Nathan Altman purchased all rights, equipment, and parts to the Avanti on July 1, 1964. He secured the Avanti assembly plant, all Avanti tooling, body production from Molded Fiberglass, and necessary credit. The engine would be a Chevrolet 327-cu-in. Disc brakes were used at the front, as they were on the 1963 and 1964 Studebakers. The pronounced "rake" of the original was eliminated and wheel openings were tightened. Studebaker had built 20 Avantis a day. Altman built 45 in 1965, 59 in 1966, 66 in 1967, and 100 in 1968. Altman labeled the resurrected car 'Avanti II'.

1966 Avanti II

The Avanti is back, as sleek and original as ever. Tamer and costlier it still struts like the thoroughbred it was born to be. It returns as the Avanti II with a facelift and a Chevrolet engine. Nate Altman has bought tooling and some of the buildings from Studebaker. The company has announced production plans and details of the new version of the car. Altman, a long-time Studebaker dealer, will be remembered by some as running a mail-order outlet for Studebaker parts and accessories. About 1000 cars per year will be produced.

The pronounced rake of the original is eliminated so that the rocker panel is parallel to the ground, and wheel openings are tightened around the wheels. Interior fabrics will be made to customers' specifications, a touch possible only because the Avanti II will be a hand-built car. The most important mechanical change in the new car is the Chevrolet engine. It is a 327-cu-in./300-bhp version. Optional equipment is nominal because the standard equipment list is long and includes everything you could expect and more.

1982 Avanti II

Nate Altman, a long-time Studebaker dealer, was able to secure the Avanti assembly plant, all Avanti tooling, body production from Molded Fiberglass, and necessary credit. The engine would be a Chevrolet 327-cu-in./300-bhp. Disc brakes were used at the front, as they were on the 1963 car. The pronounced "rake" of the original was eliminated and wheel openings were tightened. The Avanti II went on selling, practically unchanged, for 18 model years.

Road & Track, 1983, Hard times are perhaps less difficult for some than for others, and while things have not been totally rosy for Avanti Motors recently, at least they are still building cars. The Avanti people are still laboring away in Indiana, making fewer than 200 cars per year. The 1983 Avanti II is little changed from previous models, for obvious reasons, and the drivetrain is purchased from General Motors, to help keep costs down, of course. The engine is an overhead-valve V-8 displacing 305 cu in. and putting out a healthy 155 bhp. It's mated to GM's 4-speed automatic transmission. The chassis design is very straightforward, with an independent front end and a live rear axle.

The Avanti's body is fiberglass and it's bolted to a ladder-type frame-pretty much the same way the car was designed and built almost 20 years ago. The styling is of the sort that you either love or hate, with few opinions falling in between. Actually, the Avanti probably rates the designation of cult car today. Inside, the luxury is first-rate, with air-conditioning, electric window lifts, power assist for steering and brakes, and an AM/FM stereo/cassette player. The Avanti factory is willing to work with all buyers to come up with the paint scheme and interior most pleasing to individual tastes. It really is quite a unique car company.