Without a doubt, the original 1962-63 Studebaker Avanti was a polarizing car that was well ahead of it’s time. It had power (especially in supercharged trim), a bit of safety and quite a bit of innovation. For 1962, the Avanti had features that wouldn’t appear until later on: a “bottom breather” engine airflow/cooling airflow design, disc brakes, a Paxton supercharger as an option. It even had a fiberglass body made in the same factory as the Corvette body shells. But when Studebaker stopped Avanti production for 1964, that was far from the end of the line. The Avanti name, tooling, parts, and plant space in South Bend, Indiana were bought by former Packard-Studebaker dealers and the Avanti Motor Company was incorporated and for the next forty-three years would be produced under a series of owners.
This particular 1987 Avanti comes out of the first ownership period of Michael E. Kelly. The chassis is based on the GM G-body platform and the engine…well, it’s a 1987 305 hooked to an overdrive trans, most likely a TH200R4. And it is a square-headlight car, not the original round-headlight design that lasted until 1982. But it is still an Avanti…the surprisingly aerodynamic shape for an early 1960’s car is still present, and the ill effects of the original Avanti chassis, sections of the frame referred to as “hog troughs” that were rust-prone, are gone. And that’s where the interesting point lies: if it was a real, honest Studebaker, we’d say restore it. But it’s not. It’s basically a 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a bodykit…which opens up a whole world of performance options. If you had the ability to buy this Avanti, what would you do? For us, you can’t go wrong with what works: a supercharged LS-A, six speed, upgraded brakes, wheels and tires, and a good polishing of the factory colors. We would also love it as a drag car, set up like a Super Stock. What would you do?
eBay Link: 1987 Avanti
Simple, I’d buy something else. I’ve never been a fan of the Avanti.
Simple. Pull the body off the frame, junk the GM running gear. Call Art Morrison, Drop an SRT8 or Hellcat package in it.
Now we’ll have some fun…
Always wondered how it would look as a Pro Street with a blower stick ing out thru the good.
Also turn it into a LSR car.
Go back to the supercharged Stude engine. Back-half might look cool too……
At $14k, I’d be forced to drive around with that gutless 305 until it shit all over itself.The price for that car is a bit steep – he must think that the non-Stude and non-Newman&Altman cars are collectible.I’d love t see a Stude engine in it, too, but with rather limited cam/head selection and the weight of that engine compared to a SBC, it would be one nose-heavy pig
Does GM manufacture grenade launchers?
Yes, the original THM-200. I think the early ones were nicknamed “grenade boxes.”
Don’t forget G80 Gov-loks…. which they made for 7.625 diffs!
I’d wrap a log chain around the trunk rack and onto the back of my F350, and ‘take’ that off first.
Next I would drag the car sideways until the rubber and those TERRIBLE appliance wheels were worn into flat spotted nubs. (then remove and burn what remained)
one of those gas powered saws would help with the console, but would open it up for a 5.3 LS and 6 speed. maybe a 9″ rear??
The Pinto/Bobcat shifter has to go also….
(I never was an avanti fan)
Put a 81-88 Monte Carlo body on it and make it the G body it was meant to be.
I owned a 1979 Avanti back in the early 90’s. It was much truer to the original than this one(interior, chrome bumpers, ect looked the same as the 1964 model)
A really fun car, plus a real head turner when driving it around. It had a small block Chevy with Corvette valve covers, no idea what size the engine was. I’d love to have it back, I had to get rid of it due to the 1st wife..
Leave it just the way it is. Not every car needs to be upgraded so it can do 10 flat in the quarter mile. It is what it is an be appreciated for that.
Put a Ford running gear in it.
Junk most of the GM crap and install upgraded Ford Mustang suspension, fit a turbo AMC 400 on efi and for the icing on the cake – 16″ 3 piece modular wire wheels.
May I drool all over my laptop now?…….
Put a crate 350 in it and flip it to support my Mopar habit.
Flux Capacitor and a Mr.Fusion. Blast it up to 88 , go back and tell Studebaker that Ford and GM are going to kill them just like the Iranians and Doc Brown.
Seriously? Put a bigass cowl scoop on it and have Mark Sussino (Slimbo) enjoy some quality time on the small block…
I’m thinking built Buick 3.8 turbo and t56, black paint and gold GNX wheels, and slammed stance. I’d also have a good body guy swap the headlights to round and shave the stupid bits off.
All aluminum 427 small block and t56, then drag it through the Detroit Speed catalog. I’d also find and restore some vintage 16″ 3 piece wheels for it like Gotti/BBS RSs.