TWOYEARSASA STUDEBAKERSPAWNEDA COLOURFUL RUN SPANNING DECADES
RAYMONDLOEWYwasa designerfroma timebeforetheterm
meantsomeonewhosketchesa newfrockeverysixmonths.
TheFrench-bornLoewy,whodiedin1986,aged92,spentmost
ofhiscareerintheUS,wherehisindustrialdesignsincluded
streamlinedlocomotivesandGreyhoundbuses,andhisgraphic
designsincludedlogosforHoover,ShellandStudebaker.
LoewybeganworkingwithStudebakerin1936,andduring
WorldWarII collaboratedwithchiefdesignerVirgilExneron
post-warmodelsincludingtheStarlightcoupeandtheHawk.
However,allwasnotwellatStudebaker,whichenteredan
uncomfortablemergerin 1954 withPackard.In1961,company
presidentSherwoodEgbertcommissionedLoewytodesigna high-
performance,luxury2+2coupetoelevatethemarque.
Thebodystyling,sparkedbya loosesketchbyEgbert,went
fromdrawingboardtoApril 1962 showcarin 13 months.The
long,enclosednoseandtuckedItaliantaildemandedproduction
infibreglass,thebodymountedtoa shortenedStudebakerLark
chassis.It carriedthecompany’smostpotent,4.7-litreJetThrust
V8,withanoptionalsuperchargedR2version.
Egberttargeted20,000Avantisperyear,andthepricingwas
attractive,theAvanti’sUS$4445beingjust$193morethanaCorvetteSting Ray coupe. Only 3834 were built for the 1963
modelyearand 809 for ’64. In December ’63, Studebaker’s nose-
divingsedansales forced the closure of the South Bend, Indiana
plant,andwith it, Avanti production ceased.
In1965,South Bend Studebaker dealer Newman & Altman
boughttherights to the design. Using a Corvette 5.3-litre V8 and
withbodiesby Molded Fibreglass Co, the Avanti II was built at
around100-165 per year, until the company was sold in 1982.
Thenewowner introduced 1980s styling cues, like a chin
spoilerandrectangular headlights, and added a convertible.
Annualproduction reached 289 cars in 1983, but three years
latera newowner was taking over the bankrupted business,
re-engineering the Avanti for GM’s G-body (Chev Monte Carlo)
chassis.Around 400 cars, including 90 awkward four-door
variants,were produced before this venture faltered in 1991.
Sincethen, there have been fits and starts, with handfuls
ofAvantisbuilt from 2001, on Pontiac and then Ford Mustang
chassis.Production moved to Mexico in early 2006 but ceased
thatDecember when the company’s owner was arrested for
financialfraud. It’s believed that only 3446 Avantis have been
builtsince1965, still short of Studebaker’s 4643.A life of highs and Loewys
RETRO SERIES
STUDEBAKER
128 whichcar.com.au/wheels
WORDSMICHAEL STAHL