The Studebaker Avanti was only built for two model years (1963 and 1964). The latter year was abbreviated when the company discontinued U.S. auto production around Christmas 1963. 4,640 Avanti’s were assembled in total, with only 800 or so titled as 1964 editions. The seller’s car is one of those rare Year 2 Studes but the drivetrain has been updated with more modern equipment. Does that increase or decrease the value of the machine?
This bright yellow Avanti used to have a 289 cubic inch Studebaker V8. But an LT-1 now resides in its place, paired with a 700R4 automatic transmission. The radiator is now made of aluminum and a Ford 9” inch rear end resides out back along with a stainless dual exhaust. But the builder didn’t stop there, the front end was lifted from a Mustang II (why?) with 11” disc brakes. So, you would assume the car’s mechanical components are superior to what Studebaker offered.
Ironically, when the Avanti was resurrected in 1965 as the Avanti II, a standalone and independent offering, it used Chevrolet engines and transmissions as the Studebaker inventory had dried up. The body is cleaner than before as exterior chrome like the bumpers has been removed. We’re told this modified Avanti has low miles (under 30,000) as it was stored for decades in a barn in Wisconsin.
We assume its dormancy hasn’t hurt the car’s performance as the seller says it’s fun to drive, “like a big comfy go-kart.” It also sounds good, too, we’re told. If you like the looks of the original Avanti and don’t mind that it’s far from original, you can find it in Fort Bragg, California, and here on craigslist for $15,750. Barn Finds tipster Tony Primo comes through again!
It’s not a Studebaker Avanti. The Studebaker built Avanti’s had round headlights.
It has to be a later model Avanti II by Newman and Altman or the Avanti Motor Corp.
The 1964 Avanti in fact had rectangular headlight bezels whereas the 1963s were round.
According to documented history, Studebaker ceased manufacturing Dec 20, 1963 and had only 5 cars left in factory. Studebaker dealers Altman and Newman bought the facilities, the name and chassis leftovers. Those already in dealer hands might be/ likely were registered as 1964, and would have round headlights. Those with squared headlights would be Altman—Newman Avanti cars, but would not be Studebaker Avanti. The vin tag posted on the Hemmings listing is not indicative of Studebaker manufacture. Yes, I have had a Avanti II.
I read that there were a few of the first 64’s with round headlights, but they were switched to square headlights. We had a 1964 gold Avanti with square headlights in a Studebaker showroom in Hibbing, Minnesota. Our nextdoor neighbor new the person who bought that car. It was often parked in their driveway. As a 15 year old kid, I would sit in our dining room looking out the window at it wishing it was mine.
@stevee – Year of manufacture is not the same as model year; customarily, US mfrs. commence producing a new model year in the fall of the prior year, so Studebaker Avantis produced in late 1963 would have been sold/titled as a 1964 model year.
It is well-established that Studebaker made the (IMO unfortunate) switch from round to square-bezel headlights for the 1964 model year, and Newman/Altman simply inherited that styling change for their continued production of Avanti IIs after Studebaker folded.
I would love to have a deeper discussion re this car but not on this page. The whole thing could be settled with the original Certificate of Origin and/or the actual Data Plate from the car. (Not the body tag shown in the post). I have done appraisals for a dealer, for insurance, gone to court, and fought for clients. I am not a know it all— I make no conclusions until ALL the info is in. That VIN Data Plate had better say Studebaker before I call it a Studebaker. Before that is known, it ain’t a Studebaker by my call.
car needs bumpers, great cars
Yes! The bumpers were unusual and distinctive— like no other.
The Mustang SVO wheels looks strange, but fit the rest of the cars assortment of parts.
I don’t know, although the more modern components are no doubt superior to Studebaker’s 1951-vintage V8 and 1953 front suspension, it seems a shame to do all that to an original 1964 Avanti. Doesn’t look right without the bumpers, especially in the rear.
Totally agree to messing up an original, unless the car was a basket case. I would add a rear bumper…mixed about a front bumper. Add some emblems. Go back to steel wheels with full wheel covers and red line tires or salt-flat style disks. Price seems fair unless there are a lot of loose ends.
The Mustang II front end is favoured for it’s rack and pinion steering.
Wouldn’t change anything but putting the bumpers back on. Like everything else.
An original rare ’64 made to be a later II copy isn’t on my radar, especially I’m an Avanti enthusiast.
Lots of comments about using an original Avanti to make this hotrod, but none of us knows what condition it was in before the work started.
This might have well been the best option.
It is appealing and the price seems reasonable. The no bumpers, yellow paint and wheels seem a little off. I would be more inclined to take the previous one, that was basically untouched, But twice the money.
This car does at least confirm a conjecture I’ve long had, that a modern low-profile FI intake plenum would allow an SBC/related V8 to fit under the Avanti’s original lower hoodline.
Newman/Altman raised the Avanti II’s front end by about an inch, and lowered the front wheelarches accordingly to close the resulting wheel gap, in order to provide enough clearance for the taller intake stack of the Corvette 327 V8, thereby sacrificing some of the original’s raked stance and leaner front-end proportioning.
I’ve long wondered if such a lower-profile FI engine would allow an Avanti II to be reverted to the original front-end styling and stance, and now we know.
Gotta love self anointed experts with wrong information on here.
I like it for many reasons but the mustang II front disc brakes are so smal that they provide no advantage to old drums !
I have used many Mustang II front end kits on 30s and 40s street rods…can buy a kit with 11”rotors
Any interior shots?
Just one shot of the instrument cluster on the original CL ad.