In 1961, Studebaker executives had high hopes that the developing Avanti personal luxury car would help save the company. But they didn’t build enough of them before Studebaker ceased U.S. operations two years later, so the new car didn’t get a production life in Canada. Two Studebaker dealers revived the car under the Avanti II banner and built them in small numbers until 1982. This 1975 example needs some mechanical and cosmetic tinkering and could be rolling again fairly soon. From Arvada, Colorado, this interesting project is available here on craigslist for $12,500. Barn Finder Gunter Kramer comes through once again!
Studebaker dealers Nate Altman and Leo Newman weren’t happy about the demise of the Avanti (and eventually the company), so they bought the Avanti name, tooling, and South Bend, Indiana plant space. Using leftover Studebaker chassis and General Motors powertrains, they incorporated Avanti Motor Car Co. and went about hand-building the Avanti II (from 1965-82). As the pair died off, the company would change hands a few times before the last Avanti was built in 2006. One question that I have would be was the Avanti II better than the original Avanti? Have any of our readers ever owned both?
Early Avanti IIs were powered by Chevy’s 327 cubic inch V8 lifted from the Corvette. By the time the seller’s auto was built in 1975 (one of only 125 that year), they were running the 400 V8 (which may have been slower than the 327). No engine compartment photos included, unfortunately. Multiple versions of the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission were used and a TH-400 is in the seller’s revival. From what we gather, the car runs and drives (but how well?) yet will need brake work done if you want to stop.
Thie car has been sitting for a while and the seller has no time to give it the attention it needs. It presents well enough in the photos provided, but we’re told it needs new paint. The interior is functional but dirty and may work out with a really good detailing. The Avanti has been no garage queen having seen at least 101,000 miles. This would be a neat piece of automobilia to restore as fewer Avanti II were built than the original Avanti, which only saw 4,600 copies assembled in two years of production. Here’s a video clip of the car in question.
Uh…leaf blower?
Studdie should have made quality well priced entry level cars that had style. That would have saved the company. Going for the rich mans pocket is always a gamble.
Studebaker DID, but it’s costs were too high and management too incompetent.
Champions, Larks, Daytonas, Scotsman… lot’s of interesting, well made entry level cars.
Disagree on the Lark except for its engines; it was obsolete when introduced and NOT a good car like Stude once built in the ’30s and ’40s. By the time they “fixed” it, it was too late to save the company.
The reason Studebaker didn’t have the Avanti to fill the hundreds of orders for them, was they stupidly hired the company that made the Corvett bodies to make the Avanti bodies. That company’s product was so poor each body had to by worked over at the Studebaker factory. Eventually they made that bodies at the Studebaker factory. They lost hundreds, perhaps thousands of orders because of this time lag in production. Was this the intent of whoever decided on hiring Molded as the first producer, I don’t know.
They hired MFS in Ohio. My Avanti is an MFS Alumni. MFS also had the contract for GM to build Corvette bodies. So where do you think their loyalty was? Plus the workers union decided to go on strike during the introduction so that also slowed productivity.
Just a small correction…Original Studebaker Avanti’s were powered by 327 CI engines manufactured by Studebaker, not Chevrolet. Bore/stroke of a Chevy 327 4″ bore/ 3.25″ stroke, the Studes were 3.56″bore/ 3.62″ stroke making the Stude ‘under square’ as opposed to the Chevy being ‘over square’.
Not sure on that. They were Studdie 289s in regular and supercharged forms, the Avanti IIs maybe were 327s.
I stand corrected, 289 is right. Faulty math skills….
Whoops…I need to read a bit closer….please accept my apology Russ. My comment does not apply to the Avanti II. I will stand in the corner for a while….
Actually the R1 and R2 were Studebaker 289 CI engines. The R2 had a Paxton super charger the R1 didn’t. There was also an R3 which was a Studebaker 304.5 CI with a super charger.
They were made by Studebaker 1963 and 1964 model years. After the production ended so did the Studebaker engines.
The 1965/1966 engines were GM engines built in Canada
They used the 289 in all of them except 9 which had the supercharged 304. They also made a 304 with 2 4 barrel carbs of which not were in a Avanti from the factory. I did see one with the R4 installed later.
Original Studebaker Avanti were powered by Studebaker engines. The R-1 was a naturally aspirated 289; R-2 is a 289 with a Paxton supercharger; R-3 is a 304.5 with a Paxton supercharger; R-4 is a 300.5 with two carburetors and no supercharger; Andy Granatelli’s R-5 was a 300.5 with fuel injection and two Paxton superchargers. Ron Hall’s Avanti that Ron drove over 200mph at the Bonniville Salt Flats, can be seen at the Studebaker International Muesum in South Bend, IN
Actually, the Studebaker was a 289 V8. Several engine options were available, including supercharger giving a horsepower increase, using same block.
The great Ken Grimwood novel, Replay, has the main character traveling back in time to 1963. He uses his knowledge of the future to make some sports bets and cashes in big time. The first thing he buys is a brand new Avanti. Not sure that fits into this conversation, but these cars always remind me of that fantastic novel. I highly recommend it. There has been talk of making it into a movie for years, I think Brad Pitt wanted to star in it. Wonder if they do make it, would they will use a supercharged 63 Studdie as a co star?
No one wants the reputation of a motivated seller, don’t blow the leaves off , vacuum the interior or provide detailed photos of the engine or undercarriage.
I don’t get people. You want to sell a vehicle and you can’t even brush the leaves off the car, clean it up a little bit. And they want $12,500. All that effort on their part is a half price offer on mine.
Did you make an offer?
I recall paying $12k for a 1973 Avanti around 1989. Interesting to see they haven’t depreciated in value. Or gone up in value.
The Avanti II isn’t as valuable as an original 63 or 64 Studebaker produced Avanti. The Avanti II isn’t a bad car, actually built better than original in some ways. But even restored to pristine condition, likely won’t break mid-30s price wise.
Avanti only had the 289CI or 304 Ci (R3) or (R4) they did produce a 299CI but didnt advertise it ,I guess that was a better engine ,why ? dont know maybe power .
The 299 was the R3 but never put in to production.They were only used in Granatelli cars.
The preference between an Avanti vs Avanti II depends on what you want. The Studebaker was a true,sports coupe, especially in the supercharged forms. they had very firm suspension and handled well for their time. Body quality varied as they learned fiberglass and were cost constrained, despite the rather high price. Newman and Altman softened the ride and spent more time on body fitment, wanting more of a Touring Coupe. For investment, go for the Studebaker, the IIs values seem lackluster
How difficult would it have been to clean off the car before taking pictures? Instead, the seller just decided to leaf it alone.
Ron is right the Studebaker is less comfortable and gives a hard ride. I had a R2 and a friend had a R1 he could not believe the difference in power. The Avanti 2 is more of a personal luxury car.
I like them both onnly the looks are the same.
My folks bought a 1959 Lark after a dump truck crushed their Hillman Minx. We had it until the 70’s and my Mom always used to say she wished we’d kept it, because she saw it around town for another 20 years!
Wish someone to tell the whole story till its end , the many different owners of the company,the many different states it moved to and then out of the usa
The original Studebaker Avanti is the choice of collectors. Yes, it is true the build quality was not up to that of the Avanti II but they were hand-built. So, as a daily driver go with the Avanti II, but for show, take out the original Avanti. The Avanti II provides the great look of Avanti, but at bargain price considering today’s market.
I got to drive a 63 Avanti R2 for a week. It was fast and firm. The neatest thing was hearing that Paxton whine when putting the pedal down!
I have owned four 63 Avantis and have a R1 4 spd now. They are a bit quirky but fun to drive. However parts are readily available and fairly priced.
The biggest problem with the Avanti !!s is that they were using a hodgepodge of parts from numerous sources that will vary even within that year model. A nightmare when trying to chase down what they were using that day.
Always wise to stick with the old reliable original. A great value either way.
They build nine R-3 avantis from the factory. 304.5 cubic inches.