Vehicle Description
Iconic styling meets reliable components - that's the advantage of
this 1981 Avanti II. So not only does it look distinct, but you
also have a luxury interior, an overdrive transmission, and a
fuel-injected LT1 V8 borrowed from a Corvette. That makes for a
terrific package for those who love to drive something quite
unique.
The Avanti was the boldest Studebaker to hit the streets, but it
was also one of their costliest cars. So it was discontinued only
after a couple of years. But there were a select few who understood
the significance of the car penned by the legendary Raymond Loewy,
and they kept it going with small-batch, handcrafted examples like
this 1981 Avanti II. This history gives the coupe an instant
appeal, and it's also why someone has taken the time to keep it an
attractive driver. This is believed to be a two-owner car. The
second owner has given it long-term care for over two decades, and
in that time he has also made some nice investments. For example,
this was born a turquoise coupe, but that shade wasn't quite bold
enough. So he kept the spirit of the tone but invested in a
professional respray that has a nice metallic radiance. It
continues to look good today with the right mix of driver-ready
appearance and a high gloss style. So when you get this into the
sunlight, it really highlights the artistic blend of crisp lines
and gentle curves on this well-preserved fiberglass body. The
original form-fitting bumpers follow this same design philosophy to
create a look that's distinctly American and perpetually
futuristic.
The gray tones of the clean interior look stylish against the
turquoise exterior. You'll appreciate the classic style in the
details like the pleated dash, toggle switches, AM/FM/cassette
stereo, and full SW readouts set in the wood trim panel. And this
one is also made to be a luxurious cruiser with power windows,
power locks with keyless entry, a remote trunk opener, and
provisions for R134a air conditioning (it will need servicing to
blow cold again.) And it's easy to get comfortable for even the
long haul with a tilt steering column and upgraded body-hugging
front bucket seats.
The Avanti II had Chevrolet small block V8s when they started
production, but what's under the hood today is even more desirable.
This keeps the GM power but was upgraded around 2013 to the
Corvette's 5.7-liter LT1 fuel-injected V8. It's a clean
installation that was done well, including an aluminum radiator
with a thermostatically controlled electric fan. It fires up
readily and gives you a great V8 tune out of the glasspack-style
dual exhaust. Not only is this more powerful, but it's also better
for all-around use. The upgrade to the four-speed automatic
transmission means there's overdrive for easy trips near or far.
And the same anytime driving attitude also goes for the power
steering, power brakes, front discs, and sway bars front &
rear.
The sale comes complete with build receipts, service manuals, and
maintenance records. This is the two-owner Avanti II with the right
mix of care and investments to be an awesome driver's classic. Call
today!!!
