Believed to be 43,775 miles. Mostly original car with one older repaint. R1 289 cubic inch V8, automatic transmission. Working factory A/C. Beautiful bucket seat interior. A stylish Avanti that drives great!

The Avanti is one of the motoring world’s best “love-it-or-hate-it” designs. It was controversial when it was new and remains just as thought-provoking today. Designed in six weeks, it has a sleek, futuristic look that stood the car world on its ear when it debuted. When it was new, it was also the holder of numerous land speed records, thanks to both the sleek bodywork and the virtually indestructible Studebaker 289 cubic inch V8. So when you’re looking over this handsome black 1963 Studebaker Avanti, please understand that this was something special when it was new. Someone obviously loved this car, because it’s nicely preserved and wears a single older repaint in original black, giving the distinctive Avanti bodywork a slightly sinister look. The bodywork is fiberglass and in excellent condition with no notable cracks or delamination, and it shines up quite well. Our only complaint might be that the hood sits a little proud of the surrounding bodywork, but that might change once it sits out in the sun for a little while (fiberglass is notorious for moving around based on temperature). It also offers nice chrome, excellent original glass, and neat details like the offset hood ornament, wrap-around rear glass, and slender three-piece bumpers that are mid-century modern at its best.

We believe the tan bucket seat interior is mostly original save for the carpets, which are just too nice to be 63 years old. You can see the aircraft influence throughout the driver’s compartment, from the wrap-around instrument panel to the lever-style climate controls to the overhead headlight switches. The tan vinyl on the seats remains in excellent condition with no splits or tears, and the foam underneath still feels supportive and comfortable. The stylish two-spoke steering wheel isn’t cracked or separated, and it frames a full array of fully operational gauges, including a vacuum gauge (only the clock is inop). The center stack houses the original AM radio, the A/C controls, the heater levers, and there’s a cool pop-up vanity inside the glove box. There’s decent space in the back seat, and you’ll note this car is equipped with rather rare seat belts, an oddity in 1963. The funky ribbed headliner is in excellent condition, and there’s a surprisingly spacious trunk in back which includes a full-sized spare tire underneath.

Don’t be fooled by the 289 cubic inch displacement—this V8 is a pure Studebaker design, not a Ford. In fact, it’s ridiculously over-built, designed at a time when engineers believed that compression ratios would skyrocket. As a result, this tough little V8 feels robust and energetic and should last for many years with only routine maintenance. This is an R1 version with a 4-barrel carburetor, but it’s torquey enough to make the Avanti feel lively around town and effortless on the highway. You’ll see a few forward-thinking details, including one of the first alternators on a production car. Power brakes and power steering are welcome additions, and a few chrome dress-up pieces make the Avanti’s engine bay worthy of display. Underneath, you’ll find a mostly original chassis with surface scale on the heavy iron pieces, but no signs of structural issues. Most importantly, the “hog troughs” that support the rockers and form the backbone of the body are in excellent condition with no signs of rot. The Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic shifts cleanly and we believe there are 3.31 gears in the rear end, so it’s peppy around town but relaxed on the highway. The suspension is conventional, but you’ll note power front disc brakes, another rather innovative feature for the Avanti. The floors are fiberglass, so no worries there, and the dual exhaust system has just the right tone—not too aggressive. Steel wheels with unique hubcaps are fitted with recent 215/70/15 blackwall radials that give the sleek Avanti just a bit of attitude.

We understand the Avanti isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for something that’s a little different from the usual Thunderbird or Mustang, maybe it deserves a closer look. These are well engineered, durable, fun-to-drive cars and the look will always attract attention. This particular Avanti is nicely preserved, drives great, and definitely stands out in a crowd. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.