Gabriel Shock Absorbers,
and other suppliers of the track vehicles) by running ads like
this one in major publications throughout the production period.
"The car that gave America 29 new national stock car records
in 12 hours" and "337 speed records shattered"
appeared often. This ad also proclaimed that the Avanti was
"The world's fastest production car." |
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