Mostly Unrestored 1963 Studebaker Avanti Packs Rare Supercharged Surprise

The Avanti went into production in 1962, at a time when Studebaker was struggling to stay afloat. The 1954 merger with Packard didn't go as planned, and Studebaker barely made ends meet against the Big Three in the early 1960s. A revolutionary car at the time, the Avanti was supposed to save the brand from complete collapse.

Developed under president Sherwood Egbert and designed by Raymond Loewy, the Avanti was a sporty personal luxury car with a somewhat radical fiberglass body. The latter was mounted on a Lark chassis, while power came from the company's tried-and-true 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8 engine.

The engine lineup included a Paxton supercharged variant rated at 289 horsepower. With this mill, the Avanti broke 29 world speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Its top speed of 170 mph (274 kph) made it America's fastest production car at the time.

Unfortunately, various issues with the fiberglass body resulted in many delays and cancelled orders. Studebaker was hoping to sell 20,000 units per year, but the company built fewer than 5,000 between mid-1962 and the end of 1963. That year, Studebaker closed its South Bend plant. In 1966, the automaker abandoned vehicle production altogether.

Although it failed to save the mothership, the Avanti remains one of Studebaker's most iconic models and one of America's boldest automotive ventures. Fortunately, many examples are still around today, and some Avantis have survived in outstanding condition. This 1963 coupe is one of them.

Hailing from Edwardsburg, Michigan, this Avanti spent much of its life in California and soldiered on for over six decades without significant damage. The paint is mostly original, the interior hasn't been altered, while the 289 V8 engine is numbers-matching. This car is pretty much a museum piece.

What's more, it features the supercharged version of the 289 V8, which makes it a rare classic. Records show that only 1,552 Avantis were equipped with the Paxton-blown mill in 1963. This one has a three-speed automatic, which narrows that number to 909 examples. How many are still out there in similar condition? I'm thinking fewer than 50.

This Avanti is currently looking for a new home, and the sticker says $54,900. The owner is not considering trades. For reference, the average auction price for Avanti R2 cars in excellent condition is nearly $43,000 according to classic.com. About a dozen examples have changed hands for $50,000 to $115,000 in recent years. How much is this coupe worth?