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Here is one of the more unique rides from the 1960’s. The Studebaker Avanti boldly stands apart from the crowd with its distinctive styling and fiberglass body. It remains one of the most unique automobile designs of all time. Sadly though, despite being well received the Avanti was not enough to reverse Studebaker’s fortunes, and the company closed after building less than 5,000 units from 1962-1964. While the model lived on through several incarnations as the Avanti II it just wasn’t the same.
This 1964 Avanti R1 comes from Texas where it was lovingly cared for by its owner of the last twelve years. The southwest climate has kept the frame and other metal pieces free of rust. The fiberglass body does not show any signs of trauma and has been the subject of one repaint. The wheels are original and have been painted; the original wheel covers are included along with a variety of spare parts and a service manual. The odometer shows just under 45k miles which is believed original.
As an R1 this Avanti is powered by Studebaker’s 289ci 240hp engine. The engine is original to the car and runs great with surprising acceleration. The 3-speed automatic transmission is Studebaker’s “Powershift” which is essentially a Ford FMX. The car has power steering along with standard power front disc brakes (somewhat novel for the early 1960’s). Everything has been well maintained as evidenced by a folder of receipts, and the ride is quite comfortable as well.
The Elk interior with woodgrain accents has a classy appearance. The seats were recovered in 2018 and look fantastic. The doors received new window felts as well to prevent rattling. Note the Avanti actually has a factory roll bar concealed by the headliner. All the gauges function as do the horn and wipers. The heater and defroster also work properly, though the factory a/c is not functional. The door windows and rear pop-out windows all operate smoothly too.
A Studebaker Avanti is quite rare and not like anything else. While it was a novel design, it had a variety of elements that still inspire cars today. It all makes for a great piece of automotive history that has a remarkable following. Just be prepared to regularly answer the question, “What kind of car is that?”
