Studebakers from all over the USA will begin arriving in Indianapolis Tuesday for a week of events expect to attract hundreds of drivers and Studebaker automobiles of all shapes and sizes, from the earliest Indiana-made models to the sleek, fiberglass Studebaker Avanti sports car. The last Indiana Studebaker rolled off assembly lines in South Bend almost 60 years ago, but Studebaker lovers keep the cars running.
The Marion County Fairgrounds at 7300 East Troy Avenue hosts the International Studebaker Drivers Club meet activities through Saturday, September 11 and the Hyatt Place/Hyatt House hotel on IKEA Way is center stage for the Avanti sportscar Owners Club events next week.
A Saturday, September 11 “Cruise-In” car show at the Marion Co. Fairgrounds is open to all makes of vehicles. A car show featuring miniature model cars is also planned at the Fairgrounds. Public admission to the fairgrounds on Saturday is $10. Car registration for those showing vehicles is $25. Cruise-In cars will be judged and awards will be handed out that afternoon, with awards given for the top 20 cars, a “Best in Show,” and “People’s Choice” cars.
Other highlights of the Studebaker week include:
- Swap meets, tours, and car judging at the Fairgrounds throughout the week;
- Presentations about Studebaker’s role in various wars, from providing wagons to the Union Army during the Civil War to building WWII aircraft engines;
- On Friday in Fishers, more than 75 Avantis will be showcased for judging in Fishers. The Avanti is a low-slung car with a long hood and a wasp-waist design on the rear fenders (sometimes called a Coke-bottle shape.). While the Avanti was Studebaker’s last gasp and fewer than 5,000 were made, the Avanti marque continued in production under various manufacturers until 2007.
- The red 1963 R2 Studebaker Avanti used in the Netflix TV series Gotham will also be on display.
