From the ashes we rise again
The first Avanti was built in 1962 by Studebaker, which, before crafting cars, was already well known for making wagons. Founded in 1852, the marque had been building vehicles to move people and goods since before the United States Civil War. However, the brand would struggle in the 1960s, caught up in the crossfire of the price war between Ford and General Motors. The Avanti would only last two years before falling victim to a merger that saw Studebaker exit the carmaking business.
However, people still believed in the Avanti, no less than five, in fact. That’s how many separate efforts there were to restore and maintain the model. The first attempt in 1965 bought all the rights and tooling, and the company was sold four more times afterwards, most of them in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unfortunately, despite the enthusiasm, there was difficulty translating it into commercial success.
Today’s 1988 Avanti II is from the second-to-last run in a partnership with John J. Cafaro, who moved the factory to Youngstown, Ohio, and was able to get some assistance from the state government as part of a job growth program. Only 405 cars were built in the four years the plant was open, closing in 1991. While those numbers were fatal to the profitability of the brand, the scarcity is a great boon to collectors looking for something off the beaten path.
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Putting Avanti in the black
The exterior is a solid shiny black with a matching black powered convertible top as well. There’s very little additional color that isn’t legally required, like the yellow covering of the blinkers, the red of the taillights, the white of the headlights, and the chrome 15-inch Dayton wire wheels. Everything else, even the brand name penned on the front and back, is black.
These cars were built to order, with an estimated time of ten to twelve weeks from finalizing the design to receiving a finished product, with more time added if unusual or special features were desired. One of the features included on this model was custom dual exhaust extensions that really give some teeth to the rear profile.
Black on, black off
The interior matches the color of the outer body, with layer after layer of black. From the two front leather seats and back bench, to the door panels with at least three different shades of black on them, to the dash and the carpeting, it’s all Nero. The panel on which the gauge cluster sits and the center console, however, is a luxurious splash of chaos, with polished burred wood that has all manner of swirls and personality that the austere color palette frames for maximum eye focus. Whoever did the design work really earned their paycheck, because the effect is stunning.
The other big feature is the Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X700 stereo system, which provides an intense listening experience. Thanks to USB and AUX integration, it also gives maximum control over the soundtrack of your road trip. Other features include heating and air conditioning, power-adjustable mirrors, and a small cargo compartment behind the rear seats, though anything stored back there would have to be small.
Silver year performance
The 1988 Avanti was known to some as the ‘Silver Year’ edition, as it marked the 25th anniversary of the original Studebaker Avanti’s release in 1963. The 305ci (5.0L) V8 engine under the hood may not be made from actual silver, but the dual exhaust extensions off the back sure shine like it. A Rochester four-barrel carburetor ensures the perfect mix of fuel and air, delivering an estimated 150hp to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The odometer reads 29,618 miles, but the true number is unfortunately unknown.
Final thoughts: The rare, doomed, and beautiful artifact of a dream that never was
The story of the Avanti is a story of excited belief and crushing despair. The cars themselves are unique and, as the project went on, increasingly a fusion of eras. Each time the Avanti was reborn and reset, the ’60s styling was moulded and meshed with ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s influences that made a truly special and unequaled aesthetic.
Each and every time, the dream of resurrecting the car to the position of fame and success it deserved was dashed against the rocks, with the wreckage of the company leaving behind precious examples of what that world would look like. Imagine an alternate history where this gorgeous machine was a household name instead of a footnote in the history books? Well, it can be a name in your household, or at least in your garage, if you check out the listing and decide to buy.