Since 1953 Studebaker had not released a new car design, but almost ten years later they would release this fiberglass bodied sports coupe that would leave a positive impression for years to come. The Avanti was Studebaker’s last gasp at innovation. Brainchild of president Sherwood Egbert, it was designed in Palm Springs, California, by a Raymond Loewy team in just six weeks. Smooth lines, under-the-bumper radiator air intake and wedge shape design, were key hallmarks in the design of this car. The Avanti was advertised as a new class of American automobile with sophisticated design and great elegance.

The powerplant is a 289-cid, 240-hp OHV V-8 engine, three-speed “power-shift” automatic transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, power steering, innovative front disc brakes, factory air conditioning and AM radio. This particular car has undergone an older frame-off restoration, and is painted in one of the five color options, Avanti Red. The exterior is accented by chrome bumpers, emblems, window moldings and whitewall tires. The car’s interior is elegantly fashioned featuring red contoured bucket seats for the front passenger seats and the rear seat is a semi-contoured bench seat. The red interior is said to be original and is accented by a “fawn” color instrument board and center console.

“If you thrill to the excitement of a high performance matched to unusual safety and the comforts of an exceptional interior, there is no car so satisfying as the Avanti.”