Avanti Owners Registry (1984 - 1991)
An ongoing registry of owners of the Avanti Automobile. Registrants included are members of the Avanti Chat group and other interested parties. No addresses or phone numbers will be included to protect privacy.
The 1984 era is marked by the sale of The Avanti Motor Corporation (Newman & Altman) to Stephen Blake, a Washington area developer. His well intended attempts to bring the car into a more modern setting, with engineering changes and looks, ended in catastrophe with the 1986 paint debacle, leaving the company in backruptcy. Mike Kelly, then enters the scene and again raises the company up, melding a modern chassis with the classic body, partnering with J.J. Cafaro and moving the company to Youngstown, Ohio.
....
Last Update: July 2003
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[ 1984 ]
Mr. Blake, upon taking control of the company embarked on making changes at Avanti. One of the first items on his list of things to do was to drop the "II" designation and return the car to its original roots. It would again be known as the Avanti. Next on the list was to introduce a special model to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Avantis introduction. The 1983 20th Anniversary Model was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show. This all black, no chrome, euro-tech look Avanti was a radical departure from previous editions. The Anniversary car was followed by a special limited run of touring coupe editions. Work began late in 1984 on two projects which would point the way to the direction Mr. Blake felt Avanti should be heading. The first was the development of a convertible to complement the coupe and the Avanti GT a mid year replacement for the coupe with a custom chassis and suspension. Both projects while completed were not actively pursued as Avanti Motor Corporation filed for Bankruptcy early in 1985.
Mr. Blake was also responsible for a limited racing program where a specially prepared Avanti was raced at Daytona. Among other things, 1984 produced changes in bumper styles from steel to designs in Kevlar, color coded units with comparably changed front & rear support structures. The use of Recarro seats was discontinued after 1985 for much less expensive GM seats. The 87/88 Avanti used the Monte Carlo SS type. Mike Kelly also created the 'Touring Coupe' option with 'blackout' chrome trim & Western Mag wheels. Here is the Touring Coupe Registry maintained by Thomas A Krolikowski. This revision - July 2003 - Internet Explorer only!!
1984 RQB-3850 (Touring Coupe)
19 February 2002
Craig Wilson
Tuscaloosa, AL 3405
1984 RQB-3852
Pam Crouch
Bellvue, WA 98106
1984 RQB-3855
Carl Doughty
North Palm Beach, FL 32905
1984 RQB-3856
Keith Rider
San Diego, CA 92100
1984 RQB-3857 (Touring Coupe)
02 May 2002
Craig Wilson
Craig Wilson
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
USA
Nee Max Austin, Birmingham, AL
1984 RQB-3862
Tom Cunningham
Spring Lake, MI 49456
1984 RQB-3864 ( Touring Coupe)
Thomas A. Krolikowski
Dryden, MI 48428
1984 RQB-3865
12 december 2001
Bill Ballhorn
Madison WI 53711
May 2002
Harrisburg, PA
Touring Coupe
Sold Dec 02
1984 RQB-3871
Geof
Somewhere in California
1984 RQB-3872
Mike Kelly
Atlanta, Ga
Touring Coupe
Midnight Blue, blue leather interior, one of 2 manufactured in that configuration
Former Owner Ken Thomas, Acwort, GA
Sold in 2001 to Mike Kelly
1984 RQB-3884
Merle W. Jacobson
Springfield, Ma. 01129
1984 RQB-3901
Dale Kindle
Sparta, TN 38583
1984 RQB-3921
18 October 2002
Charlie Kile
Springfield, MO 65805
Touring Coupe Options car
Owned since 1999
1984 RQB-3926
25 December 2001
Max Starkey
Peru IN 46970
RQB 3926 Entered Production 12-06-83 Sold to Texas Wholesalers on
03-10-84 Hope this helps. John Hull
1984 RQB-3927
John Michael Williams
Chevy Chase, MD
1984 RQB-3940
Michael Durso
Shelton, CT 06468
1984 RQB-3944
07 June 2001
Allam Higbee
Vancouver, BC, V6L 2G7
Owned since May 2001
1984 RQB-3946
09 Apr 2001
BOB MENDELOWITZ
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
1984 RQB-3947
J. Paul Panariso
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
1984 RQB-3967
26 Jan 2004
Ken & Susie Rosa
Wellington, Ohio 44090
1984 RQB-3968
19 April 2001
G. Davis
[ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]
1984 RQB-3997
Jan VanAntwerp
1984 RQB-4002
14 May 2001
Barry Selfe
Vancouver, BC
Owned since May 2001
nee Jim Weary, Saugus, CA
1984 RQB-4008
Tim Jackman
Madison, WI 53704-5918
1984 RQB-4010
13 August 2001
George Kennedy
Hudson, CO 80642
Owned since 1996
Previous owner ; Dad
1984 RQB-4013
November 2002
1984 RQB-4030
Don Lindner
St. Peters, MO 63376-3744
1984 RQB-4033
Jim McCauley
Fairfax, Va 22033
1984 RQB-4045
Jan 20-05
Barrett-Jackson Auction
Jan 2005
LOT #310 - RESERVE
1993 BJCCA CCA
buyer/seller unknown
COLOR - BLACK
CYLINDERS - 8 CYL AUTO
ENGINE SIZE - 305
VIN - 12AAV1239E1004045
1984 RQB-3251
Carl Tuveson
South Bend, IN 46614
1984 RQB-4052
25 feb 2002
Peter F. Zari
Northeast Avanti
New Rochelle, NY
For sale Feb 2002
1984 RQB-4082
15 October 2001
Randy Knipe
Linden PA 17744
Owned since July 2001
1984 RQB-4123
Totaled: The car was "T" boned by a 1979 cougar which ran a stop sign. The roll bar kept it out of the car and prevented injury to me. It also put a "V" in the cougar bumper which really amazed the policeman that was investigating!
[ 1985 ]
1985 RQB-4138
Richard Morris
Renton, WA 98055
Selling Oct 2001
1985 RQB-4178
28 May 2005
Lonny Aires
Smithfield, VA
1985 RQB-4185
23 Aug 2002
David Jung
Waco, TX 76710
1985 RQB-4161
28 feb 2002
Terry Litke
1985 RQB-4180
Henry Meier
Redwood City, CA 94061
1985 RQB-4186
Ken & Linda Matson
Winter Park, FL
1985 RQB-4222
Mark & Beverly Gooch
Lancaster, PA 17601
1985 RQB-4226
23 April 2001
Bob Fouts
Escanaba, MI 49829
1985 RQB-4231
Marvin P. Stein
Miami, FL 33186
12aav1234F1004231
New engine Feb 2002
1985 RQB-4240
Russ Haggen
Bellingham, WA 98225
1985 RQB-8185
(1963 R2 R-4439)
Chuck and Sutton Decker
Murphysboro, Illinois 62966
85 305HO,white with tan interior
[ 1986 ]
Michael E. Kelly, a South Bend native and entrepreneur, purchased the assets of the Avanti Motor Corporation in April of 1986. Mr. Kelly embarked on an aggressive program to restore the Avanti to prominence in the limited production automotive field. His company the New Avanti Motor Corporation reintroduced the convertible, coupe, and a new model the luxury stretch coupe on a new GM platform for 1987. This change was significant as the Avanti no longer rested on a Studebaker frame, whose technology dated back to the late 1950's. Additionally, the car now possessed a bullet-proof drivetrain which could be serviced by any GM dealer. (The first Avanti convertible and coupe built by Mr. Kelly reside at the plant in Villa Rica as part of his permanent collection.) Late in 1987 Mr. Kelly added a partner, John J. Cafaro (JJ) and plans were made to transfer production from South Bend, Indiana to Youngstown Ohio. The move took place during the 4th Quarter of 1987. For model year 1988 a special run of 25th Anniversary coupes were built and immediately sold out. The 25th Anniversary coupes were all built as luxury stretch coupes, finished in pearl white, and carried Paxton superchargers under the hood. Mr. Kelly sold his interests to his partner during 1988 to pursue new business opportunities in the hotel/resort industry.
1986 was not a good year for Avanti, solely due to the disaster with the
new type paint and all the returns to correct problems.
[ 1987 ]
(0001 to 0166 coupes,convertibles,and luxury sport coupes)
1987 AAV-0017
03 Dec 2003
Rod Keeler
Oakhurst, CA
1987 Convertible AAV-0018
25 January 2002
Keith & Marilyn Brooks
Calgary, Alberta
1987 AAV-0025
16 November 2001
John (Jack) H. Lancy
Marblehead, MA 01945-3317
87 Black Coupe
new 350 in 2000
Previous owner: None
Owned since 1987
1987 Convertible AAV-0026
Darrell Seher
Jamestown, ND
1987 AAV-0040
25Sep 2001
Jim Leonard
Owned since:
Previous:
1987 AAV-0051
28July2001
Bob Lund
Sioux City, Iowa 51104
Owned since:June 2001
Previous:
Harlow Norberg Mankato, Minnesota (1991 - 2001)
John Seaton (1987 - 1991)
1987 AAV-0117
November 2000
Ron & Connie Sullivan
Huntingtown, MD 20639
1987 AAV-0053
Pat Beveridge
Seattle, WA
1987 AAV-0062
24 October 2001
Gary Ballard
Southbury, Ct. 06488
1987 AAV-0070 LSC
19 December 2001
Aztec
Florence, SC
EBAY SALE 19 December 2001
fully equiped with power windows and locks, cassette player, power six way heated seats, sun roof, color TV in the rear seats, rear headphone jacks, leather seats and a woodgrain dash. It is the ultimate in luxury sports cars available. In 1987 this car sold for over 55,000 dollars.
1987 LSC AAV-0086
Stan Kaczmare
Orlando, FL 32812
1987 AAV-0089
Peter King
Signal Mountain, TN 37377
1987 AAV0098
12 August 2001
Keith Phildius
Orlando FL 32825
Owned since 5-01
1987 AAV-0102
Mark & Beverly Gooch
Lancaster, PA 17601
1987 AAV-0106
01 Nov 2001
Aaron Stein
Long Island, NY
Owned since Nov 01
Former owner: Ernie Edwards
1987 AAV-0108
18 July 2005
James Wood (fleetcare@ameritech.net)
Indianapolis, Indiana
also installed dropped spindles and a complete suspension kit on "Tech" my Avanti. I'm looking into a rear disc brake system and installing a fuel injection system to replace the Computer Controlled Carburetor. Should give better fuel economy and more performance
1987 LSC AAV-0128
Mark Mc Connell
San Diego, CA 92127
1987 Coupe AAV-1039>
16 June 2002
Fairfax, VA
1987 Coupe AAV-0160
Ray Wheeler
Green Valley
Tucson,AZ
[ 1988 ]
John J. Cafaro, became Avantis fifth owner in 1988. He changed the name of the company to Avanti Automotive Corporation. For model years 1988 & 1989 the company continued to build the convertible and coupe while beginning prototyping a four door model and convertible replacement.
Up to and including the 1988 model, the Avanti was placed on a GM Monte Carlo chassis. GM discontinued the Monte Carlo in 1989 and forced AAC to use the Caprice chassis for 1989 and later Avantis. The 1989 and later models have 2 inch wider track than the previous year and earlier versions. To keep the styling changes to a minimum, Cafaro used front wheel drive type wheels with a high positive offset to absorb the increased chassis width. If the earlier wheels were used, they would protrude out from under the fender.
The 1990 Four door met resistance in the market place and production ceased in 1991 after a small amount of the new convertibles were built and sold in that model year. Avanti production ceased in Youngstown Ohio in 1991.
1988 AAV-0240
February 2003
[ 1 ]
[ 2 ]
[ 3 ]
[ 4 ]
[ 5 ]
1988 Convertible AAV-0248
Bob Skurka
Lowell, Indiana
Silver, charcoal leather interior, black top, wire wheels
1988 LSC AAV-0254
29Jan 2005
Lot #434 - $9720.00
buyer / seller unk
1988 LSC AAV-0288
14 June 2002
Roger Penn
Fairfax, VA
1988 LSC AAV-001
Al Enkins
Portland, OR
#1 of 37 manufactured. #1 of 25 supercharged models. 305HO, rear seat TV..
1988 LSC AAV-007
Gordon Wheeler
Supercharged 305HO #7 of 25 made
1988 LSC AAV-254
Irwin Zagin
West Haven, CT 06516
Documented as "only" 1988 LSC ever produced
1988 AAV-0274
20 january 2002
Douglas & Carolyn Crall
Warrenton VA 20187
1988 Convertible AAV-294
Ray Wheeler
1988 LSC AAV-0308
17 May 2001
Ron Garvin
Ron Garvin
Forest hill, Md. 21050
Owned since May 2001
305GM, Paxton supercharger, T200R4
1988 AAV-0321
19 Apr 2004
Carl Sparks
California
1988 AAV-0355
05 Jan 2004
Rick Ulerick
Philadelphia, PA
> For Sale.... 1988 Kelly Convertibe only blue wth white top and white inerior
>made in that color 19,000.
1988 Coupe AAV-357
Tom Kubel
Cary, NC 27511
1988 Convertible AAV-xxxx
Ron Maness
Southlake, TX 76092
[ 1989 ]
1989 Convertible 12AAV2227K1000410
17 August 2001
Key Automotive Group
Summit, PA 18411
Only 700 miles as of above date
1989 Convertible AAV-0411
Russ Haggen
Bellingham, WA 98225
1989 AAV0488
26 Dec 2005
neelyil@sbcglobal.net
Ernest Neely
Chicagoland Chapter
Indian Head Park, IL
1989 AAV-0552
Jan 2005
Barrett-Jackson Auction
Jan 2005
LOT #412 - RESERVE
2000 E1228 CCA
HIGH BID OF $15,000
OPTIONS
COLOR - WHITE
TRANS - AUTO
CYLINDERS - 8
ENGINE SIZE - 5.0L
VIN - 12AAV222XK1000420
Located in the Southwest.
1989 marked the last year for the production of the Avanti. Since it's inception in 1965 with a production of 21 units through 1989 the car had a rocky past inclusive of a bankruptcy which halted production for the 1986 production year. The convertible was the ultimate Avanti. The car is white with Tan leather and a Tan convertible top. Luxury appointments include; power windows, locks, seats, steering, brakes, antenna, mirrors and convertible top. Additional convince items include A/C, cruise, tilt wheel and an AM/FM cassette sound system..
1989 Coupe AAV-0471
16 June 2002
Ken Aidekman
Short Hills NJ 07078
12AAV1222K1000471
Owned since 18 May 2002
1989 Coupe AAV-478
19 November 2001
Roger Main
Creston, IA 50801
Owned since Feb 1997
1989 Coupe AAV-488
Ernest Neely
Hillsdie, IL 60162-2119
1989 Convertible AAV0530
18 June 2002
San Antonio, TX
1989 Convertible AAV-2223K100xxx
Jeff Grohs
For sale apr 2007
1989 Convertible AAV-2223K1000534
Hugh Severs
Holiday, FL
Barrett-Jackson Auction
Jan 2005
LOT #440.1 - NO RESERVE
2001 BJCCA CCA
SOLD FOR $29,160
Pics on site
OPTIONS
VIN - 12AAV2223K1000534
PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION, INTERIOR SAME, LIKE NEW CONDITION THROUGHOUT EXCEPT RT REAR WINDOW AND A/C COMPRESSER, BEAUTIFUL BURLWOOD MAPLE DASH. ALL LEATHER INTERIOR RED ON TAN, WIRE WHEELS, 10-DISC CD CHANGER, AVANTI MEMORABILIA PACKAGE INCLUDED WITH CAR.
a one owner car still titled in beach boy al jardine's name. garage kept its entire life and meticulously maintained. v-8 automatic, 10 disc cd player, power seats, tilt steering, leather seats, mahogany dash, power windows (right side non-operable), very low miles (8,100), and wire wheels.
1989 Convertible AAV-2225K1000552
Jan 2001
Jan 2005
Listed asa 1989 in 2005
LOT #925 - NO RESERVE
2001 BJCCA CCA
SOLD FOR $9,990
Full Size
OPTIONS
COLOR - BLACK
TRANS - AUTOMATIC
CYLINDERS - 8
ENGINE SIZE - 350
VIN - 12AAV2225K1000552
CONDITION - AS-IS
original owner, always garaged, maintained regularly, excellent driver, upgraded tires and wheel covers. affectionately referred to as the batmobile.
[ 1990 ]
1990 AAV-1037
12 Jul 2005
Ron Garvin
Ph: 410 879-9026
rongarvin@aol.com
Former owner : Valerie Blake
Washington, D.C.
1990 AAV-1064
Ernest Edwards
Dalton, GA
1990 4-door AAV-1076
jan 2005
Barrett-Jackson Auction
Jan 2005
LOT #519 - RESERVE
buyer/seller unknown
1991 BJCCA CCA
COLOR - WHITE
CYLINDERS - 8 AUTOMATIC
VIN - 12AAV44A2L1001076 DASH
1990 AAV-1078 4-door
Jan 2005
June 2004
Richard Morris
Richard Morris
Renton, WA
64 R-1 #5367
90 4-door #78
1991 AAV-1208
26 February 2001
Robert Locke
PO Box 211284
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421
Prospects
Jan 2005
Craig Walton
8830 West National Avenue
West Allis, WI 53227.
(414) 327-1340
Fax: (414) 327-1833.
charcoal grey -1991 4-door
Bronze Avanti II
Return to Main Index
[ 1991 ]
