• September 21, 2015

1963 Studebaker Avanti

1963 Studebaker Avanti

1963 Studebaker Avanti Automobile Driving Museum

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SPECIFICATIONS
Body Style: Sports Coupe 63R
Factory Price: $4,445
Production: 3,834 This model car only
Weight: 3,140 lbs
Engine: V-8
Horse Power: 240 @ 3,600 rpm
Cubic Inches: 289
Wheel Base: 109 in
Transmission: Manual, four speed on the floor
Brakes: 4 wheel hydraulic, front disc brakes

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[column grid=”2″ span=”1″] 1963 was the first year for the Studebaker Avanti coupe. Studebaker approached Raymond Lowey for an innovative four passenger sport coupe to bolster sagging sales. It was a magnificently creative project and the car, made mostly of fiberglass, was hailed for both design and engineering. With new designs in hand, Studebaker contacted the same fiberglass company that produced the Corvette bodies. With incorrect molds and delays, Studebaker was forced to set up its own fiberglass department for production. With these delays the advance orders for the 1963 model fell short and only 3,834 units were sold, not nearly enough to bring Studebaker out of the sagging sales and cover the cost of production. It did not save Studebaker but Studebaker gained such a loyal following that it has been constantly revived as its own brand many times since. In December of 1963 Studebaker moved its production to Canada staying there until production ceased in 1966.
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