1963 Studebaker Avanti Sport Coupe

Although the Pontiac GTO is often thought of as the original muscle car, there was a group out in South Bend, Indiana, that was certainly ahead of the curve. Starting in late 1956, Studebaker was building cars with an optional Paxton Supercharger under the hood.

When the Avanti was introduced in late 1962, the Raymond Loewy design was certainly unlike anything ever seen before. With a name that derives from the Italian word 'forward,' it is certainly an example of not only forward styling but also forward thinking.

This Avanti is powered by the R3 304.5 cubic inch engine with a Paxton supercharger, large port heads, and cast iron headers. All R3 engines were factory blueprinted and hand-assembled at the Paxton facilities. They would be offered as a factory option for the Avanti line and also through the dealer parts network.

The engine in this Avanti is serial number B 109, known to be the last one assembled with high-performance R3 heads. It also features additional unique parts, including the only known set of R5 pistons. Power is transferred to the road through a 4-speed manual T10 transmission backed by a stout Dana 44 rear axle with a limited-slip differential. This car also features a rare set of magnesium Halibrand Sebring wheels.