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!
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