14k-Mile Museum Piece: 1963 Studebaker Avanti
The 1954 merger between Studebaker and Packard didn’t solve their financial problems, and the surviving company (Stude) continued to bleed for another dozen years. The Avanti was conceived as a halo car for the 1963 model year, one that hopefully would help turn the tides. However, not enough of them were built in a year and a half before Studebaker ceased U.S. auto production mid-way through the 1964 model run. This ’63 Avanti appears to be in great condition, having been stored in a museum for an extended period. Located in Redondo Beach, California, this fairly rare automobile is available here on eBay where $11,200 is below the seller’s reserve.
We understand the Avanti product began life as doodles on a cocktail napkin in early 1961 and went into production in record time. The issues with producing the fiberglass bodies and assemblies never came close to the 20,000 per year that Studebaker estimated. Instead, 4,643 were put together for the 1963 and 1964 model years, with the non-supercharged version accounting for 2,282 units in 1963, including the seller’s edition. They were all powered by a 289 cubic inch Studebaker V8 (with or without a supercharger).
Though not confirmed, this could be a low mileage, Stude. The listing says 13,500 miles, while the odometer is in the 14,000 neighborhood, which could be true depending on how long it lived in the museum the seller mentions. We’re told the “pool tree” was replaced (okay, you got me, what is that?) as was the headliner. The paint is about two years old, and we assume it’s the original gold color. Fortunately, the car was driven monthly to keep everything swirling around, so we assume the mechanical condition of the vehicle is good.
The seller says that Andy Granatelli set a world speed record in an Avanti at 168 mph. But why mention that and little else unless Andy performed that feat in this specific automobile? The Avanti was a bit ahead of its time, but not enough to save Studebaker. But the Avanti would live on as the Avanti II when a couple of Studebaker dealers bought the name, tooling, etc., and kept production going from 1965 forward with a Chevrolet drivetrain.
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Comments
I’ll start this out, filter permitting, that is, what a car this was. For an independent to create such a masterpiece, should go down in history, and someone thought enough to do so. Trouble was, people just didn’t expect cars like this from such a company, especially one on thin ice as it was. I feel, while Rambler and Studebaker shared basically the same market, Rambler , with some exceptions, was committed to what people wanted, and rather than put all their peanuts into this car, Studebaker probably should have done the same. The Lark was dated and something new and useful may have delayed the closing, instead of this multi million dollar fiasco. Proof positive, people you think should know better,,,,don’t. Studebaker was a great car.
Great comment about creating an unexpected masterpiece. A modern day equivalent would be Honda creating the original NSX and “b@t@h sl@pp@ng” Italian supercars with comparable performance plus reliability at a fraction of the cost.
I love the original Avanti and the first post-studebaker Avanti II. Counting Cars had a couple episodes that highlighted Alice’s Cooper’s Avanti that was resto-moded for “driveability”. Good insights regarding body structure, etc.
A car I’d love to own, or ride in one, before I “age out”.
It should have saved the company – frankly, against the wishes of the Board of Directors (who were trying to quietly back out of automobiles, going on a crash-diversification binge). Sherwood Egbert was hired from Paxton Products as new CEO, with the nudge-and-wink understanding that he’d wind the car division down, without losing money or exposing the company to lawsuits.
Didn’t work. He became a born-again pistonhead. Learning the company, its traditions, its test facilities, AND what they had done in the past…he conceived of a modern body on the modified Lark chassis, with supercharged engines.
And, oddly, got the go-ahead from the Board. Giving him rope enough to hang himself?
The PROBLEM was, the rushed time-frame. The design came from Lowey Associates quickly enough, but, for cost, it had to be fiberglass. That meant contracting it out, and they had major problems with their supplier.
Meantime, the advertising department started beating the drum. Buyers responded eagerly, putting up deposits. On a car that was delayed…again and again.
FINALLY it came out…and it was full of birthing pains. Poor fitment. Poor construction. Dealers had to spend a lot of money basically re-building the body and other assembly problems.
This led to most of the eager first buyers, either tiring of waiting and demanding refunds on deposits, or taking delivery of slipshod early models and putting the word out.
Of course, later 1963 models had most of the issues resolved. What was not resolved, was an expiring UAW labor contract…the anti-car former Packard board, weary of cars, weary of Egbert, weary of unions (having bought Gravely, they moved the Gravely plant to a right-to-work state to bust THAT union)…and with Sherwood Egbert off on medical leave for cancer…they opted to just close the South Bend plant. Continuing ONE car, the former Lark, out of their miniscule Hamilton plant.
The Hamilton effort was to avoid lawsuits from dealers or state attorneys-general. By offering A car, Studebaker could not be sued for default of franchise agreements. Nothing in those agreements stipulated the number of models or how appealing the car had to be to the public.
The Avanti was the right car. The right time, even. But the wrong amount of planning, and definitely the wrong corporate governance.
Beautiful car. The wheels are mismatched.
“pool tree” is probably supposed to say “upholstery” . If its been repainted and had the headliner and upholstery redone, it was a hard 14k .
I was 13 when these were announced. Never gotten over the desire for them. Had the original Aurora model; painted it this same color.
I was about the same age, 14, and rode my bicycle to the Studebaker dealer up Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport CT. I had ridden by the week before and they had it on the floor with a cover. When I went in after the reveal I was thrilled, and still remember there were switches overhead above the rear view mirror. Wow, like an airplane!
You could get either a/c or supercharging–there was not enough room under hood for both.
Not a single under hood photo…SMH
Terrible eBay listing, surprise, surprise. If a car sits in a “museum” (for who knows how long), with only 13K+ miles and looks like this (with a recent repaint), then what’s the difference between a “museum”, or a barn, or garage, or junk yard? It’s quite apparent with the interior looking drab and rusty gauge bezels that this car has not been well kept. I’d much prefer a high mileage car that looks like a 14K mile car than a purported 14K mile car that looks high mileage.
There is so little info and few photos to work with. Pass.
The seller never makes the claim that this is an original mileage car, they just report the odometer reading.
It could have sat in a museum at some point, but it certainly isn’t museum quality.
The POOL TREEs are right above the HOG TROUGHS!
A leak in the Pool trees will cause the Hog Troughs to rust:
This is a fault well known to Avantiphyles.
Replacement Hog Troughs are readily available… HOWEVER…Pool trees are as scarce as hens teeth. ( another barnyard reference , just for good measure)