2006 Avanti!

[mfg]

GORGEOUS 2006 Avanti Coupe (#6) featured in the 2023 AOAI Calendar!

[Thom]

I want one !!!!!!

[Randy Atkin]

Thank you for complimenting my car. It's hibernating right now.

[aardvark]

WHERE's The PIX'S

[Randy Atkin]

Aardvark  - Here are your requested pics.

[aardvark]

Ah Yes!!!

I have a 2002 arriving on the 13th...Love these models.

And then theres the ole standby Original...

[GoldAvantiII]

You guys with your talk and photos of the 2001-2007 cars got me going. The photos of Randy's sharp 2006 coupe doesn't do it justice as his car is fabulous in person. The one photo shown (next to the black 2002 Convertible) was at an EyesOn Design car show a few years ago. We had a 14 vehicle Time-Line (1963-2006) that was a big hit at that show. I had my gold '71 there at the other end of the line-up.

I just bought a 2002 Avanti Convertible. Like aardvark said in another topic, he was awaiting delivery. That's where I am right now. I just can't wait to see my new (new to me too) car. It's in Boise. Sure hope that it ships soon. Now my '71 will have a stablemate. Won't be soon enough for me. Life is too short ..... drive an Avanti !

[Desert Driver]

You're just five away from having a different Avanti for each day of the week 😉. That black beauty is drop dead gorgeous....congratulations!!

[aardvark]

Gold Avanti III

Did Your Car get delivered?.... Mine came thru on Jan 15th.

What a night and day difference from my '63' to the '02'....This /02 is a powerhouse and seems to handle quite well.. At age '69', I'm not into pushing it to the limits in the NC Mountain Twisties but it does cut a curve very well. Apparently the previous owner did some small things... A 'Magnaflow' Exhaust system and they removed the AIR Pump. I suspect these changes added about 30hp. So it went from ~345hp to ~375 hp?.. They also upgraded the Stereo.

I love Both the '63' R2 and this new model... Hard to choose which one to fire off for a run. Both have their attributes and strong points.

[GoldAvantiII]

My Black Beauty was delivered yesterday. It's all that I had hoped for. It rumbles on start and sound fantastic. It came off of the trailer filthy so (45f degrees out) I washed it. I have hot & cold water in my garage so the wash job was ok. Got to be touchy-feely with my baby during the wash. There's a few little items that need attention but overall.... what a car! I can't believe how thick & heavy all of the fiberglass panels are. Also, the data plate does say STUDEBAKER Avanti ! Added an "artsie" levitation-like photo, just for fun.

[aardvark]

EXCELLENT !!!       Glad it came thru for you. ... Wait till ya drive it..

Can I ask what ya paid? I'm trying to get Comps for the Insurance Co.

Likewise, I have a few items needing addressed by a Local Body Shop... My front bumper needs stripped and re-sprayed and there is a deep scratch on one Quarter panel.. A speaker grill needs re-glued in. Other than that. near perfection.

Mine came with a Magnaflow Exhaust System...I highly doubt that was stock.

Brake Calipers are yellow and have Avanti on them... Dunno if that is stock.

[Gunslinger]

I believe Magnaflow was the factory installed exhaust...the 2002 I was the first purchaser of had come with Magnaflows.  The first time I had the car serviced the mechanic said "This is not a GM factory exhaust system!"

[aardvark]

Huh... Very interesting... Thanks for that .. Gun..

Also the AIR Pump was removed... I thought that was done to accomodate the Mag Exhaust for some reason.

How about Yellow Avanti stamped brake calipers?

 

[Randy Atkin]

My 2006 came with a very low restriction Magnaflow exhaust system too.  It's probably safe to say all 2001 thru 2007 did.

[aardvark]

Thanks. 

The info is helpful.

 

[GoldAvantiII]

Hey Aardvark, Gun & Randy are correct, these cars were fitted with Magnaflow Exhaust during the build. I've been in touch with John Hull lately about my car and have learned a bit more about these cars. The yellow Brake Calipers on your car were not factory items.

Per the Hagerty Valuation Guide our cars have a #2 Value of $34k and a #3 Value of $23.5k. I insured mine as a #2 and feel that it is no worse than a #2.5 ($28.75k?). I can't say what I paid for mine but it was a bit above the $19k you mentioned for your car. Mine needs minimal body & paint work to be near perfect. Mine had very dark sun blocker film on both side and the rear windows. I don't like driving at night looking thru that darkness so I removed the film. Now I have to get the glue off of the glass. Not a big deal on the side glass but an issue on the heated rear glass. All that I can say is, I'm working on it.

Only had it out for a drive one time since its arrival. I drove it on a 20 mile round trip to a Cars'nCoffee First Saturday Monthly Event. It was a blast to drive. Geddes Road is 2-lane blacktop mostly straight with 2 Roundabouts each way. This car is so very different to drive than my '71 Avanti II. Still have a few items to take care of before taking my Mrs out for a drive (and, have her drive it too). She was the main reason of going after a more modern Avanti. She wanted a car with Airbags and other modern safety items. So far she like what she sees. (Photo taken Apr 6th at the C'n'C). 

 

[aardvark]

Gold!!...Others

I tried to get in touch with John Hull, via this site. No response. I am trying to find out if there are records of how many were made in my year (02)....His book is vague on yearly production numbers (last page).  My question is only partially answered in His book that 53 Units were made between 2001-5. So doing the simple math, that tells me that  53 cars/5years = 11cars a year, But I know that is not the method of determining the ''real number''.   Maybe if You are in contact with John, You might ask that question...   ....  Hope John is good. Heard He had a tornado hit His house..

The above point goes into the rarity and possible valuation. I saw one on Haggerty listed for $59k. It didn't say it sold (I assume it didn't)   I've seen offers of $32k turned down in this forum.   So to me, the Value needs to be somewhere in-between. These cars are soooo rare, the price (to me) should be sitting well over $40k. I wouldn't sell mine for less than $50k.... but I'm not interested in selling so it would take '''$$ Big Bucks $$''' to pry the title outa my grasping hands. They sold new for around $60k. I can't believe the price has dropped significantly.

Thanks for the info on the Disks Color.  Yes, they are bright yellow. and quite large. They really don't match the color of the car, and stand out Big Time.  Also the info on the Magnaflow..

I have a few items to go thru. The front bumper paint is a mess and theres one deep scratch on the passenger quarter panel. Got a good body shop for those items. The drivers seat showed a little wear, I took a black Marks-a -lot and went over the distressed areas... Solved the problem.

So I set the Trip Odo to keep track of the miles I drive her. So far 200 miles. The car has just over 40k on the clock.,..I want to keep that number down.

 

Happy Motoring!!

Dan O'

[Randy Atkin]

Rarity does not mean high price. There is a very small market for these cars. 

[aardvark]

If there is a market and they are not available, that adjusts the pricing.

I'm not so sure the market is that small either. I have people from all age and statuses fawning over this car.    Other vehicles I've owned have never had a reaction like this.

[Randy Atkin]

Dream on. It is sad that you seem so obsessed with your perceived value of your car. Generally something is worth what it sold for.

[Gunslinger]

The market for the 2001-2007 Avantis is very limited...not many people even know the cars exist.  its about one hundred made in a market where they're all but unknown doesn't necessarily translate into market value.  Perceived value is one thing...realized value can be something completely different.  

When I owned my 2002 Avanti I heard comments that ran the gamut...from "The best looking car I've ever seen" to "It's nothing but a re-skinned Camaro".  When I decided to sell the car several years ago interested buyers were few and far between...those who were interested wanted a bargain.

On their best days Avantis are polarizing.  That both works for and against you.  

[aardvark]

I tend to see it a little different. 

My '63' R2 is one of 800ish produced with a supercharger. The sales prices are all over the board, and Hemmings is showing good examples (say a 8 out of 10) with reasonably low mileage selling in the $35k range.  There are many sold cheaper but you get what you pay for and will spend up on fixing and buying parts for them, ..Thus You'll have a good chunk out in doing so. IF Ya want one done needing nothing, the $35k range is what to expect.

Then we come into this model ('01'-'07'). Mine is an '02'. They made about 11 to 13 of them. 53 in all over '01'- '05'. The Trans Am versions (which I've been following) are up for sale... if you can even find one... for $50-59k.... some have been offered low ball offers (like $32k) and have been refused... Some get thru and must be from desperate sellers for less. I don't know the condition of those sold since the info out there is sparse. My guestimate is they should be priced around Mid to Hi $40's in a '9 out of 10' condition with low miles.

IF a Buyer wants something bad enough, and the market is extremely limited in availability, they will pay up... there is no other choice.   That's obvious while watching the Auctions, with a reserve on. Those unsold at Auctions, many times are sold after the Auction ends. Many times the Buyer/Seller can't come together to seal a deal.

In my case. I have no need to be desperate or take a low ball offer from someone trying to get something for 30-40% off the asking price. This car can sit for a number of years for all I care.  It will come out this year and go to car shows with a 'For Sale' sign on it for $50k. The response on This car has been stunning by the general publics responses from all ages of people, men and women alike.. It expect be the same or more when at the shows. The shows are not my demographic to sell as this Forum isn't either..  Here. we are looking for low ball deals.. (I did). I would take $45k reluctantly, to make a buyer think they did good.

Hey, I have a '82' Porsche 928. It's proposed selling price is around $40k.    I love the 70 Mach 1's but they are bringing $80-90-100k.. (too rich for my blood)...and the Production numbers are not low like this model    And don't get me started on the Chrysler Muscle.. that has gone insane.

There are those who are very well off. and IF they see what they want, they're down on it.... I'm in this for the love of the Cars but it is all a Business Transaction and nothing more. I buy em right, enjoy em, and move to the next deal..IF I didn't do this, I couldn't afford to own any of these vehicles. I'm in a financial class where any hobby I take on MUST pay off. So the Buying/Selling decisions are critically thought thru, and not done out of a love or lust for the products. (wish it didn't have to be that way).

 

Edited April 13, 2024 by aardvark

[GoldAvantiII]

Aardvark, I have been looking for a 2001-2004 Avanti for about 3 years. I know of a yellow one (out East somewhere) with a red interior & 6-speed stick trans and I know of a a red one in Waco, TX. Both are available in the $40+k range. Those showing up at dealers and on Gateway's sites are in the $50+k range. I bid on a near new Supercharged 2004 yellow conv with black interior on B.A.T. last May. It sold for $32.5k, a real good deal. These cars sold for between $75k & $83k when new. Getting a 2002 at what you and I paid for them were great deals. Even paying another $10k for additional work (body/paint and/or mechanical) still place these great cars as a good purchase for us both (IMHO).

As far as people saying negative words about them (just a reworked Camaro or Firebird, it's just a kit car or it's not an Avanti) I have permission from Lew Schucart to quote him from a reply of his on B.A.T.. And that is (again, quoting Lew):  “Nothing competes with the work Tom Kellogg did in 1961-62 with Loewy and team in Palm Springs. But, these 2001-2004 Avantis were designed in 1997 by Tom Kellogg himself, with the AVX (AvantiExperimental), 3 prototype cars built and sold through the efforts of Jim Bunting. They used the GM F-body platform with all body panels replaced with fiberglass. These cars have the Avanti DNA, as continued by one of the four original Avanti designers”.

[aardvark]

Gold.

Thanks for the feedback.  Nice Quote.. 

Yeah. I fell into the purchase I made. It came available and I jumped on it immediately. I wasn't searching for one, it just appeared and I knew instinctively the pricing was low, and after some short research I glom'ed on it. . So It arrived and I found a few minor issues needing addressed like the front bumper needing a repaint, a door hinge no good, and some small scratches in the clear-coat. All easily serviceable items. She's got 40k miles on Her.

3 years is a long wait for one,..I hope ya come up with something.. Availability is sparse and pricing (to me) is an unknown, since they are widely misunderstood,,, even unknown by the general Car Buying Public. So I'll hold to my $50k ballpark and someday in the future, lI'll list it for that,, What will it bring? I don't have to let it go and won't accept less than $45-46k after my repairs are done to Her. She can stay here for years for all I care.

I have not as of yet gotten ANY negative responses.   If I do, I have to assume it would come from Studie Purists. Owning a  '63' R2 Avanti. I could claim, anything after '64' isn't really a Studie... It's a GM Based car.... But that would be narrow minded and discounting efforts that led up to what I own now. I look at the Production Numbers... This one is 1 out of 53 in 4 years (or 1 out of 11-13ish in '02'.)

A quick personal experience at 2 different Store Locations.... 1 at Walmart and the 2nd at Ingles Food Store. ... I don't park in their parking lots. I'll pull up to the front of the store and stay in the car as Wifey goes in and  does Her thing. Both times the car has been flooded with people of all ages and genders wondering what the car is. Then the Phone Cameras come out. The conversations get extensive and always to the point of me describing the car in detail.....I normally will do a few local venue Car Shows, but that hasn't happened yet. This should be interesting this year.

Canton Mich? My old stomping grounds... I'm originally from Taylor. MI... After numerous moves, I'm now in a different Canton (in NC).

Dan O'

[aardvark]

Hey Gold?

Wanna go out for a Run Tomorrow,?

Bring yer Camara !