I was watching a car show called "great cars" last night and they profiled the Avanti and the Avanti II. Now, I'm fascinated about the history of these cars. Has anyone ever seen an Avanti in person or has driven one?

 

Studebaker?

 

Yep, I saw on that special it was a Studebaker, but saw that it survived even after Studebaker folded. Just curious if anyone has seen one in real life or has driven one

 

Run awayyyyyyyyyyyyy!

 

why?

 

Studebaker, then a small specialty car manufacturer using Chevy small-block running gear as the "Avanti II." I think the bodies were fiberglass, but durability was not one of the Avanti's traits.
Think domestic equivalent of Maserati, without the racing heritage or number of different models...
I've seen them in various places here in California, but never driven one.

 

There are a number of them in this area and I used to have 2 or 3 that would come in regularly, but the owners have since sold them. They never really did much for me, just a rare car that was nothing special. Much like a Sterling, not comparing an Avanti to a Sterling, but saying they were both very rare and not worth the hassle.

 

There's an Avanti supplier right down the road from where I live.

They usually have a few of their cars parked around the building.
I'll have to stop by some time and maybe take some pictures of the cars there.

I just found their website here: http://www.avantiparts.net/

 

It's basically an uglier version of the 3rd generation corvette. I've never like the front end, but the back is ok.

 

Definitely ranks as one of the ugliest cars in the annals of automotive history.

 

Google is your fiend...

http://www.avantimotors.com/

http://www.theavanti.com/

 

I thought it was pretty hot considering it was originally introduced in 1962 by Studebaker

 

Back in the 80's, I managed a gas station one of the owners friends had an Avanti. It was a pretty nice car. As much as I tried, the owner said no way would he let a 19yr old drive his car. I think his wife got it in the divorce.

 

I like the Hawk better....57 etc....

http://www.1956goldenhawk.com/diffhawk.htm

I use to own/drive a 53 studerbaker, ohv v-8, overdrive and hill hold...drove fine....
heard Avanti had issues

 

I never knew that this car was related to the 3rd generation corvette.

 

it wasn't

 

Subjective but, Fugly IMHO.

 

Well that other guy's post was misleading.

 

I remember when I was just a young kid when they first came out and a couple of my uncles who were into "fast" cars were saying how fast the high performance Avanti's were; one told me he drove one from Toronto to London Ontario and hit way over 160mph which was pretty fast for those days. Doing some searching, I guess they were talking about the "R" versions, the R1, 2, 3 some of which were supercharged; some of those actually held the Bonneville land speed records for their class of car, Andy Granatelli et al were involved with that. but fugly imo

The guy who owned the company I worked for a few years ago bought one of the Avanti II's brand new, he always hoped it would be a good classic investment but to me those seem even less appealing than the originals since they're a hybrid mix of small block Chevy and the fugly looks.

 

Do you know if there was an Avanti III?

 

The Avanti II never quite died until recently-- it was sort of like Lamborghini and Morgan a few years ago-- different owners over a period of time manufacturing the same car and coming out with concepts every so often which went nowhere.
Although the Avanti II used Chevy small block drivetrains, I don't recall if it used other Corvette components as well (brakes, suspension, seats, etc.).
As Tireguy said, like a getting Sterling and not worth the hassle (unless you have surplus disposable income).

 

Can someone possibly post a picture of the rear of the car too?

 

The body of the car was produced by the same company that made the molded fiberglass bodies for the corvette, and the Avanti II actually had the corvette 5.4L engine. They were actually designed to compete - but the Avanti didn't quite make it.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

So, in essense the Avanti II and the Corvette Stingray could be distant cousins kind of

 

2007 Avanti......built off a Mustang, previous one was a Camaro.

Rather ugly.

 

gosh u're right that thing is ugly

even has the mustang odometer, all you guys are right if it's ugly then why is still alive and not dead?? so, i guess Ford builds them now instead of GM?

someone needs to bring back the DeLorean!!

 

 

i thought the original avanti's were stylish.
the camaro and mustang based ones are ugly IMO.

 

I've seen it in person quite a few times....one of the ugliest cars made IMO

 

man those air vents sure do look just like the ones in a RSX

 

how can you people say that's ugly?

supercharged 289

 

Those cars also have a fairly decent interior for something made in 1962.

 

alot of cars back in the 60's had nice interior. plastic was still kind of expensive to make.

 

Dang that engine looks badass

 

a local owner of a Mexican restaurant has a maroon one, damn ugly car...

 

understatement

 

Well, if I ever see one in person I'll make my own judge, all I can say is that it's a rare car, oddly styled, and unique in a way that you don't see cars that look like an Avanti at all. Probably because it's not normal looking.