15. Studebaker Avanti
Once successful and popular, Studebaker is now a long-forgotten American brand. Studebaker closed its doors in 1966 after suffering poor sales for over a decade and losing ground to Detroit’s Big Three. However, just before this legendary brand left the market, it produced one interesting and highly sought-after luxury model with muscle car credentials, the Studebaker Avanti R2. In the early ’60s, the Studebaker management decided to invest in a luxury coupe to fight their poor sales. They thought that a new, fancy upscale model would attract customers and turn the attention of the automotive public back to Studebaker.
So in 1962, they presented the sleek and 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 a supercharged R2 option that delivered 289 HP. Unfortunately, the Avanti didn’t manage to pull Studebaker out of financial troubles. However, it remained one of the most iconic American cars from the ‘60s as well as a true modern classic.