Studebaker Avanti I (1 of 4363) - 1965

€ 60.000

Description

The car we offer is perhaps more unique than rare, with an exceptional history behind it. Purchased in 1962 immediately after the Geneva Motor Show, it has Italian number plates and first registration booklet. The car has been impeccably preserved and handed down through the generations remaining in the hands of the same family.

Model history and curiosity

It was designed by a team of designers led by the famous industrial designer Raymond Loewy who, among other things, had designed vending machines and other sales equipment for Coca-Cola. In the end, a project with a completely new aesthetic and radical design resulted.

The engine
The body was made of glass fiber reinforced polyester. Under this surface however, due to the financial situation in which Studebaker found itself, the basis remained the chassis of the Studebaker Lark Daytona which dated back to 1953. The available engine was the 4737 cm³ Studebaker small-block V8 powered by a Stromberg inverted four-barrel carburettor , in aspirated version (Jet Thrust) or supercharged, with Mc Culloch single-stage centrifugal compressor (Super Jet Thrust). Power ranged from 235 to 260 hp (SAE). In terms of dimensions, the car was very similar to the Ford Mustang and in the supercharged version it was capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds and reaching a speed of over 240 km/h.

Only 4,643 were produced before Studebaker closed its South Bend plants. The history of the Avanti, however, did not end with Studebaker's exit from the automotive market. Two of his South Bend dealers, Nate Altman and Leo Newman, purchased the Avanti brand, the molds, all the remaining parts, the tools and even part of the factory from the company to continue production. Eugene Harding, former Studebaker engineer, also collaborated with them.

A 1967 Studebaker Avanti II
Then the Avanti II was born. Equipped with a 5.4 L (327 in³) naturally aspirated Chevrolet Corvette engine, much lighter than the previous one. The car was built completely by hand. From 1966 to 1975, only 909 examples of the car were produced.

In the early 1980s the Avanti company was purchased by Stephen Blake. The car was equipped with a more modern chassis with independent suspension and a convertible model was also created. However, Blake's company declared bankruptcy in 1986. The company was then purchased by Michael Kelly who moved production to Youngstown, Ohio. The new company continued selling the Avanti until approximately 1991.

After this date there were further attempts to revive Avanti production, and it appears that spare parts for these cars were produced until 1999.