When Studebaker closed its South Bend, Indiana manufacturing plant at the end of 1963, everyone who had been following the new Avanti thought that was the end for the car. While Studebaker would keep building automobiles in Canada into 1966, the sleek, fiberglass-bodied Avanti’s weren’t part of the mix. But two former Studebaker dealers came to the rescue, bought the rights to the brand and dies, and kept the Avanti afloat for decades to come. This beautiful Avanti II is from 1982 and is said to have just 5,600 miles on the odometer. The excellent find is in Putnam Valley, New York, and available here on craigslist for $36,000. Barn Finder Pat L. does it again!
The new car that offered a lot of promise for struggling Studebaker in 1962 was gone by 1964 after only 4,647 copies had been built. It was a grand touring auto that company executives had hoped would sell 20,000 examples a year, but they never came close. The Avanti would enjoy a rebirth thanks to Nathan Altman and Leo Newman who started a new company from the remnants of the old one. Avanti Motors was formed in 1964 and production would begin the next year on the Avanti II using a workforce that had mostly been employed by Studebaker before its demise.
Since Studebaker power was no longer available, the cars relied mostly on engines and transmissions supplied by Chevrolet, the 327 cubic inch V8 at first. The Avanti II would see annual production in the hundreds through 1982, the last year that Altman/Newman owned the company. During those 17 years, the Avanti II looked a lot like the original Avanti. With several ownership changes after 1982, the last cars (just called Avanti by then) were built in 2006, but they had changed a lot over time.
The 1982 model year was the high point in Avanti II production with 197 units being assembled. The seller’s car is one of those and by then they were using 305 V8s supplied by General Motors. This car looks as though it was purchased to become a pedestal piece as the odometer doesn’t even read 6,000 miles after 40 years. It’s in beautiful condition, wearing deep red paint and a bronze interior that just invites you to take a road trip. Overall, the car looks to be in showroom condition, so adding many more miles might make the car less special in the years to come.
Good looking automobiles. Best served up with a Ford 289 and 4sp.
Never knew they came with a Ford motor. Knew about the Studebaker 289. Learn something new every day.
A bucket list car of mine.
They never did come with a Ford mill, always Chevy after the original run had Studebaker (not Ford) 289s; I think Stan was proposing a swap?
Nope i was clueless. … i always thought they were 289 Fords. I had no idea they were Studebaker motors.
The supercharged ones looked really cool.
It would need restored to drive it, But I’d Drive It. It’s NOT A Original So It’s Only Worth What Ever Someone Wants To Pay
Studebaker 289 engines were in 1963 and 1964 Avantis. Chevrolet small blocks were used in Avantis from 1965 through 1991 (327, then 400, followed by 350s and last by 305s). 2001-2005 Avanti used Chevy engines, and 2006 and 2007 models were based on the Mustang platform with Ford engines.
Cool, thanks for the info.
Very nice, very short description, and just a few photos on the outside of the car.
Here’s a good article about the Avanti and the Youngstown, Ohio connection to it. I live near Youngstown and watched the JJ Cafaro and Mike Kelly saga.
https://jalopnik.com/still-waiting-for-a-savior-before-gm-left-avanti-sold-1833122040
Mostly it was the case of who had the most BS. Kelly of Cafaro. Kelly was an arrogant Texas cowboy who thought he could come to a union steel town, with the GM Lordstown plant a few miles away and build cars in a non union shop. JJ was the red-headed-stepchild of the Cafaro Company and this caper was a black mark on its reputation.
In the 80’s Youngstown was grasping at anything that could replace the declining steel industry. Breweries, Blimps, Indoor NASCAR racetrack. You name it.
I test drove a used 82 Avanti in South Bend in 85 or so, 25 k miles or so and was impressed on how quiet and tight it was. Seemed built as nice as a luxury car. Too bad I couldn’t afford it at the time. Have always wanted one.
Speaking of the 289… Ford introduced their 289 in 1963, Studebaker in 1956!
Yep, Stan, they never came with a Ford engine … the 289 was all-Studebaker, even the R2 Supercharged model … love these cars …
Neither the Studebaker Corp. nor Newman/Altman
ever used a Ford engine in any of their cars. The very last Avanti built in 2007 was built in Mexico, and sad to say it had a Ford V-6 in it. The last of an American classic was an abomination!!! The 2006, and 2007 Avanti’s were based on the Mustang platform with Mustang drivelines…