Like newish: ’63 Studebaker Avanti
On March 18, 1933, Studebaker entered receivership. The company had been struggling with its debts, exacerbated by the problems of the Great Depression, but would manage to make a resurgence. It would, however, be dogged by financial problems until its final demise in 1966. Sherwood Egbert arrived as Studebaker’s new president in 1961. Egbert’s halo car was the Avanti. While Brook Stevens was updating bread & butter models, Egbert recruited industrial designer Raymond Loewy who had considerable auto design experience. Egbert knew what the new car should look like. Loewy took Egbert’s vision and sequestered his highly talented team in a rented desert ranch house near Palm Springs. Loewy gave his men instructions that established the Avanti’s design theme, such as “Coke-shape a must” and “wedgy silhouette.” Egbert wasn’t a “car guy,” but knew a winner when he saw one. He was delighted with the car, and Studebaker’s board approved its construction just five weeks after Loewy’s team began work on it. No major American automaker had ever done a car so quickly. The Avanti was rushed into production making the decision to go fiberglass the only option. Today’s find has a remarkable few miles on it at 25,000. A true garage find. It did require an exterior paint refresh in the original color. The wheels are unfamiliar and we wonder why anyone would fool with originality. The interior is just so Avanti-ish. Get a look at the tissue box and mirror drawer! The re-commissioning includes a huge list of mechanical work. Too much to repeat here. If you are interested in a real, early Avanti, give this one a look. The price is $29,950 and that is all the money and more but it is somewhat special. Click here for the listing.