Photo: smartbid101/eBay
Designed as a halo car to draw in drivers looking for a high-performance vehicle, the Avanti ended up being Studebaker's last hurrah. An unusual appearance, the Avanti was one of the most advanced U.S.-made cars when it debuted in 1962. It was also the world's fastest production car in supercharged trim, but that wasn't enough to save Studebaker from going under.
The Avanti was a low-production vehicle, mostly due to its complex body shape that required a fiberglass construction. Issues with fit and finish and the company's suppliers resulted in long delays and canceled orders. By the time it was discontinued in 1963, the Avanti had been built in fewer than 6,000 units.
Almost 60 years later and the Avanti is getting the recognition it deserves, with well-maintained models changing hands for more than $30,000. Sometimes they even exceed the $40,000 mark, which puts them in line with many iconic classics from the 1960s.
A while back, we stumbled upon a 1963 model that spent almost 40 years in storage. The car had some issues and needed a solid restoration, but it was a good deal at just under $10,000. Now, another Avanti has surfaced to see the light of day after almost 50 years in storage. And it's one of the cleanest examples I've seen in a long time.
Advertised as a 1964 model, this Avanti was actually built in 1963. Sold as part of an estate liquidation, it's been parked in a garage in 1973 and came out of storage in January 2020. Despite sitting for a whopping 48 years, the Avanti has been taken care of and looks almost as good as it did when it left the factory.
It's finished in a stunning Avanti Turquoise color, one of five hues offered in 1963, that has held its luster surprisingly well after almost five decades of storage. The chrome doesn't look too bad either, but the wheels require a good polishing. Of course, the old tires must go to make this Avanti roadworthy again.
Thanks to the fact that the body panels are made of fiberglass, just like the early Chevy Corvette, the buyer doesn't need to worry about rust. Hopefully, the frame is in a similar condition.
The interior of this Avanti is just downright gorgeous. The seats and the lower door panels match the turquoise exterior, and there are no signs of wear on the upholstery. What's more, the light blue is paired to a cream dashboard and upper door panels for a classy two-tone look. And just look at that instrument cluster; it was so ahead of its time in 1963. The odometer shows only 37,388 miles (60,170 km), a number that explains the pristine state of the interior.
The hood hides a 4.7-liter V8 engine. That's an original mill with matching numbers. The engine bay looks clean for the most part, but a mild restoration would help it return to its former glory. These naturally aspirated engines packed 240 horsepower when new, enough to run the quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds. This particular car comes with a three-speed automatic, power steering, and a Twin Traction rear end.
Of course, the Avanti is more famous for its R2 version with the supercharged V8, rated at 289 horsepower, but we can't be very picky given how rare these cars are. The seller says the car is running after the fuel tank has been flushed and the carburetor replaced.
This very promising Avanti is being auctioned by "smartbid101" on eBay as we speak. There's no reserve or "buy it now" option, and the highest bid is now at $23,400 with two more days to go. Expect this car to fetch more than $25,000, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it go for more than $30K given the excellent condition.
Almost 60 years later and the Avanti is getting the recognition it deserves, with well-maintained models changing hands for more than $30,000. Sometimes they even exceed the $40,000 mark, which puts them in line with many iconic classics from the 1960s.
A while back, we stumbled upon a 1963 model that spent almost 40 years in storage. The car had some issues and needed a solid restoration, but it was a good deal at just under $10,000. Now, another Avanti has surfaced to see the light of day after almost 50 years in storage. And it's one of the cleanest examples I've seen in a long time.
Advertised as a 1964 model, this Avanti was actually built in 1963. Sold as part of an estate liquidation, it's been parked in a garage in 1973 and came out of storage in January 2020. Despite sitting for a whopping 48 years, the Avanti has been taken care of and looks almost as good as it did when it left the factory.
It's finished in a stunning Avanti Turquoise color, one of five hues offered in 1963, that has held its luster surprisingly well after almost five decades of storage. The chrome doesn't look too bad either, but the wheels require a good polishing. Of course, the old tires must go to make this Avanti roadworthy again.
Thanks to the fact that the body panels are made of fiberglass, just like the early Chevy Corvette, the buyer doesn't need to worry about rust. Hopefully, the frame is in a similar condition.
The interior of this Avanti is just downright gorgeous. The seats and the lower door panels match the turquoise exterior, and there are no signs of wear on the upholstery. What's more, the light blue is paired to a cream dashboard and upper door panels for a classy two-tone look. And just look at that instrument cluster; it was so ahead of its time in 1963. The odometer shows only 37,388 miles (60,170 km), a number that explains the pristine state of the interior.
The hood hides a 4.7-liter V8 engine. That's an original mill with matching numbers. The engine bay looks clean for the most part, but a mild restoration would help it return to its former glory. These naturally aspirated engines packed 240 horsepower when new, enough to run the quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds. This particular car comes with a three-speed automatic, power steering, and a Twin Traction rear end.
Of course, the Avanti is more famous for its R2 version with the supercharged V8, rated at 289 horsepower, but we can't be very picky given how rare these cars are. The seller says the car is running after the fuel tank has been flushed and the carburetor replaced.
This very promising Avanti is being auctioned by "smartbid101" on eBay as we speak. There's no reserve or "buy it now" option, and the highest bid is now at $23,400 with two more days to go. Expect this car to fetch more than $25,000, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it go for more than $30K given the excellent condition.
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