Vehicle Description
Following the failure of its merger with Packard in 1958,
Studebaker found itself in dire straits by the beginning of the
1960s. With the prestigious Packard name a thing of the past,
Studebaker was in desperate need of an image makeover. The
economical but unexciting Lark provided the bulk of sales, while
the more stylish Gran Turismo Hawk certainly had sharp looks, but
due to the poor financial health of the Studebaker, the Brooks
Stevens-penned Hawk's underpinnings remained firmly rooted in the
early 1950s. A new Halo Car was needed to boost the company image
and in turn, boost foot traffic in showrooms. Shortly after taking
over the reins at Studebaker, company president Sherwood Egbert
came up with the idea for a new "personal car" to take on the likes
of the Ford Thunderbird. On a flight to Chicago, he hastily
sketched his idea on a napkin which he promptly delivered to
Raymond Lowey's design team; a wealth of talent consisting of Tom
Kellogg, John Ebstein, and Bob Andrews. The team was given just 40
days to bring Egbert's concept to reality, and working feverishly,
they proposed a two seat and four-seat GT car that would utilize a
modified Lark platform and a 289 cubic inch V8 engine lifted from
the Hawk. After just 8 days of work, the team produced a two-sided
clay mockup to present to company brass. Management settled on the
four-seat concept and development of the newly named Avanti
continued at a rapid pace. An industry-wide steel strike had caused
a drastic increase in raw material prices and given the complex and
subtle curvature of the new Avanti's revolutionary design, it was
decided that the Avanti would feature a fiberglass body, built
under contract by Molded Fiberglass Body of Ashtabula, Ohio. The
chassis was shared with the Lark convertible, chosen for its
superior torsional strength, and further modified with Bendix disc
brakes licensed by Dunlop. The beautifully styled body was a
drastic departure from the Gran Turismo Hawk. Most notably, the
elegant, grille-less front end was a stark contrast from the Hawk's
ornate and fussy detailing. The Avanti was the first American car
to feature bottom-breathing - where radiator intakes are fed from
below the front bumper. The Avanti was promoted as America's Most
Advanced Car, but with all of the fanfare surrounding it, the
Avanti was stricken with production delays and the financial state
of the company became a serious concern. Egbert had predicted sales
of 10,000 units in the first year, but only 1,200 found buyers in
the 1962 model year. Production increased for 1963, but total
numbers still fell below 4,600 units as Studebaker was suffering,
and would close its South Bend, Indiana plant later that year.
Production moved to Canada, but the Avanti did not continue as a
Studebaker. Despite its brief existence, the Avanti has earned its
place as a truly iconic design, and one of the finest American GT
cars of the era. This beautifully presented 1963 Avanti is a
genuine, factory built R2, 4-speed, finished in Avanti Gold
(P-6333) over a two-tone tan interior. A highly attractive example,
it comes to us via a noted Avanti enthusiast and collector who has
recently treated the car to a no-expense-spared mechanical overhaul
and cosmetic freshening to ensure it drives and performs every bit
as good as it looks. This car features the desirable R2 package,
which adds the supercharged 289 V8, and is paired with the
preferred 4-speed manual gearbox to make the ultimate Gentleman's
Express. The body is crisp and well detailed, and the color
flatters the shape quite nicely. Brightwork is in excellent
condition, featuring restored bumpers and numerous rare
new-old-stock parts. Period correct 6.70-15 BF Goodrich tires are
fitted to beautiful alloy wheels, which are faithful recreations of
the original Halibrand style 7011 magnesium wheels that were a
special option in West Coast markets. The interior is trimmed with
two-tone upholstery on the seats, with correct light colored
accents. It retains factory original instruments and switchgear -
including the aircraft-inspired overhead switches for lights and
the heater fan. The Avanti was the first American car to feature
seatbelts front and rear as optional equipment. Thousands of
dollars were spent recently on a complete rebuild of the original
engine. Concurrently, the fuel system, brakes, and steering were
thoroughly rebuilt, with all of the work performed by a respected
marque expert. The block is stamped with the "RS 1" prefix which
designates it as the correct R2-specification, supercharged 289
cubic inch engine. The big, orange Paxton supercharger dominates
the engine bay, which is all very well detailed and in keeping with
the authentic feel of this car. The finishes on the blower, chrome
valve covers, and engine ancillaries are excellent. Of the 1,883
factory-built R2 Avantis, it is believed that fewer than 750 of
those featured the 4-speed manual transmission. Rare and exciting,
this fantastic Avanti benefits from extensive, expert care and is
ready for enjoyment on the road.
