Studebaker Avanti
In the early ’60s, Studebaker management decided to invest in a luxury coupe to fight poor sales. They thought that a new and fancy upscale model would attract customers and turn the attention of the automotive public back to Studebaker. So, in 1962, a very sleek and modern-looking Avanti was introduced (via Motor Trend).
Its innovative design, construction, and technology were very interesting, and the car received praise from the motoring press. The base version could have been more powerful, but soon Studebaker introduced a supercharged R2 option that delivered 289 HP. Unfortunately, the Avanti didn’t pull Studebaker out of financial trouble but still remained one of the most iconic American cars from the 1960s as a true modern classic.