| In 1989 Avantis appeared on the TV
game show "Wheel of Fortune." Newsweek
magazine covered the event and called it 'Buffing Up An Old
Classic'. The decades-old design still looked as new as anything
on the road and the shiny red convertible
captured almost as much attention as Vanna White herself. The
vehicle was one of the show's most sought-after prizes. The
newsweek article shows John J. Cafaro with one of the red convertibles.
Cafaro was a shopping-mall developer who bought the Avanti in
1988. His plan was to make the Avanti a viable alternative to
luxury models like Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and BMW. Cafaro produced
a four door model based on designs
by Raymond Loewy. Production was moved to Youngstown, Ohio where
the car was exhibited at the prestigious Butler Gallery. |
John J. Cafaro posing with the "Wheel
of Fortune" prize. |
