Postwar Studebakers

thebean

@uplanderguy, I’m shocked that you sold the Cruiser. Shocked, I tell you. But, if you were going to sell it to get something else, a C8 is pretty darn good. 👍

uplanderguy

I could dig that '64 Daytona Wagonaire being driven up onto the transport in that CBS video, for sure. At 1:34 in the video, you see the flag flying at half-mast for the death of JFK. South Bend people have said that that period was a terrible one-two punch.

Interesting statement from Bruno Sacco.

I've said it here before, but 'plucky' is a word I think of when I think 'Studebaker'.

Yeah, there were other independents, but most were gone a decade before Studebaker closed. Being born in '58, I remember Studes quite a bit--mostly Larks.

I'm sure it wasn't deliberate, but I believe it took GM 'til '77 or '78 to get the Stude package concept down--narrower, taller bodies, squarish lines, full-size interiors in sensible-sized exteriors. That, and offering disc brakes, PRND21 automatic transmissions, and even simple things like full instrumentation standard and inside hood release, is cool to me. My general appreciation of the underdog appreciates the away-from-Detroit-ness of Stude, too, being headquartered in South Bend.

I'll still go there for club functions. I will concede that the loss of my good friend Bob Palma has made my enthusiasm wane some.

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but before the GMC Envoy was introduced, an archivist I know at the Studebaker museum said they had a request from GM for copies of Wagonaire blueprints.

bhill2

I was born in '49. The first car I remember was my dad's '51 Commander 4-door, so Studebaker imprinted on me early on. I developed my love of cars early, so I got to enjoy the heady days of the marque; the President Speedster, the Golden Hawk, and finally the GT Hawk (which I still think is one of the most beautiful cars ever made). For some reason I was never that drawn to the Avanti. Anyway, I remember Studebaker at its best and the memories are sweet.

imidazol97

I feel like a member of our family has moved away with the loss of @uplanderguy's Studebaker. Beautiful car.

But I understand enjoying a Corvette in the garage when the opportunity is there.

uplanderguy

Thanks, imidazol. The buyer told me the car exceeded his expectations, which I'm happy about.

Honestly, I'm a practical guy, and the Corvette's cost is daunting to me. It'll be by-far the most expensive car I've ever bought. Wife's all-in though. I'm excited.

fintail

I was born more than a decade after US Stude production ended, but having grown up in a low-rust area, the cars (esp Larks) were still not uncommon when I was a kid. I can give credit for the timeless 50s Loewy design, and for the "right size" 60s models, especially as the decade moved on and the cars sometimes acquired a little Euro flavor - big sunroofs, performance options, smaller than the Nimitz, etc. The company certainly was good at making do with what must have been a minuscule budget compared to the big 3. I also seem to recall a story of my grandpa wanting a bullet nose car when they were new, but grandma didn't approve (this would later be repeated with some cars my dad liked but mom did not).

explorerx4

Stude in your preferred color.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-studebaker-daytona-wagon-4/

uplanderguy

Thanks, I do like Bermuda Brown although the lighter color on top was added at some point.

explorerx4

Don't show up in a Corvette.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGQIrc1DMlM

uplanderguy

Thanks for posting, good turnout of cars.

This '63 Cruiser I've posted pics here of before, is for sale. The lady owner has had it only some months and is selling due to "an expensive gas line repair". She's asking $15K, not insane for a black '63 with factory red broadcloth interior. I think that's what the asking price was earlier in the year when she bought it.

I don't love the hash marks up on the C-pillar; much-prefer the gold bird emblem my '63 had there, although Studebaker wanted you to think the Cruiser wasn't a Lark! Hence, no "LARK" letters on the front fenders, although the Lark 'bird' was still in the center of the steering wheel. I prefer the hash marks on the C-pillar to somewhere below the belt line a la GM at the time, LOL.

'63 Cruiser is my favorite four-door Studebaker. Car is located in SW PA but was sold through the dealer in Montesano, WA, originally, although was a factory delivery at South Bend.

uplanderguy

BTW, unlike factory delivery of a Corvette, I see factory pick-up of a Studebaker resulted in no distribution and delivery fees, sigh.

fintail

Heck, even today at MB anyway, if you do factory delivery, you get a discount and I think save on some fees, get a free hotel night and a couple of meals.

My mom lives just down the road from Montesano, I know that area well. I am surprised Montesano had a dealer - that's a small town of a few thousand people, and I know Aberdeen (population maybe 20K, maybe 10 miles away) also had a dealer. Also interesting to see someone from Olympia bought a car from a dealer in Montesano, as no doubt Olympia had its own Stude dealer too. Looks like a decently optioned car.

uplanderguy

That car is very nicely-equipped. The purchaser knew just what he wanted.

The broadcloth interior option is very rare. I've only seen one in person, and it was a parts car. I've only seen pics of five of them, including the one above.

I'd have added the Skytop option.

I just pulled out my atlas and I see where Montesano is in relation to Olympia. I do wonder why he went that far to buy. Boy, since he picked it up at South Bend, that's quite a drive back home. My '63 was also a factory delivery but the owners lived in Moorhead, MN.

uplanderguy

"AC 3180" is outside Strato-Vue mirror, and this car had them on both sides. They are the Avanti-style mirror. What's on the car now are not Studebaker mirrors. They should look like this:

uplanderguy

Seller posted this interior photo. I absolutely love the broadcloth (essentially wool I'm told) interior on the '63. It's a 1963 domestic compact!

fintail

I wonder if the guy who ordered that Cruiser was a Stude loyalist, having a car built just so, and picking it up at the factory.

That part of the world gets a lot of constant light rain/drizzle and damp - maybe not skytop country.

uplanderguy

My guess is that this wasn't his first Stude, but who knows.

uplanderguy

Rear view

uplanderguy

Front view. Not sure why seller has a B&W photo of this angle.

fintail

A friend in another group shared this, sporty wheels:

uplanderguy

I'm loving that Avanti. After turquoise, that's my next-favorite original color on them....subdued, like the rest of the car.

Those wheels are reproduction Halibrands, which supposedly were offered through Stude dealer parts departments. A few magazine tests of Studes in that period showed the cars with these wheels.

The Avanti was the only Stude built with curved side glass, and it's the first car I can think of that had notable 'tumblehome', or in other words, curved side glass combined with a significant 'tuck under' of the body sides.

uplanderguy

Back to that black Cruiser--you'll note that the wraparound portion of the bumpers are a separate piece. '63 was the final year they were this way. Lower-priced Larks had a non-wraparound bumper but Daytonas and Cruisers had these 'winguards' as standard equipment.

In '93 I bought NOS bumpers, bumper guards, and winguards for my Lark Daytona, at Newman and Altman in South Bend. The guards and winguards were in the original Studebaker boxes. I want to say the guards were $35 a set of two, and the winguards were about the same. Those were the days.

texases

uplanderguy said:

Front view. Not sure why seller has a B&W photo of this angle.

Styling similarities:

uplanderguy

Definitely a similarity in frontal styling.

The rest of that-era Valiant always seemed goofy to me, and no V8.

fintail

At least the Stude rear isn't this wacky

imidazol97

Eerie similarity.

Michaell

I see that, and think of Spencer Tracy in "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World".

fintail

The Spencer Tracy style Dodge Dart also had the round light thing going on - however it and the Stude were lucky enough not to have the toilet seat trunk decoration:

Michaell

And the red Buick is like Brad's car in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

uplanderguy

This week is the Studebaker Drivers' Club international meet in Manitowoc, WI. I'm not there, but this pic was posted today. I saw this car at Hershey a few years back, and I can unequivocally say it's my favorite Lark-type Studebaker I've ever seen. '64 Daytona Hardtop.

A minor nit to pick--and I see this also on other, otherwise beautifully-restored cars of all makes--why didn't the owner/restorer replace the hood insulation blanket? For Studes, they're available.

uplanderguy

Another pic from today, of the same car

thebean

That’s just a classic look that puts modern cars to shame. Agree about the hood insulation blanket. It’s it’s available, no reason not to shell out for it, except laziness.

uplanderguy

The oval badge on the front fender is this badge:

uplanderguy

Couple more pics of Studes I’m liking that are at the international meet this week. ‘64 Gran Turismo Hawk with Avanti engine, and ‘63 Cruiser.

fintail

I'd crash that party by pulling up in a fintail

uplanderguy

...and I think most owners/fans of late '50's and '60's Studes would welcome you!

fintail

Makes me think of the conversation we had about the Studebaker Museum hosting a show of MBs from the period where Stude handled distribution. If only I didn't live 2000 miles away, I'd show up there.

uplanderguy

I sure like that idea. They are tight for space for display vehicles inside I think, but I wouldn't mind seeing an example of the best-selling MB in the Stude-distribution years ('57-64/65), with a display board of the other models available from MB.

They do do "Cars and Coffee" shows outside during the summer. Of course I live five hours away, but I'd probably head out there for a display featuring MB products in the years they were sold at Stude dealers.

uplanderguy

Question--on my tablet monitor, my eyes are playing a trick on what color that '63 Cruiser above in the pic with the Hawk, is. They had "Rose Mist" and "Champagne Gold" in '63. I'm thinking it's the gold although my first look made me think Rose Mist. Either way, I think it's a lovely sedan.

andre1969

I'd lean towards "Champagne Gold" myself. It makes me think a bit of the hue of my 2000 Park Ave, and the '88 LeBaron turbo I once had, and I used to call those both sort of a "champagne/driftwood" color.

Personally, I would think of a "Rose Mist" as something like this...
However, I googled "1963 Studebaker rose mist" and a lot of pics showed up that looked more champagne/gold/drifwood-ish. In some lights, some of them did appear to have a very faint pinkish tinge to them, though.

texases

Here are the paint chips, Rose Mist towards the bottom right:

uplanderguy

Yeah, that Hawk is painted brighter pink than other Rose Mist cars I've seen. I think the car is gold.

uplanderguy

OK, I love the car, but the award for "What Are You Smoking?" goes to the dealer for the asking price of this 1964 Daytona Hardtop on eBay now, with under 10K miles. $74.9K!!!!!

I remember seeing this car in the past decade at South Bend. The owner displaying it had a bowling shirt hanging in the LR quarter window, with the name of the Stude dealership; a cool display item.

It's a Canadian-built Stude, so second-half of the model year. I'd rather have a South Bend-built '64.

I'll say...I effing hate the mirrors out on the fenders! And the Canadian-built cars have an all-white steering wheel instead of two-tone, which may have been a nod to M-B.

The car is lovely. And I believe the mileage, based on the interior. I would love to see what a regular auction would result in.

IMHO, this car should be on BringATrailer.







https://www.ebay.com/itm/175910131811?

sda

uplanderguy said:

OK, I love the car, but the award for "What Are You Smoking?" goes to the dealer for the asking price of this 1964 Daytona Hardtop on eBay now, with under 10K miles. $74.9K!!!!!

I remember seeing this car in the past decade at South Bend. The owner displaying it had a bowling shirt hanging in the LR quarter window, with the name of the Stude dealership; a cool display item.

It's a Canadian-built Stude, so second-half of the model year. I'd rather have a South Bend-built '64.

I'll say...I effing hate the mirrors out on the fenders! And the Canadian-built cars have an all-white steering wheel instead of two-tone, which may have been a nod to M-B.

The car is lovely. And I believe the mileage, based on the interior. I would love to see what a regular auction would result in.

IMHO, this car should be on BringATrailer.







https://www.ebay.com/itm/175910131811?

Sharp. Are you having Studebaker ownership withdrawals?

fintail

Yeah, that price is a bit out there.

I suspect the best selling MB of the Stude era would be a 220S sedan, ponton or fintail depending on year.

uplanderguy

I still enjoy looking at nice Studebakers, particularly the '62-66 years and among those, particularly the '63-64. I'm old enough to remember our town's dealer building, and the cars. Even then they turned my head a bit, as I realized they were quite a bit different from everything else out there.

I really like the '63-66 instrument panels, changed just a bit every one of those years. No 'Googie' shapes or goofy numerals, full instrumentation, padded even at the bottom, and a slide-out beauty vanity with mirror in the glovebox. Red instrument lighting on the '64 too.

I think Stude hid 'no radio' better than the others, too.

fintail

Would the radio be in the area to the right of the wheel near the end of the gear selector?

In the Stude era, the MB "no radio" (which was all cars - no radios from the factory, all were dealer/owner installed) was a blanking plate over the slot with the model designation on it:

uplanderguy

In that Stude dash, the radio would be right in the center of the panel, above the ashtray.

Big Three cars always had a very obvious 3D filler block pushed into the hole where the radio would be.

fintail

So the blanking plate is the silver piece? good camo.

I remember in my dad's 68 Fairlane, a sparsely optioned car (not much more than V8 and radio IIRC - manual steering and brakes, 3 on the tree, dog dish caps, etc), the area that would have been a clock was just a odd empty gauge with generic markings.

sda

My 62 Galaxie was similarly equipped. In addition, no back up lights, door mirror, windshield washers. You took your life into your hands if you approached a corner too quickly or for that matter anything too quickly. Horrible handling, slow steering and brakes that would put you into another lane if stomped on. It was reliable, however! And my first car!