Avanti Sports Car Celebrates 65 Years with Palm Springs Roots and Local Showcase

A piece of automotive history with roots in Palm Springs is celebrating a major milestone this week.

The Studebaker Avanti — a sleek, futuristic sports car first designed in 1961 — is marking its 65th anniversary with a special gathering in the Coachella Valley.

The Avanti was created by renowned industrial designer Raymond Loewy and his four-man design team, who developed the car right in Palm Springs. At the time, it stood out not just for its bold fiberglass body, but also for introducing innovative safety features that were ahead of their time.

Among those features were front disc brakes, a reinforced roll bar built into the roof, door locks, and even seat belts — which were not yet common in vehicles during the early 1960s.

Now, decades later, dozens of classic Studebaker and Avanti models are set to return to the desert for a public celebration. The event will take place at the DoubleTree Golf Club, where car enthusiasts and the community can get an up-close look at these iconic vehicles.

Organizers say the showcase is not only a celebration of the car’s legacy, but also a tribute to its unique connection to Palm Springs and its role in automotive innovation.

The event is open to the public, giving residents and visitors a chance to step back in time and experience a classic that helped shape modern car design.

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