1963 Studebaker Avanti R2

Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
  • Very rare factory 4-speed supercharged Avanti R2
  • Sold new in Berkeley, CA, later a resident of Tucson, AZ, where it was acquired by Colin Comer
  • Copy of the original build sheet
  • Matching engine, chassis and body numbers
  • Original 289/290-horsepower V8 engine
  • Original Paxton centrifugal supercharger
  • Original Borg-Warner T10 4-speed manual transmission
  • Original 3.73:1 Twin-Traction rear end
  • Power steering
  • Power disc brakes
  • AM radio
  • Excellent original body with perfect “hog troughs”
  • One repaint in its correct Avanti Turquoise color in the 1980s
  • Two-tone Fawn-and-black interior
  • Fitted with four new replica 7011 Halibrand wheels and spinners — which were a rare
  • dealer-installed option — and new radial tires
  • The original steel wheels and hubcaps are included
  • One of 1,883 total supercharged R2 models produced in 1963 and 1964
  • One of fewer than 500 total factory 4-speed R2 Avantis
  • The 1963 Avanti was the first American production car to have factory disc brakes
  • The Avanti was promoted as America’s Most Advanced Car and was more expensive than a Corvette when new
  • Supercharged Avantis set 29 speed records at Bonneville when new
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