Cars - Studebaker Avanti

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	Cars - Studebaker Avanti

The Studebaker Avanti was a sports coupe built by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, USA between June of 1962 and December of 1963. Designed by a team of stylists employed by industrial designer Raymond Loewy, the Avanti was all-new on the surface and a radical design.

Dimensionally, the car's size was very close to that of the Ford Mustang.

Under the skin, however, Studebaker's financial situation meant that the Avanti was based on the Lark Daytona, with a chassis dating back to 1953 and only Studebaker's small-block V8 for power. Production of the car was slowed by Studebaker's inexperience with fiberglass forms and curing; however the shortcomings were fixed before any assembled car was sold to the public.

First year Avanti's used round headlight housings; 1964 model Avanti's used squared housings.

Only 4,643 cars were built before Studebaker closed up shop in South Bend to produce sedans, coupes and station wagons for another two years in Canada. The final Avanti, a white fully optioned car contained a letter signed by Studebaker employees advising the future owner of the car's significance, was placed under the carpeting near the spare tire well.

Post Studebaker production

Following the closure of the South Bend operation, two South Bend Studebaker dealers, Nate Altman and Leo Newman, purchased the Avanti name, the body molds, remaining parts, tools, jigs, and a portion of the South Bend factory to continue making the Avanti.

These Avantis, called the Avanti II, were given a 327 in³ (5.4 L) Chevrolet Corvette engine and were meticulously hand-built to order in very small numbers.

On October 1, 1982, real estate developer Stephen Blake bought the Avanti company and shortly after that developed a more up-to-date backbone chassis with independent suspension, and a convertible model.

Blake's company declared bankruptcy in 1986, and the company was purchased by Michael Kelly, who relocated production to Youngstown, Ohio. These cars continued to be sold until approximately 1991. A modernized car, having the same styling themes as the Avanti (based on GM's Camero/Firsbird models) is still being marketed today.

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Cars - Studebaker Avanti

Post Studebaker production

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