1963 Studebaker Avanti

Lot : 460

1963 Studebaker Avanti R1 289 V/8 Series-1 GT Aero Coupe

Auctioned on SAT, 2021-06-11

Auctioned at The Toronto Spring Classic Car ONLINE Auction 2021

Sold at $ 40,320

Transmission: Automatic

Exterior Color: Avanti White

Interior Color:Red

Location – Concord, Ontario
Photos and condition report supplied by seller

1963 STUDEBAKER AVANTI R1 289 V/8 SERIES-1 G.T. COUPE
• 1 of 4647 First Series Studebaker Avanti Series-1 R1 GT Coupe
• 412 miles since complete frame off restoration
The Avanti concept was created by Tom Kellogg, Bob Andrews and John Ebstein in only 40 days in 1962. The wasp-waisted sports coupe featured a grille beneath the front bumper and featured a fiberglass body on a separate chassis. The Avanti name is an Italian expression for “forward!”. Original cars have a pronounced forward rake to assist streamlining, and the car was marketed as “America’s only 4-passenger High-Performance Personal Car.”
The Avanti’s 109-inch chassis came from the compact Lark, fitted with front disc brakes and powered by versions of the “Jet Thrust 289” c.i.d overhead valve V-8 engine. The naturally aspirated R1 engine produced 240 bhp.
Buyers could choose a four-speed T10 manual gearbox or three-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission, but there was no room for both supercharger and air-conditioner. The dashboard was fully instrumented and additional switches were mounted above the windshield, like an aircraft. The Avanti’s first year (1963) was the most successful, with 3,834 motorcars leaving the factory. Only 809 Avantis were sold in 1964, with the only real difference being the change to square headlight covers.
Presented in Avanti White with Red interior this 1963 Studabaker Avante R1 289 V/8 Series-1 GT Coupe #2280 was produced at the South Bend Indiana Assembly Facility in early 1963. Featuring its original, born-with, 289ci “Jet-Thrust” V/8 motor paired to the original, born-with Borg Warner power shift Automatic Transmission.
This R1 model comes complete with rare factory Air Conditioning option. Stopping force is provided by power assisted Front-Wheel-Disc Brakes. Additional traction provided by the Dana 44 Twin-Traction Limited Slip Differential. Hill Holder is an additional feature included to add convenience to operation.
The interior of this special Avanti is finished with Red Leather bucket seats, lower floor console, padded safety dashboard, overhead rocker cabin lighting switches, and beauty vanity glove box.
The molded fiberglass body features Five-Spoke original styled wheel covers and the 1963 Series 1 Edition circular headlamp bezels.
Cherished by mature custodian for over 35+ years. An exhaustive body-off restoration was performed approximately 10 years ago from the ground up by marque specialist. Simply spectacular! Stored in a proper climate-controlled environment, driven just 412 miles since complete restoration.
Recipient of recent service including oil service, Safety Inspection, removal and replacement of all fluids and filters, differential service, battery service and more for a total of $3,431.00.
Presented with Studebaker National Museum documents including: Factory Sales Order Copy, Production Order Copy, Dealer Point Franchise Record Copy and a printed copy of the Owners Manual. An 11×17 photograph from the Avanti assembly plant is included.
The Avante R1 represents the purist Avante ever built. A very special Avante Series-1 G.T. Coupe.
Condition is simply spectacular! FULLY CERTIFIED!