RE: Studebaker Avanti II: Spotted

RE: Studebaker Avanti II: Spotted

Tuesday 19th September 2017

Studebaker Avanti II: Spotted

Is it time to get your hands on America's four passenger high-performance personal car?



It's an American car made of plastic. "All American cars are made of plastic" I hear you cry; but this one is different, I assure you. This is the story of a desperate attempt by a newly elected company president to rescue a historic brand, a French stylist, and group of dealers who tried to save a bewitching luxury coupe which died before its time.


Quite an intro for a 1980s American car then, especially one which already looked a bit past it when it was new. The story of the Avanti goes much further back than that though, all the way to the 1960s, to South Bend, Indiana and the home of Studebaker. This period was boom time for Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler; but not for much smaller brands like Studebaker, who were beginning to wilt under the almighty power of the big three.

Studebaker had been quite successful during the late 1950s with the Lark - a compact, affordable car which could still seat six people. But by the 1960s people were becoming richer, a young John F. Kennedy had become President, and the world was looking to the stars as NASA was aiming for the moon. People weren't interested in a practical economy car, they wanted something much more aspirational.


To try and tap into this new found prosperity, new Studebaker president, Sherwood Egbert, thought a personal luxury coupe would do the trick, much like the Ford Thunderbird had for the blue oval. He gathered together a team which included the French-born, American industrial designer Raymond Loewy - whose C.V included Lucky Strike packaging, Coca-Cola vending machines, the Greyhound Scenicruiser bus (Google it) and the Air-Force livery. With a list like that, it's easy to see why he was often referred to as the man who shaped America.

Within six weeks, they'd created a full-scale clay model of the new car, which was promptly given the name Avanti, Italian for forward. It had numerous novelties, such as aircraft style switches in the interior, an integrated roll-cage, and front disc brakes - a first for an American production car. The front was also devoid of a grill, with it instead being moved below the bumper line, in a bid to make the car look more streamlined.


The body was to be made of fiberglass, which is arguably what doomed the project. The thinking was that it would reduce the weight, but it also helped to get the car into production sooner, as they didn't have to create the tooling for an all-steel body. They enlisted the same company which produced the bodies for the Chevrolet Corvette, but early quality control problems delayed orders, with back windows popping out at high-speed and tolerances being a bit hit and miss. Impatient customers simply cancelled their orders and took their business elsewhere.

Despite the early interest, the Studebaker Avanti lasted just over a year in production, with only 4,643 made. For other cars, this would be the end of the road, but not the Avanti. Enterprising ex-Studebaker dealers Nate Altman and Leo Newman bought the rights, tooling and South Bend factory to carry on production as the Avanti Motor Corporation. With a number of improvements they launched the Avanti II in 1965, keeping it in production until the business was sold on in 1982.


The Avanti II in this advert comes from towards the end of this run, which by now was using a smaller 305ci 5.0 V8 also found in the Chevrolet Camaro. Despite what it may say, the 305ci certainly didn't make the 305hp suggested, instead managing a meager 155hp driven through a three-speed turbo 350 gearbox. A far cry from the supercharged Avanti of 1963 which managed nearly 200mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

But who cares? Are you really going to want to drive the wheels off of a 36 year old car? Especially one with what seems to have blemish-free bodywork. I'd suggest you take it easy, enjoy the fantastic Lowey styling, revel in the burble of that American V8 - it sounds a lot more potent than it actually is - and be satisfied in the knowledge you'll be driving a rare car. It's guaranteed to be the talk of your local car meet, and unlikely to receive the negative glances of those who can't stand the ostentatious looks of the Avanti's contemporaries. Aside from anything, it's the perfect classic for a UK owner, because not being made of steel, you won't ever have to worry about using it in the rain.


STUDEBAKER AVANTI II
Engine
: 4,998cc, V8
Transmission: three-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 155
Torque (lb ft): 240
MPG: Not many
CO2: Lots
First registered: 1981
Recorded mileage: 50,000
Price new: $4,445 (1963 original)
Yours for: £22,750

See the original advert here.

 

 

 

 

[Words: Max Adams]

 

Author
Discussion

Turbobanana

Original Poster:

6,160 posts

200 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
It's certainly distinctive, but to me it looks like it was designed by a group of people who never met each other.

As a quirky, rare curiosity, it seems good value for £22,750 though.

LotusOmega375D

7,580 posts

152 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
You wouldn't know whether you're coming or going in that.

Interesting, nevertheless.

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Huh? 305 c.i. never even tried to suggest 305 hp. It's the cubic capacity in imperial measure. 305 cubic inches.

jsc15

981 posts

207 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Always had a soft spot for these. Definitely a bit "Miami Vice" but not in a bad way.

I'm fairly sure they were getting made till around 1990 though

bertie

8,545 posts

283 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
I'm sorry but that's just ugly.

jkh112

21,889 posts

157 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Lowtimer said:
Huh? 305 c.i. never even tried to suggest 305 hp. It's the cubic capacity in imperial measure. 305 cubic inches.
I presume the article refers to the PH ad which lists it as 305 bhp.

B10

1,226 posts

266 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Note to editor.
Can we use cubic centimetres for engine size and not cubic inches in all articles. Just because the US use ci it does not mean we have to when talking about US cars.

Amanitin

419 posts

136 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
" Despite what it may say, the 305ci certainly didn't make the 305hp suggested "

ci is cubic inch

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
I rather like that.

MrHooky

196 posts

141 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Hints of… Jenson interceptor side on (no bad thing). Allegro rear (but still looks ok). Front just a bit odd really. Never heard of these. My near £23k would go elsewhere though I think…

Turbobanana

Original Poster:

6,160 posts

200 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
B10 said:
Note to editor.
Can we use cubic centimetres for engine size and not cubic inches in all articles. Just because the US use ci it does not mean we have to when talking about US cars.
Would you like it RHD, critical of the weather and with a fondness for tea as well?

US cars have always been measured in Cubic Inches and, as others have pointed out, engine size does not imply horsepower. If you're stuck divide ci by 0.061 to get a cc figure and multiply cc by 0.061 to get ci.

Edited by Turbobanana on Tuesday 19th September 12:49

Dafuq

371 posts

169 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Makes me feel a bit queasy that, butt ugly and the colour really doesn't help.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
B10 said:
Note to editor.
Can we use cubic centimetres for engine size and not cubic inches in all articles. Just because the US use ci it does not mean we have to when talking about US cars.
But that'd be stupid. Quite happy to use ci. It's really not that difficult.

gigglebug

2,611 posts

121 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
I wonder if the some of the good folks at PH flicked onto PhantomWorks on Quest the other day like I did and watched the restoration of an Avanti? The finished product certainly had something about it.







Edited by gigglebug on Tuesday 19th September 22:36

Twoshoe

847 posts

183 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Intrigued by the reference to four passengers - three in the back presumably.

B210bandit

513 posts

96 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
B10 said:
Note to editor.
Can we use cubic centimetres for engine size and not cubic inches in all articles. Just because the US use ci it does not mean we have to when talking about US cars.
Note to editor.

Can we just use metric for everything, for all else is utter foolishness (including this whole "near side/off side" piece of British obfuscation?)

gigglebug

2,611 posts

121 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Definitely reminds me of a Vauxhall Firenza.

Disco Infiltrator

979 posts

81 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
Ugly from every angle, and at any distance. Who will buy one at that price?!
Some look better than others.

Original had Corvette power I believe.

Zedboy

814 posts

210 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Cracking take on a Ford Scorpio coupe ... so fugly it's pretty?!

F1GTRUeno

6,335 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
gigglebug said:
I wonder if the some of the good folks at PH flicked onto PhantomWorks on Quest the other day like I did and watched the restoration of an Avanti? The finished product certainly had something about it.

https://i2.wp.com/fantomworks.com/wp-content/uploa...

http://fantomworks.com/wp-content/uploads/83-Avant...
That's one of the worst looking cars I've ever seen.