1963 AVANTI SUPERCHARGED R2
I’ve Been into Studebakers since 1990, I just like t heir unique st yle. I was never particularly excited about t he Avanti but they grow on you and I’ve got t wo now. A friend lent me a supercharged Avanti for a day and t hey don’t drive like a 50-year-old car, t hey are a head of t heir time. Once you’ve driven one you’re smitten. I’d put t his car up against any ‘80s or ‘90s car. They’re smooth, t he handling, power, ergonomics, seating position and st yle… I can’t go any where without somebody ask ing ‘What t he hell is t hat? ’. Avanti st yling is so div isive. If t wo guys look at t he car one will say, ’That’s t he ugliest car I’ve ever seen’ and t he ot her will say, ‘That’s t he most beautif ul car’.
This supercharged R2 came from Ontario, Canada, and t he owner restored it. It’s an early car, number 106 on the production line. I’ve lowered it a couple of inches to get t he aest hetics right and put factor y option Halibrand wheels on it but it’s basica lly how it arrived, immaculate. The only t hing dif ferent is t he radio and a f ive-speed gearbox, t he rest is a ll factor y. The f ive-speed tra nsformed it because t he [dif f ] gearing is 3.7:1.
It cost me $ 63,000 landed, as my wife keeps reminding me. However, I think that’s a cheap car, I don’t t hink you could restore one [to t his standard] for under $100,000. I’ve a lso got a supercharged ’58 Golden Hawk, a supercharged ’62 GT Hawk and a ’63 that I’m making into a sa lt f lats racer wit h an injected 400ci small block. This is t he f irst one I’ve bought that had been restored by somebody else.
I drive it as much as t he Historic permit a llows but don’t ta ke it out in t he ra in. The only t hing I’d add is air-conditioning because t hey’re a bit hot to drive in summer. Is it a keeper? F**k yea h!
“IT COST ME $63,000 LANDED BUT YOU COULDN'T RESTORE ONE FOR UNDER $100,000"