The Avanti II was the successor to the Studebaker Avanti, which fell victim to the company’s poor finances after barely two model years (1963 and 1964). The car was revived in 1965 by a pair of Studebaker dealers who thought there was a market for it. From then until 2006, the Avanti II (later shortened to just Avanti) was built in small annual numbers that barely surpassed that of the original car in total. The seller has a 1990 Avanti with 4 doors, and it’s one of only 90 built. The car hasn’t run in a couple of years and will need to be towed. Located in Galt, California, this rare automobile is available here on craigslist for $10,000 or the closest reasonable offer.
For the first several years, the Avanti II looked pretty much like its predecessor. That’s because some of the equipment and parts needed to build the cars were purchased from Studebaker before they got out of the car business altogether. But the company started to change hands multiple times after 1983, and the physical appearance was altered. For example, rubber/plastic bumpers replaced the chrome ones. A convertible model was added. And even a 4-door sedan was sold going into the 1990s.
To me, stretching the vehicle to accommodate four doors negates the beauty of the original car. In other words, it just doesn’t look right. And perhaps buyers thought so, as fewer than one hundred copies were ever made. We assume Chevrolet drivetrains were still being used by 1990 (as had been the case since 1965). So perhaps a 305 cubic inch V8 and a TH-350 transmission reside in the seller’s machine. This Avanti’s paint is in fair condition, but the fiberglass body panels seem to have held up.
The seller says the Avanti has traveled more than 121,000 miles and ran when it was parked a couple of years ago. No efforts have been made to start the vehicle, so maybe a new battery and a flush of the fuel delivery system will help it come back to life. The car has been listed by someone who is not part of the family that owns the car (must not understand the internet). Our thanks to Tony Primo for uncovering this tip for us.
Another case of rare but not necessarily desirable. Sometimes a limited number production is a statement of acceptance by the general public and in this case for good reasons not the least of which was the then dwindling dealer support.
It appears it’ll possibly need more mechanical attention than stated. Noticeably the right front tire appears to be suspended with the LF wearing a spare of sorts.
Interesting find, sir. This is one that some of us didn’t even know about.
Rare yes, but as mentioned above, not particularly desirable. The downside, it’s a project car that doesn’t run and hasn’t for years, the paint is worn out, the interior is worn and it’s not in the sellers name, the upside, it’s rare. All this for a low asking price of $10,000. Unless this is someone’s dream car, its better to keep looking, you can find really nice cars from that era for considerably less if you are willing to put some effort into a search.
Steve R
As an Avanti? Yes. As a four door, no..the extra doors ruined its looks, rather like when Jaguar added the XKE 2+2 version turning a swan into an ugly duckling. I guess if you gotta have a late Avanti and you don’t care about its looks (and also have deep pockets for the work this one needs), then this is the car for you.
Agree with all above. That being said, still looks cooler than almost all modern sedans.
And, I dig the improvised cup holder.
Okay. I’ll be the odd man out. I like it. I remember when the 4 door came out, and I liked it then, too. Sure looks better than a Panamera! And I think the Avanti adapted well to the plastic bumpers. The very simplistic dash is appealing, too. This could be beautiful with a bit of work, and yo sure wouldn’t see a lot of them on the road, or even at a car show. With the GM drive train parts shouldn’t be a huge issue
Further proof that in some cases once the original is done it’s best to leave well enough alone.
Interesting car but the interior has the conversion van vibe. Someone will rescue this one. GLWTS
Heh, “conversion van” was exactly the impression I got looking at that interior before I saw your comment, great minds…
They built 90 before they realized what they’d created?
I’ve never seen or heard of these 4 doors.
Hey Claudio!
The end of Chevrolet Monte Carlo production is what forced Avanti to stretch its models to fit over the longer Caprice chassis. The stretched coupe doesn’t look much better than this sedan.
I bought my lottery ticket. I think a bit of customization it would make an outstanding Mid-West car show car.. For those of you who don’t know, the midwest is ALL CORNFIELDS! Thousands of miles of corn. In the Midwest, tiny towns of 200-10000 people are what breaks the cornfields up. Every weekend after driving in corn in any direction for an indeterminate time, you will happen upon one of these awesome towns having a festival or a car show in memory of someone who passed a looooooog time ago. 22 WEEKS, 44 car shows minimum, driving up to 70 miles a day. IF I HAVE TO SEE SOMETHING THIS UGLY, I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO SEE IT TOO.
Avanti II cars from ’65-85 were true continuation cars, only differing from the Studebaker originals by their GM powertrains, minor front-end tweaks to accommodate the slightly taller engine, and trim updates such as the Recaro seats offered late in the run.
From ’87-on when they dropped the “II” and switched to GM chassis (Monte Carlo for one year only, then Caprice after that), IMO they became little more than Avanti tributes, sharing nothing but the general exterior shape with the originals. Even the body lines seemed a bit softer, losing some of the original crispness, as if they’d pulled molds off an original and reshaped them to accommodate the new chassis, nevermind what they did to create these short-lived 4-door sedans.
Probably the greatest misstep with the sedan’s styling (aside from the decision to make one at all) was the switch from frameless door glass to clamshell doors. Perhaps this was meant to look more modern, and/or perhaps it was just easier to engineer for adequate rigidity and weatherproofing, but it lost the light, airy impression of the original greenhouse, and the leanness of the original body massing along with it, making the resulting whole look downright portly.
These Avanti II’s were put together with spit and toilet paper, and good luck getting that 305 unstuck. $3k would be a charity offer.
1 of 90. Looking at this one, that’s 89 too many.
they were never well made nor cars one with which one could use the word quality to describe. I drove one extensively in the early 70s when I was a teen and while for me it was fun, compared to my mother’s plymouth, the car had obvious flaws. add to it the word “ungainly”, it loses it’s appeal. maybe one day it’s sheer rarity will factor in to the equation, but I rather doubt it. a rare duck is still often ugly. if the car ran, it would be one thing. that it doesn’t adds a new dimension to the equation.
Nobody’s dream car. I would say that any of the Avanti produced after the Studebaker originals are of slim desirability and of dubious collector value. But, as years of rehoming special interest vehicles has shown, there truly is a keister for every seat :)
Hideous car, never saw the appeal for any year.
Lovely looking car. I’ve seen Avanti before, but never a 4 door Avanti.
Cut the front door out , Move the whole back end in to align with front window and roof, There, it’s done, (minor items, Cut frame out to fit, shorten drive shaft and tail pipes) Repaint , A beautiful 63 Avanti clone, You did it.
The Avanti is one of Amedrica´s most beautiful automobiles, regardless of era.
To change even a few of its features was a disgrace, such as the awful plastic bumpers. However, what was done here is inexcusably bad, ugly and outright revolting, including the interior which looks like a well finished kit car. Whoever was the ¨designer´ should hang his head inm shame.
They built 90 before they realized what they’d created?
I’ve never seen or heard of these 4 doors.
Hey Claudio!
Today on Phoenix FB Marketplace there are 4 Avantis for $ 5,000
Ugly then…Ugly now.
Those framed doors really capture that late 50s Packard-Studebaker style. The Avanti is a beautiful if polarizing car. This is not pretty. When I saw this the first thing I thought of was the Corvette America. I’ll take the Vette.
Call me another outlier on this, but I think it is not bad looking at all, considering what they were working with. I had forgotten that they had to use the full-size Chevrolet frame after 1988, and with the extra length, it was an opportunity to create a sedan out of it. As for the kit car look, at this point in the game, with so many different owners at its late stages, the craftsmanship was doomed to go downhill, just like other “continuation” or “tribute” cars (Cobras can be the biggest offenders!). In a sea of Studebaker Avanti’s and the early continuation models), you have something different to look at. Some TLC (and some $$$) could make this look at least respectable, and with the GM drivetrain, there shouldn’t be an issue with parts. I’d ditch that 305, though – that has to be pretty anemic! I’m not sure if they were still using the TH400’S or if they went to one of the 4L units, but it should be able to handle one of the more modern blocks like a LT1 or LS3. I also believe they weren’t made for hot-rodding like the coupes, but more of a cruising car that has a little more flair than the boxy GM and Ford products, along with a few foreign manufacturers.
Blasphemous what they did to the clean, original design of the 1963 Avanti. I would be too embarrassed to even take this to a car show.
This car has been ridden hard and put away wet several times
That’s just wrong…
I am not a four door lover but i see this as a perfect addition for the owner of a coupe and topless avanti
OK, where’s the Avanti ElCamino?
This would be perfect for that conversion, I love it!
Thankfully, it is just far enough away from me, because the more I think about it, the more I like that idea!
NOW, that’s a GREAT idea, can anyone make a photoshop pic ?
I’m having a hard time picturing this car turned into a ute.
I’m having a hard time picturing this car turned into a ute.
This car should be bought by the Studebaker Avanti Owners Club and immediately crushed! Then they should set about trying to find the rest of them and do the same. This thing was an abomination when it was new. I know it’s “rare”, but it should become unobtainable!
Because Chris doesn’t like them, no one else should have them. Got it.
I stand corrected! I’m sure there are people who collect dog poop! Who am I to judge!
Dear JDC, Chris isn´t the only one who doesn´t like this abortion; he demonstrates god taste.