The folks at Autoblog have come up with a nice backgrounder on the Studebaker Avanti, which it describes as "one of the most iconic automobile designs of the 20th century." I wouldn't disagree with that, as the Avanti appearance was both radical and influential. Indeed, the name means "forward" or "advance" in Italian. For me it also brings a touch of nostalgia, for I was privileged to drive the Avanti when Studebaker first introduced it to the automotive press in June of 1962. That drive was too brief for anything more than a fleeting impression; what I recall is that it was very quick in a straight line but lacked the handling poise its low, sleek lines suggested. Definitely a grand tourer, not a sports model. Nevertheless it represented Studebaker's attempt at bringing a halo car to the showroom, which the company hoped might help reverse its slumping fortunes.
The Avanti was created by a team under the direction of Raymond Loewy during a hectic 5-week design session in a rented Palm Springs home. Included were a number of unique safety features such as optional seatbelts, safety door latches, a roll-over protection bar, and front disc brakes. The frame was based on a 1953 Studebaker, the V-8 engine was equally dated but the addition of a Paxton Supercharger gave an impressive 289 hp, later increased to 335 hp. Racing legend Andy Granatelli took several Avantis to Bonneville, achieving 170.78 mph in one and breaking 34 records altogether, thus allowing Studebaker to claim the title of "World's Fastest Production Car." Unfortunately production ended when Studebaker shut down its lines and went out of business. The Avanti in Autoblog is a 1964 example owned by John Kudravy, who has shown it at events across the U.S.
[photo credit: Damon Lavrinc]