Studebaker Avanti R1034 was presented to Rodger Ward, the American auto racing icon, for winning the 1962 Indianapolis 500.
Studebaker also declared that Ward was the first official Avanti owner. The car they had given him was a supercharged model, which was not available with air conditioning. Ward wanted to use the car as a daily driver at his home in California and therefore requested they replace it with an air conditioned model. The Avanti still retains the metal dash plaque that reads "Presented to Rodger Ward 1962 500 Winner." It is equipped with the 289 ci V-8 Studebaker engine and a Carter AFB 4 barrel carburetor, an aluminum racing type radiator and Halibrand magnesium wheels.
