1963 Studebaker Avanti R2 Sport Coupe

Studebaker may be best known for the 1963 introduction of the Avanti, but there was much more that came out of its South Bend, IN, facilities. Today we present an example of a car that very few know exists.

Studebaker certainly produced plenty of cars that were not necessarily exciting. What many don't know is that they produced an incredible amount of factory-supercharged vehicles, including four doors and station wagons, and even several pickup trucks.

This 1963 Lark convertible is one of only 31 produced with the R2 supercharged engine package. Since most performance enthusiasts would opt for the lighter 2-door sedans, it is indeed a rarity. The long list of factory options includes disc brakes, original Halibrand wheels, an AM-FM radio, a heavy-duty package with additional cooling, traction bars, heavy-duty adjustable Gabriel shocks, a tachometer, and a 160 mph speedometer along with the rare bucket seats, and a center console.

When the current owner first saw this car in a friend's garage in the mid-1970s in Pomona, CA, he tried to buy it. It would end up disassembled and in disarray for many years before he would be able to convince the owner to part with it. After over 20 years of sitting, it was decided that he would never get around to restoring it, and he agreed to sell it. An extensive, recently completed restoration using numerous new-old-stock parts would take eight years.