Blake, Kelly and Cafaro Avanti models

[SoCalMani]

Which years are included in the Blake, Kelly and Cafaro Avanti models - or is this common knowledge and a feller ought to know??

[wdaly]

Blake started in 1984. Kelly 1987 (don't think there was a 1986).  Cafaro 1989 to 1991. 

I will be Corrected if I'm wrong!

[Randy Atkin]

Blake actually started in '83 and it was pretty much unchanged from the previous year Altman model. Most of his changes began with the '84's.

[mfg]

2 hours ago, Randy Atkin said:

Blake actually started in '83 and it was pretty much unchanged from the previous year Altman model. Most of his changes began with the '84's.

Yes true… maybe the biggest change he made on the ‘83 Avantis was the dropping of the ‘ll’ on exterior badging.

[wdaly]

1 hour ago, mfg said:

Yes true… maybe the biggest change he made on the ‘83 Avantis was the dropping of the ‘ll’ on exterior badging.

Correct me if I'm Wrong - didn't Blake also introduce the composite bumpers as well as the Square headlight sealed beam (finally)?

[mfg]

6 hours ago, wdaly said:

Correct me if I'm Wrong - didn't Blake also introduce the composite bumpers as well as the Square headlight sealed beam (finally)?

You aren’t wrong… there were about 25 twentieth anniversary models built with those features for the ‘83 model year… however, those features did not become standard across the board until ‘84.

Edited December 6 by mfg
Spelling

[Geoff]

Blake: 1983 - 1985. Variances already mentioned above. 1983 was essentially like Newman & Altman years but Blake 86'd the "II" nomenclature.
Twenty-five [+1] 20th anniversary cars are made in 1983. There was 1 manual transmission prototype 20th ann. car. These are close in appearance to the following two years but are not identical. You may buy a 20th anniversary car in any color, so long as it's black.
1984 & 1985 I like to call "the twins" because they're that similar. 1984 reverse lights are landscape and hug the bumperettes. 1985 reverse lights are portrait and hug the license plate.
Blake's cars are the last to use the Studebaker frame.

The great paint debacle occurred under Blake which ended his run.
No 1986 cars.

Kelly & Cafaro: 1987 - 1991 but Kelly bowed out early.
These cars adorned 'ground effects' styling cues along the front, rear, and rocker panels.
1987 introduces LSC trim, which has a longer wheelbase, visually differentiated because the rear vent windows are wider.
[50] 1988s got 25th (or Silver) anniversary treatment. LSC is still a trim this year.
1990 is the only Avanti sedan produced. Many Avanti people hate it. I think it's cool it got made.

2000 Kelly came back with others. Avantis made on 4th gen. Firebird chassis, and then on the new for 2005 S197 Mustang chassis. That's where Avanti hit the || button in its life cycle. Someone will press |> again; they inevitably do.

https://www.theavanti.com/chronology.html

[AG-R3]

 

 

Honorable Mention   1991 -    (IMO)  the best looking post Blake 2-door 

http://www.studebaker-info.org/AvantiAAV.html#1991

[wdaly]

6 hours ago, AG-R3 said:

 

 

Honorable Mention   1991 -    (IMO)  the best looking post Blake 2-door 

http://www.studebaker-info.org/AvantiAAV.html#1991

I Have to Agree!😍