If you scroll through the Barn Finds archives, you’ll find that the Studebaker Avanti (and later Avanti II) is quite popular with our readers. It was a car that offered so much potential but never took off because of Studebaker’s misfortunes. The seller’s father owned this 1963 Avanti R1, which was the non-supercharged edition. It no longer has the Studebaker V8 but has Chevy power instead. Located in York, South Carolina, this long-stored automobile will yard-drive, but that’s it, and is available here on eBay for $7,500 OBO.
Launched in 1963, Studebaker only managed to build 4,643 Avantis before the company ceased U.S. auto production midway through the 1964 model year. 82% of all Avantis were titled as 1963 editions. The car line was saved by a pair of Studebaker dealers who built it as the Avanti II from 1965 to 1983 using Chevrolet infrastructure and power. Then ownership changed hands several times and the Avanti finally died in 2006. Its ability to stay afloat for more than 40 years after Studebaker canned it is amazing.
This Avanti belonged to the seller’s father, so it’s being sold out of an estate. It was last on the road in 1988 and sat until the seller got it running again — temporarily. Fortunately, it was in dry storage, so rust is minimal but present on the undercarriage. Brake work was needed, and an electric fuel pump was rigged up to get it moving again.
The factory 289 cubic inch V8 is gone in favor of what the seller believes is a 327 Chevy engine. The switch was made before 1988, but that’s the extent of the history. The tires are at least 40 years old, and the A/C compressor is long gone. The driver’s side door panel has not survived, but the rest of the car may still be there. If you’re looking for an Avanti to restore, here it is. But it won’t be 100%, Studebaker. Since the Avanti II used a 327 V8, maybe consider this a dry run of the successor car!
Whenever, I see one of these I start thinking how cool one could be! However, I am not thinking that about this one.
One of these days the BF writers will get it write. The first Avanti rolled off 6/1962 so you could say a 1963 and for a car that didn’t make it…..it sure funny to see the 1990’s built listed here on BF. That air cleaner alone might be worth the ask…..
I’ve never seen the dirty side of one of these before. Is that a dana 60? …and the pitman arm is in the middle of the car? Some interesting stuff going on under there.
Yes, the steering linkage is Studebaker all the way back to the 40’s.
Dana 44…..
A very cool car that deserves a restoration, but as this one needs about everything, $7.5K is a high starting price. Good luck to the seller.
She’s rough !:( what happened to the rest of the steering wheel?
Dana 44 rear end, most likely a 3:31 gear set. No rack and pinion on front end, it’s Stude’s old tried and true kingpin set up. I’m an Avanti fan and owner and would take a pass on this one as there are degrees of how upside down one wants to be owning an Avanti and getting it to a nice car status. This one is going to take a lot of time, talent and treasure, putting an owner way upside down $$ wise. A nice original R1 would be worth 25-35 K, this is no longer an R1 and not the car quality wise that an Avanti II, which are in 20 K range if in good shape. It looks to be priced right.
I have a 63, in worse condition than this, my body is in very good shape, has original R1, Slowly getting there, When I got it a few years back, it had 1973 plate on back, rusted out ,the left driver side window partial down, Door would not close all the way, inside of door, total rust, Hog trough 100% shot, passenger side all perfect, rear window blown out, Slowly Removing parts and replacing them, Interior, also shot, I have it in a lock up outside storage area, can only work on it with weather prevailing. Barbecue the Elephant, One piece at a time.
I have never seen one of these turned into a gasser, but I think this is a perfect candidate! Or a good parts car for you, MrFeez
I would drop it and shave the bumpers there is one here on Cape Cod an Oder guy owns , I talked to him last year he’s not ready to sell it’s late 60’s it’s got a 327 /375 horse vette motor and a 4 speed he said it real fast sage green metallic and buckskin color inside with true spoke wheels .
I would drop it and shave the bumpers there is one here on Cape Cod an Oder guy owns , I talked to him last year he’s not ready to sell it’s late 60’s it’s got a 327 /375 horse vette motor and a 4 speed he said it real fast sage green metallic and buckskin color inside with true spoke wheels.
A gasser would be cool
Sorry dejavoodoo ? I hate my new iPhone
Many issues here ~ broken wheel studs on all 4 corners. 3 lugnuts on left front, 4 each on the other wheels, but that isn’t the worst of it. All the rust on frame members and the busted fiberglass in the trunk floor plus that engine bay would require a thorough inspection by someone knowledgeable in these cars. As for the quality of work done to swap out the engine/trans, check out the homemade transmission crossmember which isn’t even bolted to the frame. It would take a lot to make this car mechanically and structurally sound. And that fuel pump situation? If the mechanical fuel pump is bad you buy a new one and change it out ~ on an SBC it’s an easy job. I just did it on my 350. Now someone has a wiring mess to clean up and the fuel pump still needs replaced, but looking at the mess under the hood that is just the beginning. I would pull the engine & trans and then start repairing all the issues elsewhere. Lots of work needed here. I love Avantis but this one is a hard pass.
I am impressed with the sellers effort to show you the underside of the car ! Some rust and all . Most sellers are to lazy to even wash it .
Had a white 70 last summer for two months with a 350 four bolt main, Edelbrock intake and four barrel, ford 9inch rear, cherry bomb mufflers and four wheel disc brake conversion… Was a Badass mofo.. Had 166k miles but all mechanicals were upgraded in the previous 5k miles… Still needed more than I wanted to put into it so I moved it along.. At least I can say I owned one…
Yep….alot wrong but it isn’t over 10g’s and it lot drives unlike soooo many BF cars…….
Looks like it could have been a R2 supercharged originally. If I’m not mistaken only the supercharged ones had boost and vacuum on the dash gauge, the R1’s were just a vacuum gauge. I could be wrong though.