Automotive history is littered with “what ifs.” For example, what if Studebaker hadn’t gone bankrupt? What would the ultimate iteration of the Avanti have been like? Sadly, these are questions that can never be answered. This 1963 Avanti has been sitting for more than a decade. It needs the right person to revive it and to return it to active duty. The Avanti is a solid survivor that presents quite well, and after some mechanical resuscitation, it could be driven and enjoyed as-is. It is located in Fredonia, New York, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding on the Studebaker has been spirited and has pushed the price along to $10,200. The reserve has been met, so a new home and a new owner are just around the corner.
The Studebaker is finished in Avanti Gold and generally presents quite well. The vehicle received a repaint in 1973, and this has held up remarkably well. The owner says that it shouldn’t be considered to be of show-quality and that a perfectionist would probably treat the vehicle to another repaint. However, it does appear to be fine for someone who is searching for a driver-quality classic. There are some photos supplied of the Avanti’s underside, and there are no apparent signs of any rust issues. Importantly, the frame and hog troughs have no problems. The trim and chrome seem to be in good condition, although the seller does note a ding on the front bumper. This has affected both the bumper itself, as well as one of the end sections. If I were to buy this car, then I would probably make some inquiries about getting these repaired. New bumpers and ends are available, but the prices are enough to take your breath away. A bumper end will cost $495, while the main section of the bumper sells for $695. That means that a complete front bumper assembly will cost a cool $1,685.
Studebaker offered the Avanti with four engine choices, but only three of these made their way into road cars. The base engine, known as the R1, was a 289ci V8 that produced 240hp. This car features the R2 version, which added a supercharger to the mix. This engine delivered 290hp, and the result was a car with very respectable performance. The engine in this car is backed by an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the car doesn’t run, but the engine is said to turn freely. The owner has not attempted to kick the Avanti back into life because it will need the fuel system cleaned and a thorough check first. Studebaker seemed to be serious about establishing the performance credentials of the Avanti. The also offered an R3 version for those who wanted to get moving. This was a 304ci version of the V8, which was handbuilt by Paxton. It was blueprinted and assembled to racecar standards and pumped out an even more impressive 335hp. Only nine cars rolled off the production line with this engine and none with the normally-aspirated R4. This is the part of the story where the “what if” is well worth considering. Studebaker had also developed and tested an R5 version of the 304, and it fully intended to put that engine into production. This took the R3 engine and replaced the entire induction system with fuel injection and a pair of superchargers. Power output? How does 575hp sound? It is hard to imagine just what that version of the Avanti would have been like, but various sources suggest that it would have been a car that was capable of nudging 180mph.
As is the case with the rest of the vehicle, the Avanti’s interior is tidy, but it isn’t perfect. There is some minor wear visible on the seats, but the remaining upholstery looks to be in good condition. The dash seems to be free from significant flaws, and while there is some wear on the wheel, it is relatively minor for a classic of this age. The carpet has previously been replaced, and I believe that it will present well if given a deep clean. The headliner was replaced at the same time and remains in good order. I think that a productive weekend spent on the interior with some high-quality cleaners and conditioners could have it all shining nicely. The Avanti features a factory radio and power windows. However, air conditioning is not fitted, as this option was not offered on vehicles equipped with the R2 engine.
The Avanti offered so much promise, and it deserved to be built by a company that wasn’t rapidly heading into oblivion. The R5 version had the potential to be a game-changer in American automotive history, but it simply wasn’t to be. Of the 4,647 Avantis built by Studebaker, 3,258 were produced in 1963. A total of 1,883 cars were equipped with the R2 engine, making these a relatively rare classic. Today, you will struggle to find a clean Avanti R2 for under $30,000. If a pristine example is on your radar, then prices will soar to $45,000 or more. That helps to explain why the interest in this car has been so keen. On face value, it doesn’t appear that it will take a lot of work to return this beauty to the road. I hope that someone can do that because a decade is at least 10-years too long for a car like this to be sitting idle.
Now that I’ve seen the one he’s selling, I’m wondering about the other one. Fredonia’s about halfway between Buffalo & Erie, which could explain the PA plates. Hopefully the buyer doesn’t have registration issues, as NY doesn’t require a title on pre-’73 cars. All in all, looks like a pretty well sorted car, would love to have one, except for the lack of room here. Someone’s going to get a deal. Another great write-up, Adam!
Bringing in an outside iconic designer in Raymond Lowey was exactly the right thing to do. At the time Studebaker had the image of building solid reliable cars.
They took the chance on going outside their safety zone by creating an iconic design in an attempt to change their image. They were already starting to have cash flow problems but as important Was the Avanti’s were time consuming to make as they were assembled from 114 individual pieces of fiberglass.
Trend setting design and performance setting records. The car was and still is a head turner.
I’m a sucker for any GT. Don’t care if it has a prancing horse or a bull on it or what I like them all. An Avanti is one of the best looking both inside and out.
Had a good chat with my kids on my bucket list. The Jag is going to be up for sale in the next couple if weeks and we will be on the lookout for an Avanti.
Thanks for showing this one. Was a great Sunday lunch table topic.
Loewy was flew airplanes so he made the car like a cockpit with a lot of instrumentation and toggle switches.
He also designed the iconic Coke bottle which was easily recognized worldwide.
I always get nervous when I see a second same model car in the photo background. How many parts were swapped to the other car before the ad was placed. Is this the donor for sale after the good “stuff” was removed?. YUP!, at age 77, I’ve been burned a few times along the way, nobody said that life was fair.
Loewy designed a number of cars for Studebaker before the Avanti.
My father had a 1950 Studebaker Champion Regal Deluxe. I saw a ’63 at a cars and coffee some years ago and was impressed that the interior door handles and window cranks and other hardware appeared to be exactly the same as in the 1950 Studebaker. So they made do with what they could to save a few dollars on what had to be a very expensive venture for a failing business. Wish I had the space and the skill to buy, fix, and drive this.
I didn’t think they sold R-2’s with anything but a four speed?!
Most Avanti cars had an automatic transmission, including R2’s. The R2 cars that DO have a 4 speed are the most sought after, and the most rare.
Had one just like this. A friend now owns it. The 335 hp rating for the R3 is a low rating. These engines were built by the Granatelli Brothers. They made over 400hp.
Yep…..they blew them away at Bonneville in 1963/64 and those records held until the 1990’s….
I’m trying to think of what Avanti was comparable to in 1963. Buick Rivera was my first thought. Maybe the third-generation T-Bird. Rambler Marlin seems sort of comparable.
Comparable to a Rambler Marlin 😱
The Avanti was a luxury personal 2 door car as was the Riviera and the Thunderbird. The Olds Tornado followed in 1966.
I can’t imagine the Rambler being included in that class of cars.
SOLD for $12,600.