The Studebaker Avanti is one of the most overlooked supercars from the 1960s. But the 1963 example for sale on eBay shows why the Avanti deserves more attention. Start with this fact: the Avanti has a top speed of 178 miles per hour in stock R2 trim with a Paxton supercharger.
The Studebaker Avanti broke 29 world speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. But it only takes a single glance of the Avanti standing still to appreciate the design.
The Avanti’s design was ahead of its time for American cars in the early 1960s.
The looks were off the charts for the early 1960s. It featured a built-in roll bar, padded interior, and door latches that became part of the body structure when closed. The hood is asymmetrical.
Robert Loewy, responsible for iconic industrial designs such as the Coca-Cola bottle and Air Force One, led the design team. The shape of the Avanti’s body was considered too complex for sheet metal. So Studebaker used fiberglass body panels mounted on a Studebaker Lark’s chassis.
The car’s sharp angular nose mimics a jet. It utilizes a grille-less design with the air intake positioned under the vehicle.
The Avanti R2 Has More Power
The Avanti—the Italian word for “forward” or “onward”—debuted in April 1962. The base version is the R1. But the R2 variant, like the one for sale on eBay, upgrades the Avanti to supercar status. The upgraded 289 cubic inch engine (borrowed from the Studebaker Hawk) and the Paxton supercharger combined for 280 horsepower—a 55-hp bump from the R1 version.
The R2’s Paxton supercharger increased Avanti’s performance.
By 1964, the rare 335-horsepower R3 was introduced with a 304.5 cubic-inch engine. However, only nine of the Avanti R3s were built. By that time, Avanti sales of all versions (now sporting rectangular headlights) were in decline. Producing the car in fiberglass proved to be tricky. Reports of quality issues led customers to cancel orders.
Studebaker sold 3,800 Avantis in 1963. But sales fell to 800 units by 1964, despite the company’s effort to fix problems with poor fit and finish.
Studebaker ceased production at its South Bend factory—where the Avanti was produced—in December 1963.
Avanti R2 Embellishments
The designers emulated a plane’s cockpit for interior controls.
The Avanti for sale on eBay began its life as an R2 version. The seller bought it from an estate six years ago. The previous owner had restored the engine and painted the exterior bright red. But the 2008 restoration was not completed.
The current owner (and seller) bought new and new-old stock Avanti parts to complete the build. The car now features an R3 air box under the hood. The seller said:
I always wanted a classic muscle car. But this Avanti is too nice now. It belongs in a museum.
The seller also added Testarossa-style wheels. He said:
Give this car some gas, and it smokes the tires.
He also added LED bulbs in the glass headlight—and LEDs in the back.
Legend has it that the Studebaker Avanti is so aerodynamic and air-tight that if you roll down the windows at 80 miles per hour, the air pressure builds in the cabin and blows out the rear window.
That’s urban legend, although the seller opted not to give it a test. But the legend speaks to the lasting legacy of the Avanti’s innovative, fiberglass and ultra-aerodynamic design from 60 years ago.
Buy It Now on eBay
