1978 Studebaker Avanti II

Coupe

Chevy 350

Automatic

rqb2661

Clear

Hi, This is a 1978 Avanti II which belonged to my father, and was hand-built in South bend, Indiana. It features a Chevrolet Corvette 350 ci motor/trans making 180 hp and 270 torque. The car has never failed to start or left me stranded in the 5 years/5,000 miles of family ownership, and it runs within temps at 70 mph for two hours (last car show trip). Just prior to our ownership, the car was restored for an amount well over $10,000, and there are receipts in the history. Current issues are the radio doesn't work and there is a scratch under the passenger rear fender from the one time I let a friend drive it (difficult to see from eye level, but can be seen in one of the photos - zoom in on 2 photos). Other than that, the car likely looks perfect to a passerby, but an owner/buyer would notice with closer inspection some marks in the paint and a bit of pitting in the taillight chrome surrounds. Major chrome parts look excellent, though. The car was restored to near-factory condition - the wheels and radio are additions from the previous owner. Tires are good, and the hog troughs were addressed during the restoration. Random points: has AC, lighter weight from the fiberglass body so it moves pretty well, always garaged, Nardi wheel, aircraft-inspired rocker switches on the headliner, aftermarket wheels with Avanti center caps, comes with a placard for car show displays, and a service history from the restoration forward. It is priced according to Hagerty's at condition 3, and it was recently at the local classic car shop where it was given a clean bill of health. Also, because of the enormous range of customization options that Avanti offered their customers, it is unlikely another one with this color combo exists. And because it has a reliable Chevrolet drivetrain, maintenance is cheap despite only 181 models being made during this model year. Adding power would also be easy since there is such a huge aftermarket for the Chevy drivetrain. I think the 350 is the most produced motor of all time...? And as a final point, this car doesn't hate corners like most of the older cars I've driven - the suspension is actually quite good at keeping the car settled, and I've never hit the bump stops, even on Illinois' roads. Oh, and the back seat is surprisingly huge. Feel free to ask specific questions, the mileage will climb slightly, and the buyer will arrange shipping (car is in Rockford, IL). On Aug-17-15 at 12:05:18 PDT, seller added the following information: Hi, This is a 1978 Avanti II which belonged to my father, and was hand-built in South bend, Indiana. It features a Chevrolet Corvette 350 ci motor/trans making 180 hp and 270 torque. The car has never failed to start or left me stranded in the 5 years/5,000 miles of family ownership, and it runs within temps at 70 mph for two hours (last car show trip). Just prior to our ownership, the car was restored for an amount well over $10,000, and there are receipts in the history. Current issues are the radio doesn't work and there is a scratch under the passenger rear fender from the one time I let a friend drive it (difficult to see from eye level, but can be seen in one of the photos - zoom in on 2 photos). Other than that, the car likely looks perfect to a passerby, but an owner/buyer would notice with closer inspection some marks in the paint and a bit of pitting in the taillight chrome surrounds. Major chrome parts look excellent, though. The car was restored to near-factory condition - the wheels and radio are additions from the previous owner. Tires are good, and the hog troughs were addressed during the restoration. Random points: has AC, lighter weight from the fiberglass body so it moves pretty well, always garaged, Nardi wheel, aircraft-inspired rocker switches on the headliner, aftermarket wheels with Avanti center caps, comes with a placard for car show displays, and a service history from the restoration forward. It is priced according to Hagerty's at condition 3, and it was recently at the local classic car shop where it was given a clean bill of health. Also, because of the enormous range of customization options that Avanti offered their customers, it is unlikely another one with this color combo exists. And because it has a reliable Chevrolet drivetrain, maintenance is cheap despite only 181 models being made during this model year. Adding power would also be easy since there is such a huge aftermarket for the Chevy drivetrain. I think the 350 is the most produced motor of all time...? And as a final point, this car doesn't hate corners like most of the older cars I've driven - the suspension is actually quite good at keeping the car settled, and I've never hit the bump stops, even on Illinois' roads. Oh, and the back seat is surprisingly huge. Feel free to ask specific questions, the mileage will climb slightly, and the buyer will arrange shipping (car is in Rockford, IL). Update 8/17 - Someone noted that the setting sun makes it difficult to see the car's exact color. The scene looks great, but I understand that person's point. I will address this with a few new pictures today. On Aug-17-15 at 16:11:05 PDT, seller added the following information: Update 8/17 - Posted two additional photos today, taken in direct sun. On Aug-18-15 at 23:58:45 PDT, seller added the following information: Update 8/19 A bidder asked if the car has been in an accident. A report from 6/23/2008, right before serious restoration work began, indicates that the car shows no collision damage or overspray, and in my experience, it tracks straight, sits correctly, has uniform panel gaps, and all of the moving body parts open/close easily. To the best of my knowledge, my father's, and the records, this car was never in an accident.