The Avanti was originally built by Studebaker The amazing design by Raymond Loewy morphed into the Avanti II after the company closed down and continued production in various forms into the 2000s.
In this edition of Automotive Revolution, Rick DeBruhl explores all the details of the car along with the history of Avanti Motor Company itself.
This 1978 Avanti II is powered by a 350 cubic-inch (5.7-liter) Chevrolet small-block V8 with 8.5:1 compression ratio and a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, producing 180 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a four-speed manual transmission and a 3.31:1 rear end.
The car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 9.3 seconds and covers a quarter mile in 16.9 seconds at 82 mph. Top speed was rated at 116 -124 mph, depending on gearing.
Be sure to see this one of a kind classic the next time you are at the Martin Auto Museum.