Every car fan has one car they think the world forgot. For one used-car dealer, it is the Studebaker Avanti. So when a supercharged 1963 example came up for sale, he bought it.
The dealer behind @HooviesGarage, Tyler Hoover, says he paid $38,000 for the car at a Barrett-Jackson auction. It is an R2 with the supercharged engine and a four-speed manual, which he calls the most desirable version. He says nice ones are worth $50,000 to $60,000.
He does not hide how he feels about it. “I think this is the most criminally underappreciated and undervalued car on planet Earth,” he says.
Why He Calls It A Forgotten Supercar
In his telling, the Avanti was the fastest production car in the world in 1963. He says the R2 could reach almost 160 mph, and special R3 cars went faster still. Then he compares it with far pricier cars from the same era, which now sell for millions.
He also points out details he loves. For example, there is no front grille opening on the nose, only an intake below. Inside, the climate levers look like aircraft throttles, and the light switches sit up high, like an old airplane’s. He adds that the body is fiberglass and that a roll bar hides under the padding.
Even better, the car came with a copy of its original window sticker. It lists the supercharger as a $163 option and the four-speed as $146. Including $75 for delivery, the total price was $4,144.
The Catch: Coolant Everywhere
However, there was a problem. Whenever the engine warms up, he says, coolant pours out of the reservoir. As a result, he cannot drive the Studebaker Avanti any real distance.
Several gauges also do not work, including the boost gauge, the fuel gauge and the tachometer. Also, someone fitted an aftermarket electric fuel pump. On a short driveway run, the car pulled hard at first. Then it stumbled as soon as the supercharger started to build boost.
Still, one run surprised him. “It has never ever ran this good,” he says. By the next morning, though, the car had left a puddle on the trailer and the coolant tank was empty.
What The Shop Found Under The Studebaker Avanti
Next, he trailered it to Daniel, whose shop works on his cars. Daniel suspects the seller only got the car running well enough to cross the auction block. On the lift, the paint and underside looked nice at first glance.
Then the details came out. The power steering was leaking badly, and coolant was dripping. In addition, Daniel calls the underside a “rattle can” job painted right over the dirt. He also spotted a rear main seal seep, which he says is normal for old engines.
Daniel also has a theory about the stumble. In his view, the small electric pump makes about 7 PSI. Once the supercharger builds more boost than that, fuel cannot get into the carburetor, he explains.
Lessons For Anyone Buying A Classic At Auction
- A shiny paint job can hide tired mechanicals. Look underneath before you bid.
- Ask when the car last ran properly. A car that sat may leak as soon as it gets warm.
- Check that the gauges work. Dead gauges can hide overheating and fuel problems.
- Look for non-original parts. A swapped fuel pump may not match the engine’s needs.
- Line up a shop before you buy. Specialist work on a rare car can mean a long wait.
Where Things Stand
When Hoover asked when the car could be done, Daniel did not offer weeks. “No, more like six months,” he says, pointing to a shop full of cars. So for now, the Studebaker Avanti goes back on the trailer. Hoover says he will look for an old-car specialist to sort out the carburetor and the leaks.
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