Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert had high hopes for the Avanti when it was conceived (supposedly) on a cocktail napkin in 1961. It went into production 18 months later and debuted for 1963. But with Studebaker’s dwindling financial resources, the car never had much of a chance and barely made it into the 1964 model year. This ’63 edition is the rare R2 version with a supercharger supplied by McCulloch and was a one-owner car from 1965 to 2023. Located in Mendocino County, California, this Stude is available here on craigslist for $27,500. This tip comes to us by way of Barn Finder “Alan.”
When Studebaker shut down U.S. auto production at the end of calendar 1963, just 4,643 Avanti’s had been produced. 2,801 were R1s (not supercharged) while 1,833 were R2s. 1,522 of those were titled as 1963 models (the ones with round headlight bezels instead of rectangular). The cool car with the fiberglass body would get a rebirth in 1965 when two former Studebaker dealers bought the name, leftover inventory, and production capacity to keep the car going into the next century.
The seller bought this neat car just a few weeks ago and is selling it only because another auto he/she had been waiting for came along. So, there is no longer any room in the stable now for the Avanti. The prior owner had it for 58 years and took very good care of the machine. The white paint is not original and has a few issues, but nothing that might require immediate attention. The same can be said of the interior where the headliner and carpeting will need replacing.
We’re told that the machine runs well, but the supercharger has been disconnected because the replacement carburetor is not compatible with it. But once the buyer rebuilds the original carb that has survived, it should be ready to be hooked up again and ready to go. The car has nearly 120,000 miles, so it certainly wasn’t a garage queen for part of its life. It does have a small oil leak that needs investigation, and a pair of California black license plates are part of the deal. If you’ve been looking for a supercharged version of the one Studebaker that had an afterlife, could this be it?
It’s amazing Studebakers Avanti was still in production long after the company closed it’s doors for good in 1966 ! The Avanti must have been fairly popular among motorists to remain in production until 2006 . Wouldn’t it be neat to own the ” very last ” one ever produced ? I would probably donate it to the Henry Ford Museum to be admired by many ! All in all , the Studebaker was a pretty durable automobile . They weren’t always the most stylish cars produced but proved to be ” very reliable” among owners . They were also a low cost car ideal for working families . Happy Motoring
I have a few, first off the super charger couldn’t be a mculloch because it was used on the Golden Hawk 57 and 58. The Avanti had the Paxton supercharger used on the R2 R3 which is very rare. I can see it also needs the carburetor cover from the super charger. I hope this helps but it nneeds a lot to get it back to restore level. I would offer 22,500 cash.
Every once in a while,here in L.A., used to see one of the newer,4 doors,on the170 or 101 Hollywood Freeway!!!Decades back,somebodyhad a red one just up the street. Still a real looker too.!
If it doesn’t have the Studebaker running gear it’s not really and Avanti made by Studebaker, thay have chevy engines and used mostly 305 CID.
The 2005-2006 “Avanti” is some awkward-looking plastic stuck onto a 2004 Mustang body shell. I think they made something like a dozen of them. I’ll pass on that. I’m not a big fan of the 2000-2004 Firebird-based Avanti, but it has much better proportions.
The supercharger is a Paxton.
If I remember right, McCulloch and Paxton names were on the same company by 1963, so it is the same supercharger no matter what the name on a part. There were two options, the supercharger or the A/C but not both since there was not room under the hood for both. I want this car, not a museum piece, there are enough of them, so a driver and you need not feel guilty about putting more miles on it. Given the lack of a “grill” the masses will think it is electric, if sitting still. The back seats (2) are actually comfortable for an adult. Mechanical parts are available. The rear window, not so much. It is a true “Grand Touring” car, and, except for the lack of A/C, would be great on the Great Race. And, the styling is almost “timeless”, the masses will not be able, on first sight, be able to place the decade it was built. “Maybe back in the 20th Century?”
Could one of the newer systems-such as Classic Air,with the smaller compressor, be made to fit ??
Putting an a/c compressor on a supercharged Avanti requires relocating the battery to the trunk. It has been done….
Robert Paxton McCulloch started making superchargers for the flat head Ford V8 in 1937. The McCulloch supercharger we’re probably most familiar with is the VS57, which was used by Kaiser and subsequently on the Studebaker Golden Hawk and Packardbakers. Paxton Products was set up as the automotive division of McCulloch in 1956 and then sold to the Granatelli brothers in 1958. By the time the Avanti and its Paxton SN60 supercharger came into existence, McCulloch had nothing to do with it.
The guy that built the superchargers was named Robert Paxton McCulloch, So his name shows up on both.
Yes they were the same company but the Paxton was not a variable speed.
This, the original Hawk, and the R2 Lark are the only Studebakers I would consider. That R2 presents well but could be in need of a rebuild because of the oil leak, and I would look for a second R2-correct carb (in addition to rebuilding the original carb). Except for the missing Studebaker badge in the rear, this presents well and looks like a great driver and C&C car.
one if not many problems was that they had the same co. build the bodies that build the corvette , and seeing that they made many many vettes Stude was not a prority and when they (Stude) went to assemble them they had problems with fit so they made and assembled them at S Bend and because there was an 8 month delay in getting the cars to market they lost alot of orders,,who wanted to wait 8 months,but they did have alot of orders, just couldn’t fill them, then just when the R3 &R4 was starting to get attention from the car mags ,,like days they announced the move to Canada,,dumb, but curtis wright bought them in the late 50’s for one thing,,,tax write off
Did the supercharged cars ever come with a 4-spd?
Yes a 4 speed or one of the best automatics around which Borg Warner and Stude developed together ,,. Another problem that they had was the president of Studebaker got cancer and couldn’t fight to save the company.
I have the same car. Beautiful, second owner, turquoise blue with b/w interior 64k original miles! And with the Paxton supercharger@
Has anyone else noticed there does not seem to be a belt on the supercharger pulley ! !