Restoration

A Cuban Missile Crisis Classic!

Serial No. 63R-1662 was originally painted Avanti Gold and was produced during the Cuban Missile Crisis in November 1962.  This Avanti R1 Automatic was shipped to a Studebaker dealer in Weirton, West Virginia.  A later repaint and poorly executed interior replacement left her with velour upholstery and brown carpet, but a snappy “Ferrari Red” exterior.

Avanti Restoration & Service of Greenfield, Indiana brought this surviving Avanti to life, after a 20-year hibernation in a Hamilton County, Indiana barn. A comprehensive restoration returns her to top mechanical condition by replacing the brake dual master cylinder and shocks; flushing the cooling system; installing a new carburetor; repairing broken windows and seals; installing new wheels, tires, and wheel covers; converting the original AM radio to accommodate AM/FM/Bluetooth reception; and even removing a mouse’s nest found in the rear backup light housing!

The interior now appears as she did in 1962, with new “Elk” vinyl interior appointments, the original “Fawn” instrument board and rear deck, new matching speckled carpeting, and Studebaker rubber mats.