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Studebaker
Before its closure in 1967, Studebaker was the oldest American company with roots going back to 1852. Of course, in the beginning, Studebaker produced wagons for farmers and miners. Eventually, they started producing automobiles in 1902. Soon, Studebaker became one of the most prominent economy car builders in the U.S.
They offered a wide range of affordable and dependable models, so for decades, Studebaker was a stable company. However, after World War II with the changing economic climate, Studebakers sales started to slip. But just before they closed their doors for good, Studebaker presented the Avanti, a cool-looking personal luxury coupe. In the early ’60s, Studebaker management decided to invest in a luxury coupe to fight their poor sales.
They thought a new, fancy upscale model would attract customers and turn the attention of the public back to Studebaker. So, in 1962, they presented the sleek, modern-looking Avanti. The innovative design, construction, and technology were interesting, so the car received praise from the motoring press. The base version was not powerful, but soon Studebaker introduced the supercharged R2 option producing up to 289 HP.