Sometimes buying a classic car can involve taking a leap of faith, but when you can trace the history of that car from day one, the process can be far less stressful. That is the case with this 1964 Studebaker Avanti. The seller has listed it on behalf of a family friend, and its history is known by its current owner right back to the day it left the dealership. If you would like to let an Avanti into your life, you will find this one located in Shirley, New York, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the reserve at $29,000, but there has been no bidding action in this No Reserve auction. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for referring the Studebaker to us.

The history of Studebaker and the chaos that the company experienced during its death throes are perfectly encapsulated in this Avanti Turquoise classic. It is being offered as a 1964 model, and I have no reason to doubt that. However, its VIN indicates that it actually rolled off the production line in December of 1962. Studebaker was experiencing as many problems with their distribution as with every other aspect of the business, so anomalies like this are par for the course. Looking beyond this, the Avanti is an original survivor. Its paint wears a fair number of marks and faded spots, mainly on the trunk lid, but it still shines well for a car that is close to 60-years-old. With a body made of fiberglass, rust in the panels will never be an issue. However, rust in regions of its underside can cause significant headaches. As long as the hog troughs, which are the most vulnerable items, are sound, all should be okay. The trim and chrome appear to be in good order, as is the glass.

The seller claims that the interior is as original as the exterior, and I see no reason to doubt that claim. The original owner chose Color Scheme # 4, which provided Fawn trim on the dash and door tops, Black on the seats and lower door trims, and Black carpet with a Fawn fleck. These items are still in situ, and the level of wear across the entire interior is negligible. While this might be a luxury car, it isn’t fitted with a lot of optional extras. However, the factory radio and air conditioning are both plus points and should make extended journeys on warm days a bit more pleasant.

This Avanti is the R1 version, which means that it is equipped with Studebaker’s 289ci V8 that offers 240hp. Bolted to the back of the V8 is a 3-speed automatic transmission, while power steering and power brakes were part of the package. Studebaker was more focused on luxury than performance with the R1, although the 17-second ET for the ¼ mile would still have seemed respectable in 1964. The news here is about as good as it gets. The seller says that the 289 erupts into life at the turn of the key and that the Avanti runs and drives like a dream. He also indicates that it has a genuine 41,000 miles on its odometer. Given its known history, this claim would seem to be plausible.

The styling of the Avanti won’t appeal to everyone, but these cars have developed a cult following. That means that values are increasing slowly but surely. At first glance, the opening bid of $29,000 might seem excessively high. However, it might not be as bad as you first think. Today, tidy examples will regularly achieve prices above $30,000, while the air conditioning option fitted to this car significantly boosts its desirability. With that thought in mind, would you be willing to take that leap of faith?