Vehicle Description
1973 Avanti Avanti II
There were several iterations of the Avanti II after the original
Avantis ceased production in 1964. Several tenures of ownership
occured in an effort to keep the model alive. Known for the prefix
in their serial number, the RQB generation of Avanti II's ran from
1970 to 1982. During this period, improvements were steadily
implemented such as leather replacing vinyl, carpet becoming
thicker, and 8 track players becoming standard.
For consignment, an early year RQB Avanti II with quite a few of
the standard features as well as some tasty mods that make this car
somewhat unique. If you're looking for something that's a bit
beyond the norm but also immediately recognizable, consider this
Avanti II. Coming to our Hallowed Halls with a Ford 4.6 liter
InTech 4v V8 engine, 4-speed automatic, a Burk brake system, and
all new Painless wiring, this looker and cooker is ready to take on
challengers on the showfield as well as the boulevard. As the
dealer brochure said in '73, "Take a long look at luxury...Avanti
luxury, for there is nothing else like it in the motoring
world.".
Exterior
Purchased as a silver car in desperate need of a paint job more
than 20 years ago by our consignor, a professional paint job was
employed and included removal of windows and doors. He chose
Intense Blue Pearl to cover the car and the two stage paint is
gleaming. Everything about the front is unique on this car, from
the lack of the grille between the headlights, the squared off
bumpers on the corner, to the wild hood bulge and accent piece. The
profile of the car presents a square front with a flat face leading
back to a sloped back and dome like rear window. The tail lights
are small, simple and wrap around the rounded rear corners of the
car. Then it is squared off like the front as the chrome bumpers
make a right angle to wrap the back. And speaking of the bumpers,
according to the consignor they had been triple chrome plated at
the time the car was painted. New chrome also presents on interior
and exterior pieces. The window space, including the rear quarter
windows, have a European feel to them, reminding this writer of an
Alfa Romeo Montreal in some ways. The rear has more of a mid-60's
Barracuda vibe as the sloping window meets a small trunk lid. It's
an interesting car that simply cannot be categorized, its appeal is
its uniqueness. The car rides on 17-inch Bullitt wheels and
possesses huge, oval exhaust tips that tuck into the rear valance.
There are just a few minor paint imperfections that include a
couple of chips and a bubble. Some gaps need to be reworked, but
most are in fine alignment.
Interior
The door panels continue the rounded and square combinations and
are lined on the bottom with black shag carpet. Hello....1973!
Inside we have tall black leather bucket seats, and the height is
one clue that this is not a first generation Avanti. The attached
buckets in the back match the tuck and roll design and come with
side armrests and the ever present ashtray. A rather simple three
spoke steering wheel has finger grooves for easy grip and a gauge
pod is housed in a stainless steel panel. Color in the panel is
provided by a vacuum pressure gauge canted in towards the driver
and a series of small, unmarked indicator lights. An AM/FM radio
fits in its own cove in the center above row of A/C control levers
that look like little, robust gear shifters. The passenger sees the
glove box and dash in a stitched vertical pattern that repeats
throughout the interior. The shifter in the center console is very
simple and also housed in a stainless steel surround. The original
carpet has been replaced with a low pile black carpet that includes
sound proofing material. It looks great and is protected by gray
mats, front and rear. The headliner is a texture vinyl like
material and it's where we find some additional toggle switches on
an overhead console. The flat trunk is covered in black carpet and
has a metal battery box.
Drivetrain
A nearly new crate Ford 4.6 liter DOHC InTech V8 producing 280
horsepower has been fitted into this car. It's backed up by a 4R70W
4-speed automatic transmission heading back to rear wheels and 3.31
gears. Electronic fuel injection feeds the engine while power disc
brakes on all fours slow the car. The engine bay is a treat for the
eyes with snaking intakes and body matching paint on the fuel rails
and air intake while other blue items accent the engine. Billet and
polished metal abound and it really puts on a show!
Undercarriage
The entertainment continues under here as it's all nice and clean.
The dual exhaust runs from headers to meet Flowmaster mufflers then
exit via gigantic oval tips. Independent front suspension has coil
springs, and the rear has leaf springs. A clean underside with just
hints of surface rust. Some residual oil on the rear diff but does
not appear to be actively dripping.
Drive-Ability
True to the reliability of the 4.6, it started right up and has a
nice little rumble to it. Into drive we took it and out on the loop
we went for a generally nice ride. The seats are comfortable but
don't expect the lumbar support of modern cars. Everything
functions as it should including the brakes which of course, which
is always the first function we test.
Legend has it that the entire Avanti design was doodled on the back
of an envelope by the president of Studebaker and was to compete
with the Thunderbirds of the 60's era. The distinctive lower grille
leaves the face without openings, a feature that sets it apart from
virtually every car ever made, save for modern electric cars. The
engine choice here makes this a bit of a resto-mod Avanti and it's
a nice build that deserves an appreciative new owner, maybe one
from the Avanti club, or a future member for sure!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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