As time marches on we forget more of our past. New generations see an item and know little of its origin. Take for example this immaculate 1974 Avanti II for sale on craigslist in Kirkland, Washington for $26,500. Few car enthusiasts know how this hail Mary design was one of the Studebaker Corporation’s last gasps of life. Miraculously, the model lived on after Studebaker in many iterations over the next few decades. Why did this unique automobile survive when others passed into history? The answer lies with the design, which was penned (in part) by the same man who designed the paint scheme on Air Force One: Raymond Loewy. Thanks to faithful reader T.J. for tipping us off to this lovely Avanti II.
Raymond Loewy was born in France, but spent most of his life as an industrial designer. Coming to America in 1919 after service in the French Army during WWI, Loewy quickly established himself as someone for an eye for style. His career in New York City took off, and he soon has commissions to design such diverse products as steam locomotives for the Pennsylvania Railroad, logos for many companies, buildings, household products, and even automobiles.
Loewy’s relationship with the Studebaker Corporation started in 1936, with his influence showing up in late thirties models. During World War II, Loewy and Associates began work on Studebaker’s postwar designs. This allowed the company to come out with new models soon after the conflict ended. The modern lines and 180-degree rear window of the Studebaker Starlight was a huge step forward in styling, and the model was a hit on the sales floor. His team followed that success up with the stunning 1953 Starliner.
By 1961, Studebaker was in trouble. Studebaker President Sherwood Egbert once again called on Loewy to design a sporty car for the companies 1963 line of products in hope that this would bring customers, namely young customers, into dealerships. With just 40 days to produce a design and a model, Loewy assembled a team of designers and sequestered them in a leased home near Loewy’s Palm Springs mansion. The design they came up with was unlike anything else on the road. However, the beautiful Avanti wasn’t enough to save Studebaker.
The doors closed with just 4,647 cars having been built. Then, a miracle happened. Two former Studebaker dealers bought the facility, tooling, and everything else needed to continue producing the Avanti. They even were able to keep a lot of former Studebaker employees on payroll. The car was outfitted with a Corvette engine, and a dizzying array of options were made available as the car was marketed as a luxury coupe. By the time the company was purchased in 1982 there were 2,252 Avanti IIs believed to have been produced.
The car you see in these pictures is a very plush example of those continuation cars. Built in 1974, this Avanti II has covered just 17,565 miles and was owned by the seller’s friend for over 20 years. The seller claims that the car has won multiple awards at car shows and that a number of items have been recently replaced. Some of these include tires, wheel covers, carpet, upholstery, some trim, and the description of the silver paint alludes to the car being refinished at some point.
Under the hood is the original GM supplied 400 cubic inch small block V-8. The car is said to run strong, and the engine is backed by a new “350-400 Turbo-Hydro 3-speed automatic transmission.” This is rather unclear, but perhaps they mean the TH-400, which is a heavier duty version of the TH-350 used in larger engine applications. We are also told that the air conditioning system does not currently function, but all of the parts are there.
When you look at how difficult it is to start out as an automobile manufacturer in the face of much more established and far more capable competition, it is a miracle that the Avanti design ever made it beyond the locked gates of the Studebaker factory. Good designs, however, have a way of inspiring people to do great things. While Raymond Loewy may have passed out of the public consciousness, it is good to see so many Avanti on the road to remind us of his talents.
I’m a fan of the original Avanti design, but I’m only okay with the “continuation” version made by Nate Altman. I do like the Chevy engine and transmission. However, raising the front end a whopping two inches and tightening all the wheelwell openings looks like ***.
The seller says he bought it from a friend who moved. He also says the odometer reads 17K but “we assumed it rolled over. … you decide”. Why not call your friend and find out? Okay. I’ve decided that it’s actually got 117,000 miles on it. Otherwise it wouldn’t have needed a new paint job, interior, transmission, and (probably extensive) air conditioning repair.
The ad wastes a lot of words. If the car has never been hit or rusty, just say so. Dancing around the important stuff doesn’t fool anyone. And fix the damn a.c. so you can say everything works. It’s not worth $26,500 as-is. With some repairs and a more specific description he might get $15,000 – 20,000 though.
By the way, the “powerful, high performance G-M 400” engine that “snarls when started” had a factory rating of 170 horsepower. Give me a break.
I’m not sure the wheel arches were “tightened” all around; AFAIK, just the front ones were shifted lower to close the upper wheel gap when they had to raise the front end to clear the taller carb’d intake stack on the SBC engine.
I often wonder how readily an Avanti II could be reverted to the original round-headlight look and raked stance with higher front wheel arches, using a modern low-profile FI intake plenum that requires less clearance than the carb and air cleaner.
You may be right.
In an interview in 1973(?), Altman said he added a fiberglass “filler panel” to the stock front wheel arches to reduce the gap after raising the front end. That implies the original wheel opening can be found and the filler panel carefully removed.
But where are the windshield wiper arms on this car?
Doesn’t have the later hideous bumpers, that’s a plus.
Nice car.
GM drivetrain, service simple.
Want to improve performance?
Get a 383 short block right from GM.
The 400 block has siamesed cylinders, can be prone to over heating.
Also, this is likely a 2 bolt main bearing block.
Would be a great cruiser/sleeper with upgrades.
I have really started liking these cars allot. I think for the price point on many of them and possibly this one ,it would be a great car to own and drive. This one with the GM drive train would be a big plus, for someone like me who just wants to drive it and enjoy having it.
A beauty, but I’d get rid of the cheap-looking “repro Avanti wheel covers”.
Nice looking ‘74. No pics of underside to help determine mileage. With 17,000 miles showing, engine work was done judging by aftermarket intake, air cleaner, lack of ignition shielding and a new or rebuilt trans, it’s sounding like 117,000 miles might be more accurate. The 400’s are torque monsters, and will turnout a lot more HP with new heads, cam and carburetion. Non working AC is a big drag on selling the car for that price. The II’s produced by the original ownership (‘65-‘82) were in my opinion the best 2nd generation Avantis with better build quality than Studebaker put into the originals. I’ve have a ‘64, ‘76 and an ‘89 so I have some background with the different models. The biggest issue of the 400 SBC II’s is cooling. Hot weather, traffic back ups and the steam holes in the heads due to the close cylinder bores can get the temp reading 220 very quickly. After an engine rebuild, aluminum heads, recored radiator and lower thermostat, my ‘76 runs 165, getting up 185-190 in traffic back ups. A conversion 4 years ago to an MSD EFI has made the 400 perform flawlessly.
It’s either a 350 TurboHydramatic or 400 TurboHydramatic. Can’t be both as they are different transmissions. Nice looking Avanti!
I have read that the sbc has no problem fitting in the original configuration and that the II was raised for looks . Apparently someone thought it had too much low front rake. I’ve been following these for decades and found an ’81 for my brother. The 305 was replaced with a 350 and runs great, really great.
French have had a good hand for designs. Mr. Loewy also
designed the coke bottle.
This one would be, apart from the somewhat dilapidated-looking
interior, with a 1FE-UZ or, for that matter, with a current
drivetrain from the Chrysler shelf (5.4 EFI 6 speed positrac &
ABS), a classically unique form with contemporary prowess.
And now, Avanti! (means hurry up)
French have had a good hand for designs. Mr. Loewy also
designed the coke bottle.
This one would be, apart from the somewhat dilapidated-looking
interior, with a 1FE-UZ or, for that matter, with a current
drivetrain from the Chrysler shelf (3.6, EFI, 6 speed, positrac &
ABS), a classically unique form with contemporary prowess.
With all that its the perfect sleeper.
And now, Avanti! (means hurry up)
I guess we all see something different. I like the early ones, and what should have been the next one. When I saw the following run at Mid Ohio, I was convinced. https://studebaker-info.org/Avanti/AVGT/avgt.html
Like those on the ’74 cuda, challenger, & javelin, the bumpers on this Avanti do not appear to be 5 mph ones either.