1964 Studebaker Avanti R2 Supercharged

Description

Here's one of the most beautiful and unique American cars around. This 1964 Studebaker Avanti is part of a small batch of extremely stylish coupes that cannot help but grab everyone's attention. And this is an ultra-desirable R2 supercharged model that is long-term owned and coming fresh from the restoration. Oh yes, this is a rare opportunity at something special.

The Avanti was the boldest Studebaker to hit the streets. The futuristic style was penned by the legendary Raymond Loewy. It was one of his hallmark designs, and made out of fiberglass, which was still revolutionary for its time. That means it was also one of Studebaker's costliest cars. They didn't stay in production long, and so there is always extra value in having a genuine Studebaker Avanti. This example has spent nearly a half-century under the same owner, and it has also just completed a multi-year restoration. The work was done with an eye to make this an impressive driver but not lose the original spirit of decades under the same owner. So the unique shade of Avanti Gold has a nice gloss from a recent respray. But there's a classic kind of style in the way the trim is clean and complete but with the right touches of age. And the body has the same look as early Corvette fiberglass where the lines are attractive but a perfect restoration is considered over-restored. And that kind of personality is appreciated on this car. It has all the nice details like the complete badging, supercharged tag on the front fenders, stock wheel covers, and desirable round headlight bezels that signal this is a rarer early version of the already rare 1964 model.

Just like the exterior, the interior is unique and attractive. The upholstery was updated during the restoration to give you supple leather that's quite inviting. And you'll love showing off all the vintage details that make this Avanti unique and premium. The tuck and roll appearance of the dash, aircraft-inspired toggle switches, working dome light, dual-spoke sports steering wheel, wraparound gauge panel, and overhead console are all part of a very vintage and cool presentation. There are well-integrated upgrades, too, like the retro-style AM/FM stereo and well-matched AutoMeter tach (the stock unit also comes with the sale.)

Within the crisp engine bay lies a very special motor. The 289 cubic-inch V8 was what was available to all premium Avanti coupes. But this one was fully rebuilt and got extra attention during the restoration for two very good reasons. First, the long-term owner believes this is the original motor. Second, they wanted to make sure you can proudly show off the Paxton supercharger that makes this rare and powerful. And you have proper control over this with the numbers-matching 4-speed manual transmission. This special V8 loves to sing its throaty tune through the glasspack-style dual exhaust. Take some time to look at it in the undercarriage photos. There you'll see clean components from a good restoration, and you'll also spot handy features like the rear sway bar. Add in power steering, power brakes, and front discs, and this signification classic is also a terrific cruiser.

The sale comes complete with build receipts and maintenance records. This is the rare supercharged Avanti that's ready for a discerning owner. Is that you?