Postwar Studebakers

sda

@uplanderguy said:
I think Stude, in the '62 and later years, was trying to differentiate by talking about exterior size vs. interior space (Suddenly it's '77 at GM! LOL), and maybe even trying to come across as a domestic, low-cost 'Benz imitator in a few small ways. Those few engineering things were decidedly non-Big Three at the time.

The only '60's Stude available with power windows was Avanti. Seems like the Gran Turismo Hawk should have been available with them, but they weren't.

In the pre-Lark years, power windows were available on sedans and Hawks, but only the front windows on Hawks. Not sure on the sedans and too lazy to check.

Having power windows only in the front was common in Europe. Renault comes to mind.

fintail

I think uplander called the 63 styling "Mercedes-Bends" - I like that. There's definitely an influence, I don't know if Stude could have or should have pushed it more, but the similarity isn't a bad thing for those who wanted a non-gargantuan car. On that note too, power windows were never available on fintail sedans. Same for power seats, and AC was dealer-installed only.

IIRC some lower line MBs could be had with power windows in the front only into the 80s.

imidazol97

I saw the front of this truck with Studebaker across the top of the grill. Obviously on their way to a July 4 car show, probably one that attracts hundreds during the day in Urbana. Accompanied by a Jeep type vehicle in desert sand color.

uplanderguy

Very cool; thanks for sharing!

Studebaker built military vehicles for the U.S. from the Civil War through Vietnam.

uplanderguy

Despite the oversized tires, nice Blue Mist '63 convertible parked outside the Studebaker National Museum yesterday:

I know, can never resist photographing the last car off the U.S. assembly line, under 24 miles. Twin Traction, R1 engine, 4-speed, disc brakes, split bench seats, in-dash tach:

"Sixties Compacts" category at the 'Concours at Copshaholm' show there yesterday. I don't love the 'Autumn Haze' color on the '61, but that car passed all my nitpicking-for-authenticity things:

'51 Land Cruiser V8 restored by my friends the Pipers at Westmoreland Restorations and displayed at Copshaholm yesterday:

uplanderguy

Restored Studebaker guard shack that was photographed for papers across the nation, showing workers walking out near it, the day the U.S. closure announcement was made. New historical markers since the last time I was there.

uplanderguy

I didn’t stick around for this, but the Stude Museum unveiled the Muppet Movie car yesterday, just back from an eighteen-month restoration:

uplanderguy

I liked how this owner displayed the car with front and rear door vent windows open. '64 Cruiser.

The plate says "Last Day", but he admitted it was built Dec. 19, 1963, not Dec. 20, and said "Dec. 19 was the last full day of production", which in technicality is so.

Interesting story. Older lady ordered this car Dec. 9, the day the closure announcement was released worldwide. She bought the car from the dealer in Bessemer, AL. Four years later, she had a minor fender-bender and decided she didn't want to drive anymore. She asked the selling dealer, who was now selling some other brand, if he'd buy it from her. He did, did the repair (which current owner said is not perfect), and for fun, displayed it in his showroom until 1991, when the owner before the current owner bought it.

uplanderguy

I wanted to take a pic of the old Studebaker Administration Building Fri. afternoon from the street, but it sits just beyond a railroad underpass and that area was full of homeless. Didn't want to risk it. Sigh.

uplanderguy

Once I approached the OH-IN line, both days, I got off and got on US20. A delightful drive through the country and some small towns.

Coming home, I got on US6 and in Bryan, OH stopped at a diner I'd been to before and wanted a piece of pie. I normally hate people who post food pics, but this was my chocolate pie there yesterday. Hit the spot!

Didn't get on the OH Turnpike until Fremont.

uplanderguy

Parked in a private residence a few doors up from the Studebaker National Museum:

I hate mirrors out on the fenders, and that the wheelcover cutouts are painted black, but I've seen other owners do that over the years, too.

explorerx4

@uplanderguy,
You'll see something that might interest you about a minute into the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZRo8fxuY3U

texases

Bud Wilkenson must have gone to the John Davis School of Car Show Announcing. Sounded very similar.

ab348

That clip tells me how much of an old grump I’ve become because all of what the narrator calls “hot rods” are what made me lose interest in the hobby a while back. All the aftermarket junk, all the bad taste in the universe on display, and all the bad ideas people get grew to be a major turn-off. The ‘49 Ford woody wagon they showed is something I can really admire because it looked restored to original and was as it should be.

uplanderguy

Nice Studebaker Marshal. There’s one in the Stude museum, same year and white. They have a front bench seat, but the driver’s portion is bolstered like a bucket seat. Odd and cool.

imidazol97

That car at the very end of the video made me think of @roadburner. That is a BMW???

fintail

A friend spotted these at a Seattle area show, the Conestoga is apparently a very original (including paint) car:

uplanderguy

Boy, I love both of those cars. Thanks for sharing!

imidazol97

X2

uplanderguy

This is a 253-mile car, third from last built, on Bring A Trailer now. The car was bought with 100 miles less than a year ago. It's a plain-jane '66 Commander six four-door with stick, in the unusual 'Spring' color of "Plum Metallic".

Being sold by the guy who bought my '66 Cruiser in 2023.

Not a real desirable model, even among Stude folks, but the color, condition, mileage, and provenance make me wonder what it will go for. It's up to $10K pretty early in the sale process.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1966-studebaker-commander-2/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_2648439&fbclid=IwY2xjawLlqY9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlUWhrd0V4NGpHOHprenJQAR6ZLzX0ezG1qBqT7z3PHMihpd11aonqDwSGprTwYeMsrXMi4YL08q3nisYIsQ_aem_u9PUK5Z6oC3VTofhxboo4Q

imidazol97

Interesting.

bhill2

It may not be a desirable model, but I have never seen one in that color and I like it a lot!

uplanderguy

The '64-66 Studes remind me a bit of '78 Malibus, in that I don't think there's an inch of wasted space in the styling. From the rear, It's almost as if the cabin is as wide as the entire car...not unlike Avalons of maybe twenty years ago. But there's something about this Plum Commander that reminds me of a K-Car!

uplanderguy

45-second clip of Frances Bavier's final scene in "Mayberry RFD" in 1970, getting out of her very own '66 Studebaker Daytona Sports Sedan.

I watched the show when I was a kid, but Ken Berry was no Andy Griffith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFca2hrW41s

uplanderguy

‘63 promo photo I’d never seen before yesterday

uplanderguy

Someone on FB posted this pic of their Laguna Blue ‘64 Gran Turismo Hawk yesterday.

The most desirable model year Hawk IMHO.

uplanderguy

From a recent FB post on a Mid-Century Modern group site of Palm Springs Style Architecture.

The Avanti was designed in a rented house in Palm Springs.

uplanderguy

The 253-mile '66 Stude sold for $18,250.

fintail

I'm on my road trip right now, my mom dragged me into a couple antique/thrift mall type places. In one there was a pile of old owners manuals, and I saw one for a 62 Lark. They wanted $2 or $3 for it - seems ok, but what would I do with it?

uplanderguy

I’m in lust. Black is unusual on an Avanti and this car is original everything at 16,258 miles. In Vermont for $84k. Very rich but I can’t recall when I’ve seen such a low-mileage original Avanti, especially in black. Sold new at McCarthy Hardware Co. (lol) in Mankato, Kansas. .

uplanderguy

fintail

I wonder what is the lowest mileage 63 in existence.

uplanderguy

Good question. I remember a turquoise '63 maybe a decade ago with 10K miles. I normally really like the turquoise, but this black with red is just really grabbing me.

ab348

I really like the interior on that one. Too bad it’s painted black though.

thebean

True dat. The wifely unit had a ‘96 C280 Benz and it was horribly difficult to keep looking decent. Plus, she got black leather interior and in Texas in the summer it was very nearly a torture chamber.

uplanderguy

I’m sure black is the Avanti’s rarest color. I love it. It got discontinued somewhere in the ‘63 model year and was replaced with gray. Black returned for the ‘64 model year as a $35 option. Supposedly the fiberglass body required extra prep in black.

fintail

I've seen images of turquoise Avantis with matching interior (or a white interior I think) - that'd be the color I want, I think.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

I’m sure black is the Avanti’s rarest color. I love it.

uplanderguy

Ah, there's no accounting for taste!

imidazol97

Random Studebaker sighting.
Should zoom great.

uplanderguy

‘49-‘53. Looks good, thanks for posting!

uplanderguy

Well, that the Stude Museum has production orders (build sheets) hopefully will be the most useful it can be for me.

My late sister had a '49 Champion convertible which is in off-site storage, and that person wants it gone. My sister's kids can't locate a key for the car.

The museum sent me the ignition and trunk key nos. from the production order and I found a place in FL that can make keys from them.

We'll see if they work.

uplanderguy

A few Studes seen at our club’s Summit Racing meet today.

bhill2

I can't help myself. GT Hawks make my knees weak.

imidazol97

Time to post my orphan show photos from near strange Yellow Springs, OH, at Young's Jersey Dairy Farm.




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imidazol97

High pixel picture--zooms really well.

imidazol97

Note the unfinished chassis that was in process when Mr. Berry passed on a year ago.
I forgot to ask the gentleman next to me what model the chassis was for. And I thought I had a better picture of the chassis from the other side of the flatbed truck. Can't find it.

imidazol97

At risk of being banned, I include the line of Packards facing the Studebaker line.

imidazol97

uplanderguy said:

A few Studes seen at our club’s Summit Racing meet today.

These are so neat. And it perfect early 50s colors. Lots of Chevies in these two colors.

uplanderguy

Thanks for posting those pics!

bhill2, I, too, love the Gran Turismo Hawks. Such was the basic beauty of the '53, that it was still handsome in the '64 model year after some revisions. It was recognized by the Milestone Car Society pretty early (the Gran Turismo, I mean).

Those wheel covers on the black '63 in the pics above, were a factory option. I like them and they are rarely seen. I can't think what the marketing dept. called them though.