Filed under: Car Buying, Time Warp, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Trucks/Pickups, Wagons/Estates
An update on the current whereabouts of Studebaker
The Toronto Star reminds readers that the Studebaker (which some may have thought had vanished into
the pages of automotive history, car enthusiasts, and Wikipedia entries), is still trudging forward.
According to the
Star, Avanti Motor Corporation (formed shortly after
Studebaker closed its doors back in 1966), continues to revive the Studebaker name. Already producing the
Avanti car (based on a Studebaker concept that would have competed against the Corvette and Thunderbird), the company
has been planning on entering the SUV market with the Studebaker XUV (pictured), a Hummer-esque vehicle to be powered
by either a petrol or diesel V10 engine. The company in fact showed their wares a few years ago at the Chicago
Auto Show (including unveiling a schoolbus-yellow XUV), only to go underground again.
[Source: The Toronto
Star]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JS 6:17PM (3/09/2006)
isnt that a Ford Excursion with a new face? Totally looks like it.
Reply
Tim UF 6:47PM (3/09/2006)
im with JS on this one... if i took my contacts out, the shape would blur a bit, and i would be seeing an expursion... im betting the XUV is based on one in fact... (ford has to find away to push these out their doors, right?)
Reply
United Artists 6:51PM (3/09/2006)
ah studebaker...badly damaged but never destroyed.
Reply
s 7:05PM (3/09/2006)
Looks like a Hummer version of the Chevorlet Suburban
Look at those outdated halogen headlights! LOL Looks like leftovers from the 1984 Chevorlet Sierra.
this is bad.... very bad
Reply
Mal Fuller 7:26PM (3/09/2006)
"(based on a Studebaker concept that would have competed against the Corvette and Thunderbird)"
What do you mean by concept and would have, Mr. Arellano? Studebaker DID build the Avanti from 1962 - 1964, it was not just a "concept." Therefore, it was originally sold by Studebaker dealers in competition with Corvettes and Thunderbirds.
A then South Bend, Indiana Studebaker dealer, Nate Altman negotiated from Studebaker Corporation the rights to build the Avanti after Studebaker discontinued all US car production. Studebaker Larks continued in production in Canada through 1966.
Rights to build Avantis have passed through quite a few hands since Nate Altman's heyday. Automotive history can only be preserved by responsible journalism, Mr. Arellano.
Reply
Joel A 7:48PM (3/09/2006)
"What do you mean by concept and would have, Mr. Arellano?"
Uh, I did write that the Aventi is currently in production in the post:
"Already producing the Avanti car..."
Reply
"94 Impala SS 7:54PM (3/09/2006)
Yeah it is a FURD. Look at the engines...
http://www.avantimotors.com/studespecific.htm
Reply
Ted Y 8:15PM (3/09/2006)
Big mistake, calling the Avanti a concept;-)
In fact, for 10 days in October 1963, Studebaker was at Bonneville setting 337 speed records, at least 29 of which were set by the Avanti. An R5-equipped Avanti could top 196 mph. Heck, even a production run R3 could reach 170 mph, pretty good for the day.
BTW-I believe I read elsewhere that the Studebaker XUV is based on a Ford F-250.
Reply
WillDaThrill 8:20PM (3/09/2006)
.....if you ever needed another reason to burn gas.
Reply
Fooman 8:39PM (3/09/2006)
ohh I like the Lister on the website, what is the deal with those?
Reply
Steve B 8:41PM (3/09/2006)
It's like they tried to combine the worst styling aspects of SUV's in one giant spoof.
Canyonero anyone?
Reply
ANR 9:32PM (3/09/2006)
First time I heard about the new Avantis was when I saw one pull into the shopping plaza where I worked. Didn't know what the hell it was (I knew of the old Avantis, as my Grandfather is a fan of Studebaker's more performance oriented cars, but I'd never actually seen an old Avanti). Two weeks later the car returns to the plaza, right when I'm taking break for lunch. So, I go over to the car to check it out, just as the owner walks out. He tells me the whole 411 about the car and the new company. I swear, I almost thought the thing was a TVR Speed 12, if it wasn't for the obvious front clip.
The XUV doesn't hold my interest, but I do wonder if anyone will make "modernized" Golden Hawks...fastest production car of '57, iirc.
Reply
JP 9:36PM (3/09/2006)
craptacular.
Reply
Christopher 9:38PM (3/09/2006)
Looks like a cross between an Excursion and RoboCop.
Reply
iQuack 10:09PM (3/09/2006)
It isn't a REAL Studebaker unless it burns oil and the clutch chatters.
Reply
Jay 11:02PM (3/09/2006)
Hey, Joel A,
I think #5 got upset because you implied that Studebaker never made the car and that it was only ever made by Avanti Motor. The real Studebaker did in fact make the car first.
Reply
Brian 1:30AM (3/10/2006)
I saw another article about this a while back, it is just a Ford Excursion with different sheet metal.
Why resurrect the Studebaker name for something that looks like its out of a low budget sci-fi movie?
Reply
heyarnold 2:18AM (3/10/2006)
>Why resurrect the Studebaker name for something that >looks like its out of a low budget sci-fi movie?
The 51-52 bullet noses didnt look like it could have been from a low budget sci-fi movie ?
>14. It isn't a REAL Studebaker unless it burns oil >and the clutch chatters
Will see how your valves are holding up in 50 years.
Reply
klaatu 7:36AM (3/10/2006)
Likewise, it can't be a "real" Studebaker unless it rusts. Oh, wait, Chrysler products (particularly 1957 through 1961) rusted even faster. Never mind.
Yeah, it's a totally useless huge SUV based on the Ford Excursion that is going to be soon discontinued.
C'mon, Avanti, do a Hawk update instead. At least that'd have some style. And, retro is "in" right now.
Reply
Tom Design 8:01AM (3/10/2006)
They must have borrowed the finest designers in Japan to come up with this. It's just "industrial comical", a total, X-Man toy. It has all the wrong proportional cues like many Asian designs, bulky angles where there should be curves, bizarro claddings and weird headlights. Very fun in it's own way. With nothing to compete with, it's a runaway success!
Reply