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1963 Studebaker Avanti 

I am selling my 1963 Studebaker Avanti that I purchased in Pennsylvania about 17 yrs ago. This is the vehicle that was supposed to save Studebaker from bankruptcy, a company that had been in business for more than 100 yrs, but it came along a little too late.

It was designed by the famous design firm of Raymond Lowey, which was also responsible for Studebaker's ground breaking 1953 coupe. The Avanti (in Italian avanti means forward or advance) was promoted as a sport coupe, a four passenger corvette. The supercharged version set world speed records as the fastest 4 passenger production car in the world at nearly 170mph. It was also the first American production car to have practical front disc brakes.

Studebaker was in a hurry to put it into production so the body was fabricated in fiberglass and placed on a reinforced Studebaker Lark convertible frame. Though the Avanti is not widely known to the public, I cannot help but wonder about its influence on automobile designers at the dawn of the muscle car era in 1963. In my conversations with car enthusiasts they often see many different cars in its design. My dad owned one which I drove to high school and college on occasion years ago. I have always been drawn to the subtle curves of its form.

The original supercharged car had about 300 hp. The current engine may have even more. My car has never lacked thrilling acceleration. The carburetor and head numbers match those of a 1970 LT-1 from a Z28 Camaro with 360hp. There are no stamped serial numbers on the block. The casting date indicates that it may be a crate motor from 1973. The motor was put in the car in the 1970's by the previous owner. It also has a Chevy Turbo Hydra-matic 350 transmission.

There were approximately 5000 original Studebaker Avantis built. And thousands more were built by Avanti Motors in the decades after Studebaker went out of business us. The post Studebaker vehicles used GM engines and the original fiberglass molds so replacement parts are relatively easy to come by.

My car is a unique example of a unique vehicle. The previous owner made some changes that I thought were in keeping with the vehicles forward looking philosophy and futuristic styling. He installed three road-lights below the bumper with the center one swivelling in the direction of the front wheels like the Tucker. He also installed a message panel in the back to communicate with other members of his car club when they went on cross country drives. With a fresh paint job this car is a show winner.

Extra features:
Rear window defroster fan mounted in hatch to trunk and wires attached to window.
Extra set of electric window controls used for remote hood and trunk release.
Electric radio antenna.
Classic Talbot Green Dot mirrors mounted above windows to emphasize lines of body with pin stripes.
Message panel below rear bumper. Stainless steel exhaust.
Center road light that swivels with the front wheels.
Fiber optics running to exterior lights.
Glove box vanity mirror and tray from factory.

I have had a few reasonable offers. I would like to have the car sold within the month (Aug Sept) $7750. Phone: 563-447-7330 SOLD

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