On March 22, 1961, industrial designer Raymond Loewy made this sketch of a futuristic sports car at the request of Sherwood Egbert, the recently appointed president of the ailing Studebaker Corporation. Egbert charged Loewy to design a new car bold enough to capture the popular imagination and boost the company's sagging fortunes. Loewy and his team of designers produced a prototype in record time, and the Avanti debuted in the spring of 1962 to rave reviews.A series of production problems stalled distribution of the popular model, however, and the Studebaker Corporation discontinued its production in October 1963. In 1965, Nathan Altman and Leo Newman formed the Avanti Motor Corporation and began producing the car in the former Studebaker plant in South Bend, Indiana.
The most beautiful car design to come out of the 50's, 60's & 70. A true work of art.
ReplyDeleteI believe production continued until December 1963, when Studebaker stopped all production in the U.S.A. The 1964 Avanti was introducted and produced (it had square headlights).
Thanks for the additional info.
ReplyDeleteIf you like the Avanti automobile, check out the website of the Avanti Owners Association International at the link posted after this item (aoai.org). Members own both the original 1963 and '64 models, and everything from 1965 through 1991, and again, when the company started up in 1999, with models from 2000 to this year.
ReplyDeleteI am editor of the AOAI's quarterly color magazine too.
Check out our magazine on the website and full-color wall calendars.
The Avanti is more modern-looking today as it was advanced in 1962.