The Avanti underwent numerous changes over the years, but its biggest transformation had to do with what was happening in the background as different ownership groups took over managing the iconic company. Though Studebaker was long gone and its influence was fleeting, the Avanti II – as this car is known – still showed a heavy emphasis on the first years of inception and the styling that resulted from the founding team’s attempt to build a luxury car with serious horsepower under the hood. This Avanti II has some rust issues to sort out but is otherwise a highly original example listed here on craigslist that still runs and drives for $12,000.

The interior was similar to the outside in that the management team didn’t mess with a good thing. Avanti was obviously going to be a niche company, but it had succeeded where many other small-batch manufacturers fail: it actually made a compelling product that seemingly occupied a spot in the marketplace that didn’t have many rivals. A luxurious grand tourer that featured a powerful powerplant relying on conventional Detroit muscle resulted in a car that could keep up with a Corvette but was far more comfortable to ride in. The Avanti II shown here is clearly a project but the core elements of what makes this car so special are fully on display with the full leather interior, including the dash and door panels.

And while Avantis were produced in limited quantities and were targeted towards a more affluent customer, the drivetrains were anything but exotic. This is actually a Chevrolet 400 engine that will be dirt cheap to maintain and even when a component does need replacing, the part price will likely be far lower than a competing GT model, like a Porsche 928. Think about it: some enthusiasts get all hot and bothered over a 928, which isn’t exactly a cheap car to maintain, while the Avanti is over here essentially saying, “Hello? I do exist.” With room for four and reliable V8 power under the hood, the Avanti II is a surprisingly practical choice for a semi-exotic project car.

The seller notes this Avanti II was ordered with lots of options when new, including the seriously cool Cibie driving lamps that are still mounted under the dash with their likely extinct rock guards still attached. The rust issues the seller mentions include two very typical areas of concern on Avantis, the “hog troughs” and torque boxes. Both areas can be repaired with replacement materials from Avanti specialists like Classic Enterprises in Wisconsin, per the seller. The Avanti also features real Borranni multi-spoke wheels that were professionally repaired in the early 1990s as confirmed via a receipt. The Avanti II retains the classic looks of the Studebaker years and seems like an excellent starting point for a project if you’ve always wanted one of these American GTs.