After Studebaker's December 20, 1963, closure of its South Bend factory and effective discontinuation of the auto with the 1964 model year, cars carrying the Avanti nameplate were initially produced from leftover Studebaker components, and later by the Avanti Motor Company from General Motors and Ford chassis and engines.

[1] Leo Newman ran the Studebaker truck parts division, which enabled the company to be profitable at its outset.

[7] The state of Indiana guaranteed $1.9 million in loans to Avanti as part of the financial package offered Blake when he bought the company.

A new convertible body style along with an all-new and lighter backbone chassis that was designed by Herb Adams, a former Pontiac engineer, using a torque tube with a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette aluminum rear end and independent suspension.

[9] Shortly after introducing the Mark II Avanti, the company declared bankruptcy, and Blake resigned in February 1986.

[citation needed] In 1989, Cafaro lost faith in the original coupe and introduced a four-door version, of which 90 were built.

[citation needed] He moved its operations from Ohio to Georgia and produced redesigned Avanti automobiles in Villa Rica from 2000 to 2005.

Many extremely rare Studebaker and Avanti concepts and racing vehicles on the second floor of the building in Cancun have been moved elsewhere and/or sold.