Rare is the occasion that a car lives on for years after its original manufacturer ceased operations. But the Studebaker Avanti is one of them. The South Bend Avanti only lasted two model years (1963-64) but was resurrected by a couple of Studebaker dealers, and the car lived on for another 40+ years. First called the Avanti II, it reverted to just Avanti in 1983, and this beautiful convertible was built in 1991. According to the seller, only 19 were produced that year, and this one is a stout survivor. Located with what may be a dealer in Tucson, Arizona, this beauty is available here on eBay for $39,990 OBO.
The original Avanti Motor Car Co. was owned by the Robert Altman group (1965-83). That was followed by the Blake group (1983-85), Kelly (1986-88), Cafaro (1989-91), and AMC (not American Motors; 2001-06 after skipping a decade). Except for the last period, all chassis and drivetrains came from Chevrolet, the last from Pontiac or Ford. The seller’s 1991 edition is probably sitting on a Monte Carlo chassis with a 305 cubic inch V8 and a TH-350 automatic transmission.
Because production numbers per year were low, we doubt any of these ownership groups made money except for Altman (one of the Studebaker dealers that saved the car). The convertible was a brief iteration during the Cafaro years, and the chrome bumpers had been replaced by rubber/plastic ones, so the vintage look of the car was sadly compromised. The white beauty here with a red/maroon interior has just 32,500 miles.
Most of the listing for this car is “marketing speak,” which suggests a dealer or cut-and-paste. We’re guessing the paint is original, but the top is new, and the leather upholstery shows just a bit of wear on the driver’s seat. The seller says the car has just been serviced and is ready for a road trip. This includes the fuel system, suggesting the Avanti was dormant for a time. The tires are new and were installed in 2026. BTW, in the original 1963-64 Avanti run, there was no convertible model.
Very nice, red interiors are not for me. Why does it say Dino on the steering wheel?
Seller claims this was built on a 1990 Caprice chassis, which is consistent, since this was a period with no Monte Carlo production.