The Avanti story is one of death and rebirth, told in cycles, from the 1960s through the early 2000s. Although there were many years wherein no cars were actually produced, there was little question that various entrepreneurs and car enthusiasts saw great value in the Avanti brand. Between its auspicious beginnings with its Studebaker roots to later incarnations where it seemed like the perfect American 80s sports car, the Avanti is a charming anecdote of American automobila, and cars like this 1989 Avanti II convertible listed here on eBay continue to appeal to collectors today.
When Avanti first appeared on the scene, there was seemingly a very real alternative to the Corvette of the same era. Powerful, luxurious, and with polarizing styling, it’s one of those cars that stands out simply because it was actually produced. I liken it to the first-generation Dodge Viper, which blew everyone’s minds on the show car circuit, and then Dodge went and actually built it. The Avanti as conceived by Studebaker looked like nothing else on the road, and when equipped with the optional supercharger, few cars in its class could keep up with its impressive performance. Despite the attempts to modernize it, you can still clearly see the Avanti traits in this late-production design.
The car shown here would have been built during the Mike Kelley years, one of the last individuals to make a play for the company via an acquisition in which he renamed the company Avanti Motor Corporation and announced plans to once again build cars in South Bend, as it was during the Studebaker years. To his credit, 90 cars were produced while he was at the helm, and he announced plans to build a four-door model. I believe a prototype snuck out the door and is still occasionally seen today, but I can’t deny I may have dreamt that. The interior of this particular Avanti is good – not great – and the leather seats will need some reconditioning if you want them to look like new once again.
The 305 V8 was a far cry from that beautiful supercharged mill, but it still likely sounds pretty good though that dual-muffler setup that this car sports. The seller doesn’t provide much info on running condition, but this is super basic running gear that you have to work pretty hard to wreck. Mileage is low at under 33,000, which is par for the course for a vehicle that many first owners saw as potential collector’s item. The bodywork looks to be in good shape, and I dig the very 80s wheel design. The asking price of $34,999 seems ambitious to me, but then again, these late-production models rarely come up for sale.
I believe I saw a four door Avanti parked at The Hartford Club (Hartford, CT) in the mid 1990s.
Just the once, not a dream.
It looked perfect.
There was a 4 door featured on this site a few years ago, search Avanti, if you want to find it.
I can’t remember the last time I saw an Avanti in the wild. I don’t know how much appeal or potential buyers they really have, like mentioned the in the feature it’s priced aggressively. The convertible Avanti may be uncommon but this is the third one highlighted here since the beginning of last year.
Steve R
Steve, if we’re thinking of the same car, it was featured here a few months ago. Looked a little cobbled together & awkward.
In ’83 friends of mine were looking for something different, so I directed them to a west suburban Twin Cities Chevy dealer that handled Avantis and they bought a white coupe with tan leather. Don’t recall the drivetrain.
Convertibles look right with this body style imo.
Yes very rare, the seller has 531 listings, mostly all vehicles.
The seller is using a listing service.
Steve R
I had to look over all the pictures on eBay and I’m still not sure this car works as a convertible. Maybe, but none of the shots show the top up, for a reason probably.
Fox, in my comment above, I meant to say the “convertibles DON’T look right with this body style imo”.
I agree.
I’m a drop top guy, but this car looks better with a solid roof.
With this iteration of the Avanti, the front was restyled just enough to make it look awkward and ruin it.
Fits right in with the grilless EVs
I miss the Avanti (and the Studebaker!)
The Avanti was so far ahead of its time and so ugly that it was beautiful. I have always liked one of these. The later post Studebaker ones are basically small block Chevy so repair and replacement parts will be around later than any of us!
I’ve never warmed up to the Avanti’s looks. When they first came out they were certainly different than most existing models, but different isn’t always a good look. Yeah it’s rare but that too doesn’t always help. The price does seem optimistic, but I wish them good luck with the sale. In these turbulent times we may see older rare cars coming out of storage for some cash.
A 4-door Avanti? Sure was, I’ve seen a couple of them. This one looks like a European sports car, except its not a right hand drive.
I had an ‘89 convertible that had been resto-modded for 7 years. A crate 383 with a 4L60 AOD trans and a Ford 9” rear end with a crazy 4:86 gearing. I had it tamed down with 3:55 gears. The car was a looker, red with black interior, top and blackout trim. Wheel were American mag style 18’s in front and 20’s in back that really filled up the wheel openings. I sold it, downsizing to just 1 Avanti, a ‘76 coupe I’ve driven to both coasts and all over the Midwest. I miss not having a convertible on nice days in the summer.
Bought a first year (63) Avanti a month ago and am proceeding to wake it up from slumber. Brakes finished an hour ago, now on to the interior.
Avantis from ’87-on are just Chevrolets wearing Avanti drag, using the chassis, running gear and powertrains from the Monte Carlo in ’87 only and then Caprice from ’88-on. They share nothing but the general body shape with the original ’63-64 Studebaker Avantis and the continuation run of Avanti II production from ’65-85. BTW, they dropped the “II” after the supply of NOS Studebaker Lark convertible chassis ran out in ’85 and sat out ’86 entirely.
Never really been a fan of these, but I gotta say I think this is the best one I’ve ever seen. If I didn’t have 285 vehicles already, I’d consider this one. Put a built 350 in it and give it to the wife for a summer driver.