1930's Photo

Two of my cousins and a 1930's Rockney, with a 1920's Whippet in the background.

I really Like the old cars in the background! Thanks for sharing!
From Nebraska,
Andrew Kean.

I never heard of a Rockney, Have heard of a Whippet, don't remember ever seeing one. How about a pic of your Corvette?

Joe

Found one.

Thanks dgasper. That is one really really COOL Car.

The Rockne was an American automobile brand produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1931-1933. The brand was named for University of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne.

Discussions between Studebaker and Knute Rockne began in 1928. Rockne was offered a high-visibility job by Studebaker president Albert Erskine. Studebaker planned for a durable, inexpensive car. The Rockne would replace the slow-selling, unduly expensive Erskine car.

On March 31, 1931, 12 days after being appointed manager of sales promotion, Knute Rockne was killed in an airplane crash. In September, 1931, George M. Graham, formerly of Willys-Overland, was named sales manager of the new Rockne Motor Corporation. Two models were approved for production, the "65" on 110 in (2,800 mm) wheelbase and the "75" on a 114 in (2,900 mm) wheelbase. The "75" was based on the Studebaker Six, while the "65" was based on designs by two engineers under contract for Willys-Overland. When Willys-Overland announced they did not have the money to build the car, the two went on the road to sell it. Studebaker president Erskine was quite impressed, and bought the car and the engineers" services. The "75" was designed under Studebaker"s head of engineering, Delmar "Barney" Roos.

Production of the Rockne "75" began at South Bend on December 15, 1931. The smaller "65" went into production at the old E-M-F plant on Piquette Avenue in Detroit, February 22, 1932. This was the same plant at which the 1927 and 1928 Erskine models had been built. The Rockne also went into production at Studebaker"s Canadian plant at Walkerville, Ontario, near Windsor.

The 1933 Rockne line was reduced to one line, the "10". The Rockne "10" was an update of the "65". When Studebaker went into receivership on March 18, 1933, it was decided to move production of the Rockne to the Studebaker plant in South Bend. The Rockne "10" was built in South Bend from April through July, 1933.

The Rockne "65/10" engine would replace all the six-cylinder Studebaker car engines then in production and power Studebaker cars and trucks through 1961.

Although the Rockne was not a success, its failure was a product of the times. The year 1932 was the bottom of the depression, not a good time to introduce a new name. Leftover Rocknes were sent to Norway in kits, where they were reassembled and sold.