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studebakers ?

S

swindave

Member
any one have, had or wanted a studebaker car or truck?
what was the story on studebaker company?
good stuff, or not? or just to small a company to compete with the other
car companies?
 
I worked for a Studebaker dealer in the late 50's. I have owned several Hawks, Champ truck, as well as the older trucks. I owned a few Larks and used them as personal transportation. On a visit to South Bend, IN. I was allowed to drive on their high-speed
track for a test drive.
 
I only knew one person in my entire life that had one. It was a one ton with a 10 ft. grain body. single wheels with a hoist. I have no idea how it worked out for him. I was just a young boy.
 
Found this on google,

Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the firm was originally a coachbuilder, manufacturing wagons, buggies, carriages and harnesses.

The following list consists of automotive models produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1899 to 1963 and Studebaker Canada Ltd. from 1964 through the spring 1966. In 1961, many of these were offered with special Marshal (police) packages: a 170 cu in (2.8 l) 6-cylinder City Marshal, 259 cu in (4.2 l) V8 Patrol Marshal, and 289 cu in (4.7 l) V8 Pursuit Marshal. There was also a heavy-duty four-door taxicab based on a stretched-wheelbase Cruiser.
 
We sent some Studebaker trucks to Russia at the beginning of WW2, they loved them! The Russians found the Studer, as they affectionately nicknamed it, robust and reliable, and its logistic contribution made it arguably the most significant American-supplied piece of hardware the Soviets used. Studebaker trucks also saw wartime service along the Burma Road and the Alcan Highway.
 
thats all my grandfather drove they were good cars loved the suicide doors all were green or gray flat head v8s with three on the tree wish i had them now
 
First 1 1/2 ton truck I owned. A 1946 Studebaker ton and a half with stock racks. Hauled cattle for a neighbor and myself and grain of course...1969 or 70. Swapped out the flathead six with a Chevy 265 bored to 301...still here if someone needs it.
 
I had a bullet nose Studebaker, Maybe early 50's . It had a flat head 6. I had the motor apart fore some reason. My brother or one of his friends took one of the pistons. I drove it around with 5 cylinders. It did run a little ruff. Dad finally junked it. Stan
 
Neighbors had a half-ton truck and a four-door sedan when I was a kid. About 1950 models, same flathead six and kind of bluish or gray. I drove the pickup one year hauling seed beans across the headlands to to my dad who was running the planter behind our John Deere B. I was nine or ten years old and it was a stretch to hold the clutch pedal down far enough to push the starter button on the floor.
 
When I had my body shop, I fixed a Silver Hawk that had been rear-ended in a parking lot.

It had been repainted a year or two before,(white), and I just had to spot in some of the rear. Only the white didn't match the Studebaker white for that year.

I was able to take a side mirror off and take it to the local auto body supply store where I bought most of my paint. They were able to put it on a machine, and break down the color and match it. I got a perfect match on the paint, but we never did figure out what that shade of white indexed to.
 
Our family had a bunch of Studebakers. The newest was a beautiful black '57 Silver Hawk owned by my brother. It would bark the tires in all three gears. We also had a '55 Commander. It would run 115 MPH in second gear overdrive. When you shifted into third gear overdrive, it would slow to 110 MPH. They were quick little cars with the low rear gearing matched with the overdrive transmission. The hill holder feature was neat. I've pulled away and left many hot rods at an uphill stop sign.
 

I remember in High School, in the 50's, there were a couple of Silver Hawks that could and DID outrun the new Chevy 265's and even some of the first 283's in 1957. Rumors were, they had the optional Supercharged engine, but those dudes never would pop their hoods,,,,,??
 
When I was 8-10 years old my best friends dad had a Studebaker pickup. I remember the two of us standing in the truck box, leaning on the truck cab with the wind blowing in our faces as his dad drove down the road. He parked the truck in the early 70s and my buddies Granddaddy parted the truck out. No one put much value in the old trucks then .
 
50 th Anniversary Golden Hawk built by Studebaker collector Tom Shrock ( google Shrock Brothers) in the middle of PA...
cvphoto90787.jpg
 
Indeed, Russ.

Studebaker was one of a very few English words that Russian soldiers knew when they met US soldiers at the Elbe.

They loved Studebaker trucks.

Dean
 
When a senior in high school I worked part time at a local auto parts store/machine shop.

One of our infrequent customers had been a Studebaker dealer until 64 or 65 when Studebaker closed.

Occasionally, he would stop in in his (IIRC) 1957 Golden Hawk with Paxton supercharger and four speed transmission. Beautiful car, little appreciated by a 17 year old at the time.

Only one I've ever seen but I have seen a couple of supercharged Avantis.

Dean
 
Golden Hawk front clip on a model convertible. Looks to be some sort of Chrysler, maybe a LeBaron.
 
(quoted from post at 01:19:23 06/05/21) thats all my grandfather drove they were good cars loved the suicide doors all were green or gray flat head v8s with three on the tree wish i had them now
Click to expand...

Flat head six maybe, Studebaker never used a flathead V8.

Their first V8 debuted in 1951, an OHV V8.
 
As a kid in the early '60's my dad had a repair shop for farm equipment, trucks and cars. We were 1 mile from a main intersection and 4-way stop. If you made a right you had a slight incline. A Studebaker tractor truck with a 4-53 GM diesel hauling US Mail drove that route.
When it stopped and turned right at the intersection you could hear it climbing the grade very clearly from a mile away. In the early 60's the 4-53 ran 3200 rpm in the Studebaker. A few years later I considered buying a Studebaker truck with the 4-53 that had a roll-back bed to haul my tractors but when I drove it it was soo noisy inside the cab I decided against it. I stretched a '52 GMC with a 4-71 and made a tilt bed to do my hauling with. I still have the GMC.
 
I never had one, but they were a fairly popular car here. The local Allis Chalmers dealer sold Studebaker too. Seems like the Lark was especially popular.
 

My dad brought a 59 Silver Hawk when I was 14 it was Red & White had a V8 with 3 on the tree with overdrive. I drove it around the neighborhood mostly on private roads. I knew it was going to be my first car the problem it turned out to be ate up with rust and broke down all the time.

He traded it in for a 69 dodge station wagon I had to buy my first car myself : (... At the time he traded I made a deal with the owner of the lot to work for him on Saturday's 8 to 12 for $5 a day. He sold me a 62 Mercury Comet S22 and financed it for $5 a week. It took me a year to pay off the comet.

When I left his lot I went to his brothers lot and finished out the day for another $5 : ) About a year into it the first guy asked if I knew where one of his dealer tags was I said YES you gave it to me to drive the Comet. I had to hand it back to'em and got one from his brother then played that out for a bit...

I always thought those Hawks were bad arse cars...
 
Google will keep you reading for a week on history. My dad bought one in 1950, I thought it pretty cool but now when I see photos I'm not so sure. Back in the 30's, Studebaker was an upper-class ride, not at the very top of the pecking order but certainly above the offerings of Dodge, Ford, and Chevy.
 
I have half a Studebaker -- a utility trailer. Someone decades ago put the box on a different frame so no differential. It still has the Studebaker tailgate. I don't use it much any more, but people used to ask all the time where the rest of the truck went, and one or two folks have wanted to buy it for the parts.
 
Local priest always drove them. He said every thing else was built by the Jews!. He was noted to be speeding in it quite often.
 

You posted good questions on an interesting topic, but google will get you far more info than you will get here.
 
Sure, I got a couple of Studebakers out back. They are Gravely two-wheelers from the early 1960's when Studebaker owned the company.
cvphoto90807.jpg
 
I had heard a story years ago that Studebaker made wagons in Indiana as someone else had mentioned. One of the sons of Studebaker went west to search for gold but was unsuccessful. Because of his knowledge of wagon making, he started making wheelbarrels for the miners and amassed a fortune. Upon returning to Indiana, he found the company nearly bankrupt. He propped up the company with his fortune made by mining the miners and Studebaker was able to continue. I have no idea if that story is accurate, but it sounds good.
 
Up into at least the late 1980's and early 1990's there was still one original Studebaker assembly building I visited often.
It was owned by some outfit that had bought huge amounts of new oem Studebaker inventory of parts.
They had for sale stuff going back 50 years from when Studebaker shutdown.
Entire engines and engine blocks, etc. in wooden crates waiting to be shipped to a dealer.
They may have had enough parts to build certain vehicles from just the parts they had.

It was like going to a museum.

This post was edited by DoubleO7 on 06/05/2021 at 07:40 am.
 
Studebaker is the oldest transportation company in USA. The name was Stutenbecker Changed to sound more American. 1854
 
(quoted from post at 12:04:51 06/05/21) Bingo, Carlmac.

Noticed that but let it slide.

Dean
Click to expand...

Well, my thought is if I see something that I know is wrong and I know or can find out what is right I will point it out every time.

There is too much inaccuracy floating around about any topic you can think of. The more correct information available the better.
 
..Edit...In reply to 37chief.. Come on, are you getting some coaching from the T vet? You put the motor back together with 5 pistons because one was misplaced? Maybe you did not put enough detail in as to what really happened to the piston. I guess if was just a yard car or toy kind of deal, well maybe. You just let the oil pressure squirt out of the crank journal oiling hole? Ok, maybe it was a dipper system. I think your mentor has taught you well. You came close to beating him, oh.. nope pretty hard to beat plowing in road gear. Guess he never said what kind of plow he was pulling, I guess it could have been a Tru-scale. Yep, I went off topic but I do not think another reply will hurt this thread.
See the plow


This post was edited by used red MN on 06/05/2021 at 10:18 am.
 
I had a Studebaker pickup. It was a sharp little truck. 170 cu in , three speed overdrive and a Nash radio. The only thing was that it rusted terribly
 
A 1948-50 Studebaker pu has been #1 on my wishlist for over 50 years.

30 years ago I drove past a blue one in my area, asking $400. Alas, at that time in my life, it just wasnt possible. It was a huge missed opportunity.
 
I owned this one for about 15 years.Just sold it a few weeks ago.V8,3 speed with OD.My grandfather worked for a guy that sold them new.I have three Model A Fords on the road,and figured I might want something a little faster and smoother sometimes.Turns out I am just used to the A's and hardly drove the Studebaker.
cvphoto90822.jpg


cvphoto90823.jpg
 
I like your car Keith .... very nice. Someone ended up with a classic ride. Famous designer Raymond Loewy designed a lot of those Studies, along with a lot of styled tractors, locomotives, and all kinds of other stuff. The link below should take you right to his Studebaker information.
Raymond Loewy and Studebakers ....
 
I like those 500 series tractors Doug, they seem to be popular for pullers. I wonder who designed the Cockshutt 30 (and 20, 40 & 50 etc). Those were as nice a tractor style as any ever I think.
 
Studebaker stopped production in the US in 1964 but continued to build cars in Hamilton Ontario for 2 more years. 1965 and 1966 Studebakers came with Chevrolet small block V8 engines.... not sure if the used a Chev 6 or not.

Ben
 
HERES YORE ANSWER, SIMPLE...FRIEND, FROM SCOTLAND, YOUNG SPRAY PILOT, BOUGHT VEGA, TO MOVE SSOUTH...ROD BRG FAILED, IN DITCH,BY ROAD, HE CUT UP BEER CAN, PUT WORM CLANP ON JOURNAL, WENT ON HIS WAY...BE BLESSED, GRATEFUL, PTRPARED...
 
Previous Studebakers:
60 Lark IV with 259, 3 sp and OD.
58 1/2 ton P/U, 170 straight 6 with 3 sp and OD.
61 Hawk, 289 V8 auto
63 Avanti 289 supercharged V8 with 4 sp.

Current
63 Avanti 289 supercharged V8 with 4 sp.

Interesting bits; The Bud beer wagon that's pulled by the clydesdales is a Studebaker. The iron used for Studebaker blocks has about 25% higher nickel content than other engines. It is harder to machine, but if maintained right it will last longer. Rings wear faster in Studebaker engines before 1958 when they were faced with Chromoly. The Avanti was designed literally on the back of some bar napkins. It's a stretched Lark chassis. The Avanti was the first domestic production car to offer disk brakes(made by Bendix, a modified aircraft brake asm. the merger with Packard was supposed to save both companies. Each financial dept of Studebaker and Packard both lied about their debt and equity. After the merger, both companies were shocked by how bad the other company was fiscally. Rather than being a savior, Packard was the final straw on Studebakers back. Their line employees were very dedicated to the company. Although in later years it was unionized, the production line workers were always faithful, and supportive of Studebaker, right to the end.
 
My Dad drove them alot back before I was born in 1963. I do remember a Lark station wagon with the roof would slide forward so you could haul tall items. IIRC it was a 1963 also ? Traded it off in 1973 ? on a Buick Century.
 
(quoted from post at 16:13:22 06/05/21) My Dad drove them alot back before I was born in 1963. I do remember a Lark station wagon with the roof would slide forward so you could haul tall items. IIRC it was a 1963 also ? Traded it off in 1973 ? on a Buick Century.
Click to expand...


Wagonaire trivia. In the early 60s, there was a TV showed called 'Wild Kingdom'. It featured nature, and wild animals from around the world. The production crew used a guy strapped in an old pickup to do the filming, and they weren't happy with the poor performance of some late 50s pickup. They approached Studebaker about building a Wagonaire with some more oomph, and Studebaker needing the money said 'sure!'.

Studebaker dropped the 289 Paxton supercharged engine, 4 speed trans, and 4.11 locker rear end in the Wagonaire with uprated springs and shocks out of the Golden Hawk line. It was a hit with the producers, and a few dozen crazy customers went to the Studebaker dealer asking about the 'Wild Kingdom' Wagonaire package. So, there are maybe 30 or so Wagonaires built with a 289HP Paxton SC, 4 speed close ratio trans and the Dana limited slip rear end out there. I saw a black one for sale somewhere about 8 years ago.
 
(quoted from post at 11:06:40 06/05/21) A 1948-50 Studebaker pu has been #1 on my wishlist for over 50 years.

30 years ago I drove past a blue one in my area, asking $400. Alas, at that time in my life, it just wasnt possible. It was a huge missed opportunity.
Click to expand...

I have to admire someone with six posts in almost five years. Wish I could exercise that level of restraint. More to the topic, in my old neighborhood someone had 2-3 of the sedans parked out on the street around their house. Maybe one in the driveway and two on the street. Been awhile. Obviously they were into Studebakers.

Gerrit
 
When I was old enough to stand up in the seat of my grand dads 1940 Ford, he would take me by the Studebaker dearship in Houston, Tx. where they had a 2 front car. Recalling the '49 Studebaker coupe, the trunk looked a lot like the hood so for an advertising stunt, the dealer put a hood in place of the trunk on one and parked it out in front of his dealership. At least it got my attention.

Wikipedia will answer your question.

My sister and BIL got 2 degrees each with their little used Studebaker sedan, forget the year-model...plain jane 6 banger, 3 on the tree, manual steering and brakes...extremely economical, reliable transportation.....never failed them once. My mother bought a '59 4 door new and drove it for many years. The V8 Golden Hawk was quite the sportster.
 
I restored a 1941 Studebaker Pickup for a farmer friend two yrs ago; cool looking trucks but rides like a lumber wagon.
 
My aunt had a green or teal 1951 Studebaker Commander or Challanger 4 door with the bullet nose. I remember it because it had the ohv v8. I think this was the first year it was offered. It was a classy car and had those rear suicide doors. I have always wanted one.

It was sad to see them go under financially and then take Packard with them.

The original Budwiser Beer Wagon with the Clydesdales was built by Studebaker.
 
(quoted from post at 08:29:08 06/05/21)
(quoted from post at 01:19:23 06/05/21) thats all my grandfather drove they were good cars loved the suicide doors all were green or gray flat head v8s with three on the tree wish i had them now
Click to expand...

Flat head six maybe, Studebaker never used a flathead V8.

Their first V8 debuted in 1951, an OHV V8.
Click to expand...
didn't say anything, but didn't think so as my Dad ran a junk yard where we had Model T, A, Hudson, Studebaker, Packard, DeSoto, Kaiser, Frazier, Crosley, Reo, Willis & others, but never saw a flathead V8 Studebaker.
 
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