[Avanti "II" logo upside down]

I think it conveys the notyion of foward motion hen it is upside down.  Lowey' logo does tghat with the half arrow. Having the roman numneral upside down re-enforces the concept.

[Front Emblem]

On 3/10/2020 at 9:43 AM, Gunslinger said:

Nate Altman used the "II" emblem to differentiate the Avanti II from the Studebaker car and the at the time its poor legacy.  They used the Lark emblem because they already had plenty of them and it was cheaper than designing and having a better matching emblem made.  It made economic sense if not aesthetic sense...getting Avanti Motors off the ground was a close-run thing...it almost didn't happen and saving wherever they could helped make the difference.

 

On 3/14/2020 at 10:46 AM, studegary said:

It is also possible that the front panel has been replaced sometime over the decades (not unusual on an Avanti).

 

On 3/14/2020 at 12:21 PM, TED DIMON said:

This is a distinct possibility, since my mechanic says that there is some evidence underneath of a front end repair.

 

[The best year(s) for Altman-era Avanti and why?]

On 8/3/2019 at 5:59 PM, Gunslinger said:

I think the pre-unleaded gas smog-era cars...performance was great...they were still essentially Studebaker's with the GM engine.  The parts sourcing for them is better and they're not too saddled with extras that non one seems to know where they were sourced from.  The 327 and early 350 engines were essentially equal in performance up until the compression ratios were lowered and smog equipment was added.

But...when you get down to it...after all these years pretty much every Avanti from that era needs renovations now if it hasn't already had one...or two.  Initial quality and performance doesn't mean much now outside of rhetorical purposes like this.  

DROVE A 70 MODEL YEAR WITH A 372 FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME aLSO DROVE A 350 WITH THE HIGH COMPORESSION, BELIEVE IT WAS 10:1..ALSO DROVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.  tHE 350 WAS A LATE 71. PREFERRED THE 327

[Could Newman and Altman Have Chosen Another Engine in '65-'66?]

On 11/9/2019 at 9:58 AM, Skip Lackie said:

Agree -- no other choice made sense: reliable, powerful, already engineered to fit, could be serviced anywhere, and a reputation derived from use in the Corvette. The "V8 fever" that had started in 1949 had still not subsided. It can be dangerous to view decisions made 50-60 years ago from the perspective of today's mores and standards.  I suspect that no one who wanted a car with a 6 would been interested in an Avanti anyway.  It was clearly aimed as the Riviera - Thunderbird customer.

There was also the question of whther GM woukld wikllingly supply enginex sourced from a division othrer than chevrolet...see the USA in a chevrolet! The old Stude commercials for Ponerosa had a Hawk going west as in coast to coast.

[contimplating purchase of 1973 Avanti II]

The AvantII was made on South Lafayette Boulevard in South Bend Indiana. Avantis of the Newman Altman era regradless of engine had some quirks...principally with weather stripping near the ourtside rearview mirrors. So make sure to water test the car before purchase. If your 73 has the Mercedes conical door locks change the cylinder...believe it or not some of the cynliders could be rotated and opened with a butter knife. The engine I can't comment on since I had cars built in 1970 and they were still using the Borg-Warner transmission and a vette engine.

But I did drive the late Ari Altman' Avanti when I was in South Bend and it was a great ride.

Other things to check on: Check to make sure none of the glass in the doghouse is cracked around or in the battery well..if it is a simple glass repair kit fixes it quickly. Also the 70s used acrylic laquer paint unless customer specified otherwise. Make sure you can re-or :)or der the color for touch-up.