
Bob's Studebaker Resource Website
In 1984, the premiere issue of 'Collectable Automobiles' published an article on the history of the Avanti/ Avanti II and the picture they chose as an example of this model year was the exact rendition of this car.
Sharp looking at the time, with the Monterey Green Firemist lacquer
exterior the yellow/black houndstooth Raphael interior appointments and
Avocado trim, after a few years this color scheme became passe and it was
decided that a new look was in order. In 1978, the exterior was resprayed
Silver metallic. The seats and interior side panels were reupholstered using
olive green suede and looked appropriate with the avocado dash.
The front seats were 'tolerated' until 1989 when they were replaced with a
pair of Johnson-Hoover articulating buckets. These are German made and
very comfortable with almost infinite adjustments, although mechanical, even
to a small support cushion where your legs bend at the knee.
It was usually entered at car shows, but just as a spectator. By 1989, the odometer
rolled through 100,000 miles and finally in 1993 at 140,000, it was time for a
make-over. It took 5 years of renovation to get it back on the road turning
heads again.
The renovation has been documented with many pictures for those who would like to reference this information for their own cars. The car is now in 'R-3' trim, with a Paxton supercharger added to the new HD 350cid/330hp engine, followed by a HD T700-R4 transmission.
For those who would protest or lament the modifications and upgrades placed on this car, I would like to offer this view. Any Avanti produced after Studebaker is really a modification of the original anyway. The latter owners of the company even tried to improve the roadability and safety somewhat. I've merely extended that principle to my liking. The car, as was the Studebaker model is a piece of rolling art. It is not remembered for it's mechanical composition, but it's visual impression. If this car had been an actual Studebaker, it has a place in history and would have been heresy to restore it to other than its original state. .../rj
Now we're running around...
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Additional photos


Booz, Allan and Hamilton Consultants Employee Car Show, Tysons Corner, VA - 23 June 2000