[DMCForum] Re: Avanti (Walt Coe)

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Avanti" was a model produced by Studebaker, just as "Mustang" is a
model from Ford.

The company ceased automobile production only. It did not cease
itself. It retained all rights to the Avanti design and name.

In the 1970's some entrepeneur in Canada got the bright idea to start
building "new" Avanti's (what was it about the 1970's and
entrepreneural auto makers?). He licensed the name and the fiberglass
body only. Drivetrain was not Studebaker -- I've always heard Chevy.
Don't know derivation of the frame and suspension.

In the 1980's the Studebaker company itself was sold. There's some
controversy about the sale. I think the first purchaser was forced by
the courts to sell to another, or some such. Owners of "real"
Studebakers consider 1966 the end of the company and do not cotton to
the fellow in Canada or the current company at all.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Walter Coe" <Whalt@xxxx> wrote:
> My family used to have a Studebaker.  We sold it to a
> collector who supposedly restored it.  If I can find
> who/where, I still have the original brochures & sales
> receipt which I would like to give to the current owner.
> 
> I heard that Avanti had bought out Studebaker.  And Bill,
> according to that link you posted, they have the Avanti name
> on it too.  Back in the early 1970's, my father got our
> family on a tour of the Avanti factory.  I think this was in
> Tennessee or not too far from there.  My dad tried to talk
> them into making him a special direct factory-to-customer
> sale.  They refused to bypass their dealer network, and my
> mom was thoroughly embarrassed that my dad wouldn't accept
> that.  I did get a cool black T-shirt.  I wore it to school,
> and my friends complained that it would look better if it
> didn't have that nasty Avanti logo on it. ;-)
> 
> Walt

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