1989 Studebaker Avanti II

The Studebaker Company was struggling financially when it introduced a sleek and sporty model called the Avanti in the early 1960s. It had smooth handling and plenty of performance, earning lots of attention for the South Bend, Indiana-based company. Its shape and design had been created in 30 days after its design team had been sequestered in a house in Palm Springs, California. This 'halo' car was intended to save the Studebaker Corporation from financial collapse but production problems resulted in many canceled orders as customers sought other performance options from the automotive industry.

Even after the demise of the Studebaker marque, the Avanti name lived on through several reincarnations with designs inspired by the original Raymond Loewy-designed Avant. Studebaker ceased production in November of 1967, with its Avanti personal luxury coupe in production from June 1962 and December 1963. A total of 1,200 examples were built in 1962, and 4,600 the following year. At the time of its introduction, it was called 'the fastest production car in the world,' capable of reaching speeds exceeding 170 mph, thanks to its supercharged 289 cubic-inch R3 engine.

After Studebaker went out of business, the Avanti name was revived on five different occasions through 2006, the first revival used left-over Studebaker components, while later attempts used General Motors and Ford chassis and engines. Local Studebaker dealers, Nate and Arnold Altman and Leo Newman acquired the 'Avanti' model name, tooling, parts, and plant space near the end of 1963 and incorporated as Avanti Motor Corporation. A slightly modified version of the Avanti, known as the Avanti II, arrived in 1965 equipped with a 327 cubic-inch Chevrolet Corvette engine, later growing to 400 cubic inches. A small-block 350 CID V8 was used before switching to a 305 CID V8 in 1981. The final Avanti II built was equipped with a V6 engine from Roush, one of two so-equipped cars.

The Avanti II models built from 1963 to 1985 rested on a Studebaker-designed chassis. A Chevrolet Monte Carlo chassis followed until it was discontinued in 1987, after which a Chevrolet Caprice chassis provided the platform.

A real-estate developer named Stephen H. Blake acquired the rights to the Avanti II on October 1, 1982, and received approval from the state of Indiana for $1.9 million in loans. Several new updates were incorporated into the Avanti II, the first since its introduction in 1965, including a new convertible body style. The Herb Adams-designed chassis was all-new, and the independent suspension used a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette aluminum rear end. The bumpers were body-colored and the headlights were rectangular.

By February of 1986, Blake had declared bankruptcy, and it appeared that the Avanti name was finished, only to be revived once again with a new influx of financial support from Michael Eugene Kelly. After acquiring the Avanti Motor Company, he dropped the 'II' from the car's name, and all subsequent cars were dubbed the 'Avanti.' After a brief period, the company was acquired by John J. Cafaro in 1987 and was under his guidance through 1991. Kelly repurchased the company in 1999.

Cafaro moved production from South Bend, Indiana, to Youngstown, Ohio. Bodystyles included a two-door coupe and convertible, with a four-door version being introduced in 1989. During the four years of Cafaro ownership, a total of 405 Avantis were built at the Youngstown plant, including 90 four-door versions.

Kelly relocated production from Ohio to Georgia where production lasted from 2000 to 2005. In early 2006, production briefly relocated to a new plant in Cancun, Mexico, but after Kelly was arrested on fraud charges in December 2006, production ended in March 2006.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2023