Avanti: Looking forward, looking backward

Early-80s Avanti

A circa 1987 Avanti coupe still looks remarkably contemporary even though the basic design was roughly a quarter-century old when this car was built.

This photograph highlight’s the Avanti’s Coke-bottle curves. I’d suggest that the way the rear fender top arcs into the trunk is one of the most elegant design touches of the 1960s.

The updated body-colored rear bumper and white buffer strips actually improve upon the original Avanti’s looks. In contrast, replacing the trunk-mounted back-up light with a red taillight looks tacked on. Was that done to meet federal lighting standards?

The man in the background did not appear to be associated with this Avanti, which was on display at an annual classic automobile show held by the LeMay Collections in Tacoma, Washington. However, back in 1962-64 this now elderly man might well have been a target demographic when the Avanti was produced by Studebaker.

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