When it comes to collecting Avantis, most enthusiasts would lean towards the first run of cars built by Studebaker. Coupled with that is the option to check the box for the factory supercharger, and for the trifecta, to find one ordered with a manual transmission. That’s what we have here: a 1964 example with the Jet Thrust R2 supercharged engine and four-speed stick, wearing aqua paint with an awesome patina sheen. Find it here on craigslist in Shreveport for $22,500. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find.
I’ve not been able to confirm exact production numbers of the supercharged / manual transmission examples, but various online sources claim less than 500 were made. I will concede that the ultimate form of an Avanti are the earliest models with the round headlight frames, but given the spec and colors seen here, that’s a very nominal complaint. The body presents fairly well, but the chrome bumpers do look tired. The paint is burned off / thin in places, but I dig the overall vibe of this being a tired-but-surviving performance car.
It’s wild seeing the stick shift and old-school shift knob in the center console, and the seller contends this is one of just 94 cars built with these options and colors. So many of these Avantis when they pop up are automatics that you’d be forgiven for forgetting they even offered a manual transmission. Those seats and the dash are doing their best to burn themselves into your retinas, but the fully-matching interior/exterior is definitely a hallmark of the era. No word on whether the interior has ever been re-done, but what’s there now is holding up nicely.
Under hood looks plenty clean, and that’s likely due to the seller focusing most of their restorative efforts underneath. The engine has been completely rebuilt, according to the listing, along with the braking system. New tires have also been added. Though the seller says it needs cosmetic restoration, I’m not sure I’d touch a thing on the exterior, at least for some time, with that awesome drivetrain ready to rock. If you’re looking for a rare American classic that isn’t just another Corvette or Camaro, look no further.
What’s not to like here? I really like it
Back in the early ’70’s my father had a young bank president friend who was a car collector in the Edinberg/Alamo TX area. He had an Avanti exactly like this and I remember it well. The white shift knob, scoop in the hood, etc. Of course it was it much better shape then. One early evening night he left it running while going into a convenience store for a pack of smokes, came out and it was gone. Because of the close proximity to Mexico authorities figured it was driven over the line. It brings back many memories – but I’m not buying it . . . .
Great car, terrible ad. Anyone who is a bit familiar with Avanti is aware of their greatest weakness, the torque boxes otherwise known as hog troughs. The condition of hog troughs on this gem will determine whether the restoration will be cosmetic or “body off”, literally. Torque box replacement can be done without lifting body completely but if you have rust there, you may as well go full bore given the sad condition of the rest of the car. Of course, one can stop at refinishing the exterior to preserve the patina but I sure as heck would love to have dash fully restored, those gauge bezels are beautiful to look at when they are properly polished.
I think I’d prefer a ’64 Avanti to a ’63 (and a late ’64 at that, with the thick seatbacks), but this one looks above my pay grade for work needed. And as a previous poster pointed out, the hog troughs are a make-or-break thing in deciding to buy one.
I’d like a thick-seatback ’64 in either turquoise or gold, with the saddle-colored interior, supercharger, factory AM-FM, and Halibrand wheels. Ahhh, nice to dream.
I had a good friend with a supercharged Studdie in the late 70s. He could never get it properly dialed in, blamed a lot of the trouble with the poor gas in those days. Not enough octane. Eventually he pulled the supercharger off the engine, ran okay then,but not as nice. I lost touch with him since then, wonder if he still has the car and that supercharger?
Were the manual gearboxes Studebaker-sourced in these final years, or off the shelf from a company like Saginaw, etc? Were any road tests done on 4 speed Avantis for the magazines of the day?
They are a Borg Warner T 10
Thanks. Dat’s what I suspected. So, any performance testing done on these supercharged – fitted cars with three pedals back in the day?
That shift boot and surround chrome looks like the one I bought at O’Reilys to put on the floor of my ’72 C!- lol
Hmmm………….
I really like this but given the well known hog trough weakness, the general condition of the exterior and the seller even selling it given its relative unicornia, add in all the other vintage tin in the background and inquiring minds want to know, whats the deal?
Wouldn’t this be the one to restore?
That shifter and knob sure look like a much newer Hurst aftermarket unit.
It is not the stock unit.
Not a big deal, but it has the ’64 full wheel disks used on the Lark-types and Hawks. I wonder why someone would’ve replaced the original Avanti set with these? I guess because they liked them better!
thr
Probably got lost. They fell of pretty easy.