The Avanti was supposed to help save Studebaker in the early 1960s. But it never managed to reach a sustainable production volume and was dropped when the company ceased U.S. auto assemblies in late 1963. Of the 1964 editions that were built, 281 had a Paxton supercharger. And supposedly (per the seller), only 12 ‘64s had leftover round headlights from 1963. The seller’s black beauty is said to be one such car, and it presents well overall. Located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, this well-heeled Stude is available here on craigslist for $35,000.
Studebaker developed the Avanti on a short timeline as a 1963 offering. It was to be the company’s “halo” car that would help fill Studebaker’s coffers by hitting 20,000 copies a year. But production delays and other problems prevented the fiberglass-bodied car from achieving even 5,000 units in less than two years. The Avanti would live on long after Studebaker’s demise as the Avanti II, which was soldiered by former dealers and others from 1965 to 2006.
We’re told this ’64 is being offered by its second owner. Little of its history is imparted, but it’s either a very nice original with 35,000 miles or an older restoration. The body, paint, and interior look good, though the driver’s bucket seat needs some repair to the upholstery. Just 809 of the ‘64s were ever built, and one-third had the R-2 supercharged 289 V8 like this one. The car also has an automatic transmission supplied by Borg-Warner.
As the story goes, most ‘64s had rectangular headlight bezels. But somewhere between 12 and as many as 150 may have had the round bezels left in inventory from the ‘63s. So, a car like the seller’s is especially rare with the Paxton blower. Adding to the appeal of this black marvel are the gold wire wheels. Are you a taker at the seller’s asking price? BTW, kudos to Tony Primo for the tip!
With round headlights, I thought that would be a ’63. 1964 had square trim rings around the headlights
You may want to look over Russ’s article again. He addressed just that fact pretty well.
Engine compartment paint is supposed to match the exterior paint but it looks gray, not black.
I guess if you ordered a black Avanti it would cost an extra $50.00 cause the body had to be straighter,,more body work involved
Round headlights were also on some of the 1964 Avantis, for a variety of reasons. Transition models, cars being initially sold in 1964 were titled by some states as 1964’s are a couple of the reasons. I bought a round headlight ‘64 Avanti in April 1966 enjoying the car with all its quirks until selling it in 1969. It was not a transition model as it had none of the 1964 changes in it.
I never forgot the car, black with red/fawn interior equipped with an, automatic and R 1 engine. I have since owned two Avantis, a 1976 purchased in 2011 that I have restored over the years and an 1989 convertible resto-mod that I had from 2014-2021.
How did the 1976 model differ from the 1964? Improved?
I miss Studebaker…and especially the Avanti!
Get one! I did
Too bad I’m not closer or knew someone who could inspect it for me. Of course I would also need to have someone to talk my wife into letting me buy it.
Send your wife’s number. I’m pretty good at talking other people’s wives into things ;)
I have long been a fan of Studebakers, but never could get over what seemed to me the awkward proportions of the body, and the absence of a visible grille. I prefer the GT Hawk, and have 2 of them. This one looks like a real gem, and price is reasonable.
Same here on the Avanti design, I don’t know what they were thinking but it just seems odd to me. I do really like GT Hawks tho, and I would’ve loved to have the red one that was on BF a while back, it was an nice AZ car that was actually just an hour up the road where I’m at, but I don’t have a place to work on one at this point so I watched it sell on Ebay for just $3700.
I don’t know what you is is awkward about the proportions,,long hood short deck, the car style still looks good after 60 yrs, the 68 Pont GP had long hood short deck,Tornado did and others,,actually it should have been called the First pony car
That’s why they make different kinds Jeff! I’m allowed to hate it and keep my money…you’re allowed to love it and spend yours. How many Studes do you have?
I’ve got 3 IF you have to know,,but no Avanti’s YET
I would prefer the original wheel covers.
Yes, but wires were a rare option. I believe they were Dayton’s but never “yellow” spokes. I have a friend with an all original black R2 ’64 with turquoise interior and the Dayton wires. He won’t part with it.
I would be looking at this one if I were in the market.
What is that item that looks like a drawer in the upper portion of the glove box ?
That’s the vanity/makeup tray.
Vanity for makeup
Vanity for makeup
You gotta love the seller’s attention to detail…photo of lawnmower handles in front of driver’s door, messy newspaper laying on the rear floor.
Oh, and the lengthy advertising info.
Lawn mower? That’s yard decor! Lots of work for our enjoyment. Happy hunting!
My wife has a round headlight ‘64 R2 Avanti. The she only wishes it was a stick. Regardless of what you think of design (we love it), it’s important to remember that the Avanti was the world’s fastest production car at the time.
I was in Roseburg,Oregon years ago & stopped to look through
the local junkyard.There were burned remains of a car with an integrated
roll bar.I asked the guy behind the counter what it was,and he said it
was an Avanti.
I’m personally more interested in powertrain than looks in vehicles.
Would love to have some seat time in a 4sp, Supercharger equipped Avanti.
Stan, I agree, and, heck, I’d be happy to have some seat time in ANY Studebaker with a Supercharger and A 4 speed!!!
That’s a lot of steak burgers
Yes these cars were fast! But they failed in the design of the car, no front grille was a horrible idea, they didn’t learn from the Franklin Automobile, the traditional front grille was what buyers wanted. It was doomed to failure from the start!
No grille doomed the Avanti? Interesting theory…Pretty sure Studebaker had other issues. The Avanti lived on pretty damn long in the form of the Avanti II.
Tesla, VW, Corvair and the Avanti disagree.
Grill had nothing to do with it !!!!!,,They brought them out and had lots of orders ,,BUT Studebaker again was unprepared,,they had the same company that made the corvette make the Avanti bodies,,fit problems and that company was dedicated the chevrolet so Stude was not important, so Studebaker made a plant @ S.Bend to make them,,so they were 8 months behind in getting the cars to the public ,lost a lot of orders cause of that , then guess what Ford came out with Mustang at half the price of the the Avanti, eventho the Avanti was a big step above the stang ,,price and many dealers jumped ahead,,
I always loved the Avanti since I saw the first one on display at Standifer Field airport in Louisville in late ’62. I still have the original brochure. In the early 70’s our company had two cars as company cars for top execs. I got to drive them occasionally but found them to be dated and construction quality was not as good as my Camaro.
For 35 large, they could fix the seat & lose those horrible wheel covers. Just sayin’. It’s nice that everything under the hood looks right, tho.
If I’m not mistaken, those are true wire wheels and not wheel covers.
I have now officially added to the crazy amount of comments that this car has generated.