1971 Avanti Avanti II

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VEHICLES SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
1971 Avanti Avanti II
SOLD
Plus w
Stock
21GKM71SA
Vin
RQB1623
Miles
86,744
Engine Size
350ci V8
Transmission Type
Automatic
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS WELCOMED
Video coming soon
Stock
21GKM71SA
Vin
RQB1623
Miles
86,744
Engine Size
350ci V8
Transmission Type
Automatic
PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS WELCOMED
Video coming soon

Clean Classic

350ci V8
Automatic

1971 Avanti Avanti II

- 350ci V8
- Automatic Transmission
- Gold Over Tan Interior
- 86k Miles

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1971 Avanti Avanti II on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 160 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“Avanti II: Improves the original without losing the essential flavor” – Road & Track, August 1966

The Avanti II was the product of two Studebaker dealers, Leo Newman and Nate Altman, who bought the tooling and several former Studebaker manufacturing buildings, and later moved operations to Canada. Production was re-started—minus the Studebaker name.

In their above-headlined review of the Avanti II, Road & Track editors commented very favorably on the car's overall design, improved execution and quality control versus the original Studebaker car, braking performance, and “handling imparting security to the driver,” concluding: “We found the Avanti II to be an excellent long-distance touring car.” Their parting comment summed up their take: “For someone who wants a full 4-passenger car with acceptable roadability, American reliability, very distinctive styling and quality finish, the Avanti II should please.”

A full copy of the R&T review can be found online by pasting the following link in your device's browser window:

https://www.studebaker-info.org/MAA/RT0866/rt0866.html

Offered here is a 1971 Avanti II in gold over two-tone tan. Because Avanti IIs were manufactured to suit individual customers who could select any interior finish they wanted, in all likelihood this is a one-of-one automobile. The car's odometer shows 86,744 miles, or fewer than 1,800 miles per-year on average. The car has been well-maintained as demonstrated by the binder of service information and invoices included in the sale.

The exterior gold paint maintains a virtually showroom-new finish across the entire car: even gloss and reflectivity, even on lower-body surfaces. Panel-alignment is excellent and there is no sign of damage or appreciable wear to be seen. The sculpted body of the Avanti—crisp edges, flowing lines, and a perfect stance (the Avanti II manufacturers raised the front end by 2 inches)--was stunning in the Seventies, and still looks appealing today. Chrome was used sparingly to good effect. Here, all chrome—on the bumpers, headlight trim, cabin-window trim, delicate taillight trim, side mirrors, and door handles—shines beautifully with only very light patina evident (for example, on the face of the door handles). The restrained badging was limited to just two stylized “Avanti II” script badges, one on the front, and one on the rear deck of the car. Factory-tinted cabin glass and all lighting lenses are undamaged. Period-correct, 16-inch, 5-spoke chromed American Racing® wheels are mounted with Mastercraft® Avenger LSR 225/65 tires.

The car's interior color theme is light-and-medium tan. The forward-folding front, high-back bucket seats and rear, sculpted 2-position seats, are upholstered in very well-maintained vinyl with matching patterned-brocade fabric inserts chosen by the original owner. The upholstery is free of damage and shows virtually no significant wear overall. Door trim features tan panels matching the seat fabric with light-tan vinyl above and dark-brown carpet trim below, separated by thin chrome trim. Avanti IIs came with power windows standard. Dark-brown carpeting covers the cabin floors as well as the reverse side of the front seats. A Grant® GT dark wood-rimmed, 3-spoke sport steering wheel is mounted. The dashboard features a padded, pleated surface, and chromed switchgear unique to Avantis. The instrument cluster—eight analog gauges in all--is backed by a woodgrain panel. A Sony® AM-FM cassette radio is mounted in the center-dash replacing the original radio. The console includes bespoke, aircraft-inspired lever-controls for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as the shifter for the Borg Warner® automatic transmission. Additional overhead, cockpit-like, rocker-switch lighting controls were standard. Some surfaces in the interior show very light patina from age-related use. Overall, though, the interior is 100% true to the designer's creation and very presentable. The subtle coloring and blend of textured fabric and vinyl still convey luxury as they did fifty years ago.

Under its front-hinged hood, a 350-cubic-inch V8 is dressed up with Edelbrock® finned valve covers, a chrome air-cleaner cover, and shiny intake manifold. All components—including factory air-conditioning—remain properly mounted. Sound insulation has been added to the hood. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is straight, very clean, and undamaged. A full-length, properly routed dual-exhaust system ending with chrome exhaust tips is a focal point.

The car's original build tags (showing it to be the 1,623rd Avanti II assembled) remain properly mounted. A car cover and Avanti-embroidered hat are included in the sale.

While the more than 160 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this Avanti II in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

Avanti owners are a passionate group, many active in a number of Avanti clubs. (The Avanti Owners Association International can be found online at: https://aoai.org) In addition to keeping their piece of automotive history alive, weekend and annual meets are regularly announced in club publications. We'd expect the next owner of this beautiful Avanti II to join in enthusiastically.

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