See also Studebaker Avanti

After the closure of Studebaker's South Bend factory on December 20, 1963, cars bearing the name of its celebrated Avanti sports coupe continued to be produced by a series of entrepreneurs, initially from left-over Studebaker components and later from General Motors and Ford chassis and engines. These are not replica cars, for they were made by Avanti Motor Company. They have created a following by some enthusiasts and collectors.

Altman and Newman [link]

After Studebaker had ceased production at South Bend, the "Avanti" model name, tooling,Studebaker truck production rights and parts and plant space were bought by local Studebaker dealers, Nate and Arnold Altman and Leo Newman, who incorporated as Avanti Motor Corporation and hand-built small numbers of cars.^[1]:p278Leo Newman ran the Studebaker truck parts division which enabled the company to be profitable at its outset. According to Stu Chapman, Studebaker Director of Advertising & Public Relations 1964-1966, in his book 'My Father The Car Memoirs Of My Life With Studebaker', there was talk with Studebaker of reintroducing the Avanti to Studebaker showrooms in 65/66, along with ambitious plans for rebadging an Isuzu Bellet as an entry level Studebaker, and combining with Canadian Motor Industries. This would have taken control and production away from the South Bend board who at the time was determined to discontinue auto production no matter that Studebaker was the only car company in history to discontinue a make that was still profitable. The Altman brothers introduced a slightly modified version of the car in 1965 under the brand name "Avanti II".^[1]:p257 which initially had a 327-in³ (5.4 L) Chevrolet Corvette engine. This evolved to the 350, the 400, 305 the last Avanti made came off the line with V-6 from Roush and only one was made. All Avanti IIs and their successors were built on Studebaker chassis from 1963 to 1987.^{[citation needed]} After Nate Altman's death, Arnold Altman ran the company until it was sold in 1982.

Stephen H. Blake [link]

On October 1, 1982, real-estate developer Stephen H. Blake bought the rights to the Avanti II.^{[citation needed]} The state of Indiana guaranteed $1.9 million in loans to Avanti, as part of the financial package offered Blake when he bought the company.^[4] He made modifications to the car, which had remained unchanged since the production of the Avanti II model began in the mid-1960s. Rectangular headlights and modern plastic body-colored bumpers were introduced.^[5] He also dropped the "II" in the car's name. All subsequent cars would be simply called the "Avanti".^{[citation needed]} Blake's company declared bankruptcy and he resigned in February 1986.^[6]

Michael E. Kelly [link]

1989, Kelly built Avanti II Convertible

The Avanti Motor Company was re-purchased by Michael Eugene Kelly.

The company had the second-generation Avanti's styling originated by Tom Kellogg, the youngest member of the original Avanti Studebaker design team, at first called the AVX in the mid 90's. Tom Kellogg was fatally injured in a car accident in California on August 14, 2003.^[7]

Cafaro years [link]

R.J. Cafaro, a real estate man, picked up the rights to Avanti Motor Company and with the help of the State of Ohio moved all Avanti production from South Bend, its birthplace to the Rust Belt area of Youngstown, Ohio in 1988. In 1988 and 1989 Avanti made two door models and a convertible. The 1988 Avanti were called the Silver year models marking 25 years of Avanti. The 1989 Avanti were given the rally ground effects updates.

Cafaro was noted for making the four door Avanti in 1990, an idea from the original designer, Raymond Loewy. Cafaro concentrated on the four door to the detriment of the original coupe, the company's bread and butter vehicle. Only 90 were made at the Youngstown plant, making them very rare in the marketplace. In 1991 Cafaro went back to building the convertible before the plant moved briefly to Georgia, then finally to Cancun, Mexico.

Michael E. Kelly returns [link]

M.E. Kelly came back in the picture and moved Avanti from Ohio to Georgia, then to Mexico. From 2004, Ford chassis and engines were used. In October 2005 an internet report stated that "Avanti Motors" had "recently announced a new relationship with Ford Motor Company and was planning a big comeback".^[8] An internet report in 2006 said Kelly had sold the company in 1988 and repurchased it in 1999 from Cafaro of Ohio; and that the company had established a new factory and showroom at Cancun, Mexico,^[9] but the company foundered after M.E. Kelly was arrested in December 2006 on fraud counts related to one of the largest ponzi schemes in the United States.

The last Avanti to date rolled off the line in Cancun, Mexico in 2007. It used a V-6 Roush Racing Engine. The factory and showroom still stand, as do many extremely rare Studebaker and Avanti concepts and racing vehicles on the second floor of the building in Cancun.^{[10][11][12][13]}

References [link]

Further reading [link]

• The Unlikely Studebaker: Raymond Loewy and the Birth (and Rebirth) of the Avanti at 'Ate up with Motor'

External links [link]

• Avanti Owners Association International homepage Association for owners of both Studebaker and non-Studebaker Avanti cars
• Avanti Motors homepage Link to last known Avanti Company website with pictures of 2007 models
• Avanti 1989
• Photo of 1990 Avanti four door