Thoughts on the Studebaker Avanti?

"NinetyQ" (NinetyQ) 12/15/2013 at 16:21 • Filed to: Avanti

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Fastest production car in the world at the time.
First American car with disc brakes.
Supercharged V8.
Built by Studebaker in South Bend, IN, just north of my hometown.
Continued production for decades after Studebaker's demise.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 16:24

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Fastest production car in the world at the time? No way, what was it's top speed?

All Motor Is Best Motor > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 16:25

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The front is ugly, otherwise I like.

Blondude > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 12/15/2013 at 16:28

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Apparently nearing 170 mph. Crazy.

Agrajag > All Motor Is Best Motor 12/15/2013 at 16:31

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Agreed. The front is just weird. Everything else is beautiful.

Agrajag > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 16:31

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The back of this is gorgeous.

NinetyQ > Agrajag 12/15/2013 at 16:32

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I agree. The front is lacking in my opinion, but they really nailed the back.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Blondude 12/15/2013 at 16:32

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There's no way that thing hit 170. Damn

All Motor Is Best Motor > Agrajag 12/15/2013 at 16:34

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The tiny little fins are almost cute.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > All Motor Is Best Motor 12/15/2013 at 16:35

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I've never lusted after these things like my friends have, and it's mainly because of that.

NinetyQ > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 12/15/2013 at 16:36

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You might be thinking of the Avanti II, but the original Avanti was pretty awesome. I'd take it even in naturally aspirated R1 form. R2 had a top speed around 140-150 I think, and R3s had a top speed of 170. A modified Avanti shattered a bunch of speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats and reached a top speed of 196.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 16:39

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Nah I was thinking Avanti I. That's really impressive, actually.

Sn210 > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 16:43

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I've always liked these. Never knew they were so potent. Are you thinking about getting one?

Blondude > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 12/15/2013 at 16:45

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3:45

NinetyQ > Sn210 12/15/2013 at 16:46

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Very much so. I have one in mind that is on craigslist at a good price. It's not pristine, but it's a driver and the interior is in good shape. I have contacted the guy, but haven't heard back yet. One of his two numbers goes straight to voicemail, so not sure what to expect. Hopefully it's still for sale. Either way though, I have to sell my Audi first, and that could be tricky.

Sn210 > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 16:49

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Craigslist sellers almost never get back to me. I never understood that. If you want my money, get back to me. If you've sold it, delete your post! I hope it all works out for you; keep us posted. Maybe work the Audi into a trade somehow?

NinetyQ > Sn210 12/15/2013 at 16:52

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I can't imagine the demographic for my '91 Audi 90 Quattro 20V overlaps with the demographic of Avanti owners, but it is a possibility. I would run it past him if he got back to me. We'll see. It's an older guy, so there's a good chance he just hasn't checked voicemails. Left one on both of his numbers.

Birddog > Blondude 12/15/2013 at 17:31

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The stock R1 Avanti topped out around 120 with a 0-60 in the 8 second range.
The 170 mph cars were all heavily modified R3 supercharged cars.

tylinol > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 17:36

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Minor correction: the Crosley HotShot had disc brakes first.

NinetyQ > tylinol 12/15/2013 at 17:42

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Interesting. Looking into it more, maybe it was a high-volume production thing? Or first option? Not sure, but they were a first of something.

tylinol > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 17:48

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The Crosley was less a car and more a wheelbarrow with a sewing machine strapped to it, so there's that. Technically Chrysler had disc brakes first too, but they were nothing like what we use today

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/1950-chry…

SpeedSix > NinetyQ 12/15/2013 at 18:45

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Incredibly awesome.

Out-of-the-box, supercharged V8, designed by Raymond Loewy, awesome enough to continue production in various guises after Studebaker's demise

End of discussion.

lie2me > NinetyQ 12/17/2013 at 07:53

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The Avanti is timeless classic that looks as good today as it did when it made it's debut 50 years ago. Can you imagine that these cars all came out within a year of each other. Truly the golden age of auto-design.