Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire
Viewing: Tues 16th June from 12pm
Auction: Wed 17th June from 9am
Location: Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX
1963 Studebaker Avanti
Estimate
£16, 000 - £20, 000
Registration No: BRU 491A
Chassis No: R4218
MOT: Exempt
Studebaker's early 1960s 4-seater Coupe
Offered in good original unrestored condition
Supplied with original book pack
Imported in 2022, UK registered with V5C
Studebaker was established in the mid 1800s and was originally a coachbuilder, manufacturing wagons, buggies, carriages, and harnesses. They entered the automotive business in 1902 initially with electric vehicles, sold under the Studebaker Automobile Company tradename, and over the next 50 years established a reputation for quality, durability and reliability. The Avanti was developed at the direction of Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert in answer to Ford's Thunderbird, and the design was allegedly doodled by Egbert on the back of an envelope during a plane flight, with Raymond Loewy commissioned to design a radical sports coupe. The resulting Avanti comprised a shortened version of the Studebaker Lark Convertible chassis clothed in a futuristic looking fibreglass body. Power was supplied by an in-house Studebaker 4. 7-litre V8 that was offered in various states of tune, both normally aspirated (240hp) and supercharged (290hp), courtesy of a Paxton blower. Avanti means 'advance' in Italian and in many ways the car was ahead of its time, with power assisted disc brakes, a limited slip differential and power steering as standard, together with a high level of passive safety including optional seat belts, Mercedes designed door latches, a fully padded dashboard and a roll-over bar. The car received rave press reviews and was marketed as America's only four seater high-performance car. Described as 'one of the more significant milestones of the postwar industry', the space age Avanti claimed to be 'the fastest production car in the world' upon its introduction. A modified Avanti reached over 170 mph with its supercharged 289-cubic-inch engine and broke 29 world speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Unfortunately, the Avanti marked the end of the line for Studebaker as the bigger manufacturers took over, and it is thought less than 5, 000 examples were produced from the car's introduction in June 1963 to the factory's closure 18 months later. Avanti's are very rare, especially outside their native America.
This Avanti, finished in metallic grey, was imported into the UK in 2022, having spent its life in the dry climate of California. During many of those years it is thought to have been in a museum. It is an early model with round headlamps and had a fantastic specification in its day, presented in what appears to be original and unrestored condition. The interior looks resplendent in turquoise blue, still fitted with its original carpets, radio and clever fold out vanity mirror in the glove box. Since being imported, it has been treated to new tyres including the spare, new bushes and springs on the front suspension and new front brake calipers and master cylinder allowing the use of DOT 5 silicone brake fluid. The original parts, together with some spare hub caps, original aerial and rear seat belts are included in the sale. A car rarely seen on British roads, the vendor has used it to attend classic rallies and will be driving the car to the auction venue. It will be supplied with its original book pack including the radio instructions, PDI sheet, various US registration slips, spare parts book and current V5C.
