Seldom do automobiles get a second life, but the Studebaker Avanti did. After the company’s demise, two former dealers bought sufficient initial Studebaker manufacturing capacity to keep the car going as the Avani II for many years to come. This one is a 1973 edition that’s been off the road for a while, so some work to the Chevrolet-supplied powertrain may be needed. Located in Decatur, Texas, this low-production successor is available here on craigslist for $13,000. Kudos to Barn Finder Pat L. for this cool tip!
The Avanti from 1963-64 was the car that insiders were hoping would save Studebaker. But it was unable to reach sufficient volume before the company discontinued U.S. automobile production at the end of calendar 1963. Stude dealers Nate Altman and Leo Newman thought there was still a market for the Avanti so they created the Avanti Motor Co., bought leftover Studebaker stock, and reincarnated the machine as Avanti II in 1965. Between then and 2007, no more than a few hundred of the cars were made each year as the company continued to change hands after the passing of its founders.
For the Altman/Newman copies of the Avanti II, the cars looked remarkably like the original. But what propelled the machines was where they departed ways. By the time this ’73 was assembled, the cars had a 400 cubic inch Chevy V8 under the hood, paired with a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. We assume that’s the case with this car, although the seller doesn’t say and provides no under-the-bonnet photos. The owner says this auto has been dormant for a few years now but does run. But that doesn’t mean that some work might not be needed, such as a good flushing of the fuel system.
Considering it was built 50 years ago, this Avanti II presents nicely enough. They continued to deploy fiberglass bodies like the originals, so there doesn’t appear to be any damage and the black paint looks okay. But we don’t know the status of the undercarriage. The interior looks alright although the carpeting may need to be refreshed at 57,000 miles. If you’ve always fancied having an Avanti, the Avanti II may be easier to find parts for with its GM mechanical bits.
IMHO, one of the ugliest least desirable cars ever made. Sorry.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.It’s not my cup of tea though also.
Different strokes for different folks. I think it’s a classic design that still looks good.
If you lost the driving lights and remounted the front plate it would look good.
I saw one as a kid and it seemed pretty amazing, so I’ve always liked them. But the styling is definitely polarizing. You either like them or you feel like Craig (and one of my friends) does about them
The Avanti has been my dream car since I first saw one in early 1963.
I’ve never been able to afford one.
This one included.
Mine too as a little kid seeing one and now as an old fart still love and would love to have one
People now are going to look at the front end and say “I had no idea that they were making electric vehicles back then”.
The older (and more experienced) I get the more I appreciate the Avanti. This looks like a nice car with good potential, if I had the spare cash and it wasn’t halfway across the country I’d be interested.
I like the looks of this Avanti, the driving lights are period correct, however they are mounted where fog lights should be. Get a pair of european conversions for the headlamps, change the lenses on the driving lights to fogs and problem solved. The bigger issue for me would be the chassis. From the limited amount you can see it looks to be a little “crusty”. Now change the bolt on wire wheels get a PPI and if it checks all your boxes I say put it in your garage.
Raymond Lowey was a great designer.
But I never understood how these didn’t easily overheat.
The cooling system air flow passes through the grille under the bumper, a technique that’s quite common (in fact, the norm) today, but twenty or so years ahead of its time when the Avanti was designed in 1962. The only thing lacking on the Avanti that’s a common component of modern cooling systems is a plastic air dam at the bottom of the front fascia.
The Avanti was a polarizing design as shown by the comments above. People loved the car or hated it. I loved it as a freshman in high school in the Fall of ‘62 when I first saw one in person. I bought a bought a barely used ‘64 in April ‘66 and proceeded to use and abuse it the next 3+ years before turning my youthful destructive talents to a ‘67 Chevelle SS 396. My appreciation of Avanti surfaced again in 2011when I bought a ‘76 Avanti II that I have slowly done an on frame restoration to. I’ve enjoyed driving the car across the country and plan to keep driving and enjoying it during the Midwest summer driving seasons as long as I’m driving. I also had an ‘89 convertible for 7 years as well, but decided to scale my Avanti collection back after I retired. Unless there is an Avanti or Studebaker meet, I never see another one on the road when I’m driving mine.
The convertible always gets my attention , i envy your ownership !as a canadian , these beauties are unobtainium
Personally, I think it is a somewhat timeless design, just as Raymond Lowrys’ 53 Studebaker design is. A girl I dated in High Schools’ grandfather bought 1 in October of 1962, turquoise in exterior color with a black interior. just beautiful in my opinion. would like to have an original or a II.
Luckily I have one of each of his iconic designs, a 78 Avanti II and a 54 Champion coupe. Both in my opinion are some of the neatest cars. out there. Wish I could post pictures.