Postwar Studebakers

fintail

Interesting about that being a corporate font. If those letters were near me for $100 I'd snap them up today (especially if they were linked to an old local dealership_, I bet I could make 5-10x my money without much effort).

thebean

N

Not a Stude I can drive, but one I’ve had for 60 years. I was looking through my Matchbox carrying case, remembering my youth, and saw this one. I spent many a Saturday morning at the toy store agonizing which Matchbox to spend my 50 cents on. Good memories.

uplanderguy

My favorite Matchbox car, then and now!

The hunter and dogs usually disappeared pretty quickly, LOL.

uplanderguy

It's been a while since I mentioned this, but I remember at least 20-25 years ago (?), the Archivist at the Studebaker National Museum telling me that GM requested Wagonaire blueprints. Then they came out with a sort-of similar concept on some SUV's, which I think lasted as long in the marketplace as did the Wagonaire! Neat story though.

thebean

Do you have one? Do you know if they came in different colors? I wish I had the boxes for mine, but back then you played with them. Saving the boxes was unheard of. Simpler times.

fintail

thebean said:

Do you have one? Do you know if they came in different colors? I wish I had the boxes for mine, but back then you played with them. Saving the boxes was unheard of. Simpler times.

The Matchbox Wagonaire was only issued in blue. Early examples featured a red car on the box, but red was never issued:



The box was soon changed to blue:



A few other makers also made Wagonaires, both in metal and plastic.

uplanderguy

Here’s my Corgi Jr. Wagonaire. Bought it at Hershey some years back. It's a bit bigger than the Matchbox version.

No doubt inspired by the UPI '63 Wagonaires bought, which I've seen in a photo, in a row at Camp David during the JFK years, all with cameramen and cameras in the back.

fintail

uplanderguy said:

Here’s my Corgi Jr. Wagonaire. Bought it at Hershey some years back. It's a bit bigger than the Matchbox version.

No doubt inspired by the UPI '63 Wagonaires bought, which I've seen in a photo, in a row at Camp David during the JFK years, all with cameramen and cameras in the back.

IIRC Husky was later rebranded as "Corgi Jrs". Here's a page discussing variants of that model - you can complete the set!:

https://www.diecastgarage.org/node/41928

uplanderguy

Thanks for that link. I have seen the ambulance somewhere.

uplanderguy

Heard this today, but never heard of the group.

uplanderguy

DISCLAIMER! Those are not my radio presets in my car! I was driving my wife's Equinox!

thebean

Methinks he doth protest too much. 😄

ab348

thebean said:

Methinks he doth protest too much. 😄

I hear he was a disco king in his younger years and more recently went ga-ga over Gaga.

imidazol97

I think I had that Studio 54 on my Sirius XM while I had it. Disco music from the 70s. I like
the beat of some of that music--Disco Inferno, e.g.. Brings back memories. Old memories.

imidazol97

@uplanderguy
Thought of you when I saw this while waiting for Cruze service.

uplanderguy

Visit to the Studebaker National Museum this past Thursday




.

uplanderguy

Just came across this photo online, this morning....that red '64 Daytona Hardtop in the pics above, last car off the 'regular assembly line' at South Bend (excludes trucks and Avantis)--and now with under 24 miles--leaves the plant on a truck Dec. 20, 1963.

Neat pic as the building in the back is the old Engineering Building, which was the repository of NOS parts in the '90's. I'd been in that building many times. I did know that new cars came out of the building next to it.

thebean

On the museum pics, is the fourth pic from the top a ‘57 Packard Hawk? Thanks.

uplanderguy

No, it's a '58 Studebaker. I think it's a President, but could be a Commander. I'm a bit embarrassed I can't tell/remember.

thebean

Thanks @uplanderguy

uplanderguy

March 17 was the date the last Studebaker of all was built, in the Hamilton, Ontario plant. 1966 Cruiser, Timberline Turquoise, white vinyl top, 283 V8, PS, power disc brakes, Twin Traction, transistorized ignition, air conditioning, tinted glass, AM radio, black brocade 50/50 front seat with recliners, whitewalls, full wheel covers. It was used by a Stude exec in South Bend until 1969, when it was gifted to the City of South Bend. It has under 20K miles and is in the Studebaker National Museum.

uplanderguy

RE.: The Carl E. Filer Co. signage I mentioned earlier--

I'm feeling like Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin, but I haven't totally given up on getting them sold for a $100 donation to the historical society in Greenville.

The fellow who runs the huge (1000 cars) car show in town every July said "I'd like to see them". Not exactly sure what that means, but I put him in touch with the current homeowner. The latter also told me on the phone recently, "I think we can get those out. My grandsons are coming up for Easter, and one is 6'7"!".

Not saying "STUDEBAKER" on the sign is a negative of course, and a couple letters need reglued I'm told. I'm not handy in the least. This all may become known in town and the historical society as "Pressler's Folly". I think I'll offer a photo of the letters up on the original building to the buyer.

But my Studebaker mania and respect and friendship for the Filers make me want to try it. The local newspaper told me they'd run an article, just to give them a couple weeks' notice. But I don't want the current owner to have to deal with looky-loos (which might or might not happen). Got to get the letters out of the barn first. I can store them in the historical society--temporarily. I'll keep you posted, LOL.

fintail

$100 is a deal for those, maybe good to stop them from rotting away in a barn and let someone take them who will give them a second life.

uplanderguy

I fear lack of interest, but on the other hand, I'll childishly admit that I'd enjoy a quick sale as some of the other folks at the historical society seem to dismiss the idea largely out of hand.

fintail

I think hipster decorator types like things such as those letters, like the American Pickers crowd mentioned before. Might be hard to find a buyer for $1000, but for $100 someone will take them.

uplanderguy

Saw this pic on FB today. I know which one I'd rather have, LOL--and it ain't the Mopar!

This is a pic when the '63 Lark was fairly new as it had Stude's narrow whitewalls which went right up to the wheel, a '63-only thing.

fintail

Such images always amuse me, as the VW is easily the most valuable thing there now. Stude would be second. Maybe a 55-56 Ford behind the Lark?

uplanderguy

I didn't even notice the VW! I was focused on the two in front. I did try to figure out the car behind the Lark.

That car has the squared vent windows, like Ford used in the mid-fifties. But Chevy used that too. The more I squint, I wonder if it's a '56 Chevy. The length of the door makes me think it's a two-door; I can see what looks like a large hood ornament, like those Chevys had; I think I detect the chromy taillight piece with the one red round bulb, and I think I see either "Chevrolet" or "Bel Air" in script on the quarter panel near the taillight.

Incidentally, a '56 Ford is my favorite Ford, inside and out. Second for me is the '61 Starliner, followed by the '57 and '58. For some reason, I don't like the '59 one bit, but I do like the '60 in Starliner body, and also Sunliner.

uplanderguy

One other observation on the Lark:

Years back, a guy in the Stude club nationally had had a friend who worked in the Order Dept. at South Bend, and he later opened his own Stude dealer in Wisconsin--in Sept. '63. Not great timing!

The guy reprinted parts of letters he'd gotten from his friend. He was excited revealing details of the new '63's as they came out--mostly praising the improved interiors (I agree), but said for some reason, compared to the '62's, he thought the '63's looked like "...they were four-wheel drives", LOL. That one is sitting high. I'd have probably always checked the boxes for HD springs and shocks, but the guy alluded that they all looked like that then.

One other thing....the guy had ordered a '62 Lark Daytona in black. His friend sent him a letter saying "Your order was received in South Bend and we have already begun to build your six-cylinder Lark Deluxe two-door sedan in white to your specifications"! LOL

The guy traded the '62 on a new '64 Cruiser in black,, bought at the friend's new dealership in WI, and has pics of it coming off the truck. Very cool.

fintail

I see the script you mention on the mystery hidden car, I agree it's almost certainly a Chevy. One of those years, 55 being like 65 when design leapt forward in an instance, and there were no really "bad" choices among the domestics, every maker had some gems.

Funny story about the ride height. Today the false pretense of 4WD is considered a positive!

uplanderguy

For sale about 20 miles from my hometown. What a unicorn. ‘64 Trailer Toter with adjustable wheelbase. Stude “96BBC” model, which stands for 96” from bumper to back of cab. Stude sawed off front sheet metal to get this, so longer trailers could be hauled within state laws.

The chromed engine parts, like on Avantis, makes me smile a bit.

Yeah, the styling is outdated, as it was introduced for the ‘49 model year, but I like the looks of Transtars anyway. I'm reminded of certain concurrent Macks, although Mack still used a two-piece windshield.

Amazing to me that Stude built big trucks through the end of U.S. production.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1166917158399778/?rdid=sKIXjbiMSENyLpl9&share_url=https://www.facebook.com/share/16GRSZPwpY/#

fintail

I wonder how many were being sold by that year

uplanderguy

Probably in the hundreds only. There were a bunch of different sizes and wheelbases, 1-ton, 1 1/2 ton, I think bigger too. I love Studebaker in the sixties, but I think you'd really have had to be a Stude buff to buy a big truck so late in the game.

uplanderguy

I like this angle:

uplanderguy

I love the history of stuff like this. I wonder if he has the build sheet. I'd be curious what dealer sold it, and who the first retail customer was. The museum has all that stuff.

imidazol97

How many hours would a short visit to the Studebaker museum take. Is it possibly a
one-day trip from here near Dayton, OH? Maps has it as a 3 hr 45 minute drive.

uplanderguy

I think a couple hours would cover it. It’s not huge, but as a Stude guy and member, I’m proud of it. Make sure you tour the basement. The archives building next door is not open for tours but research.

uplanderguy

Cute '62 Champ 1/2 ton on BringATrailer recently brought $9K. Six-cylinder, 3-speed.

imidazol97

About the larger Studebaker trucks, somewhere I have a picture of a Studebaker truck with a flatbed and on the flatbed is a Studebaker pickup truck. I believe it was owned by the gentleman from Zenia who owned lots of Studebakers.

It was a photo from the orphan show at Young's Dairy in Clark county. I'm looking for it.

sda

This from the 2017 Charlotte Auto Fair. The 2025 Auto Fair is this week, April 3-5, 2025.

uplanderguy

Cute pickup, thanks for posting.

At the time, from what I've read, the concealed cab step (inside the door) and lack of rolled edge at the top of the bed were considered modern things.

Michaell

This showed up in my FB feed:

uplanderguy

Thanks for posting, have never seen that one. The way the signage says "Garage Baril" implies it's some other country, doesn't it?

kyfdx

Baril is French, I think. So, Quebec, maybe?

Michaell

kyfdx said:

Baril is French, I think. So, Quebec, maybe?

Yes, there was a comment that the picture was from Canada.

ab348

White Rose was a Canadian brand of gasoline owned by the Canadian Oil Companies Ltd, which was sold to Shell Oil in 1963.

uplanderguy

Now that I think about it, years back a guy worked in the same building I worked, and his name was Alain Baril. He was Canadian.

uplanderguy

Recently posted on fb; no location noted, unfortunately.

'62 Lark Daytona. What a sweetheart! No doubt loaned for the parade by the local Stude dealer.

Was life itself more colorful then, or just the cars?

“Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then”

fintail

uplanderguy said:

Recently posted on fb; no location noted, unfortunately.

'62 Lark Daytona. What a sweetheart! No doubt loaned for the parade by the local Stude dealer.

Was life itself more colorful then, or just the cars?

“Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then”

Probably much outdoor scenery in general, maybe reflective of optimism which has been fading for some time and is probably going to get a lot worse before it gets better. 70s parking lot pics from Europe can be amusing where it seems almost every color in the rainbow is present. Today, you can have any color as long as it is black, grey, silver, or white (or maybe a random blue or burgundy thrown in - and one interior choice). There are jokes online like this:



There are some images from around 1977 of new MB 123s that show the difference too:

texases

I'm thinking that '1980' photo has been jazzed up, zoom into the right rear part of the photo (tap ctrl ctrl) and you'll see the colors bleed between the cars.