Postwar Studebakers

uplanderguy

'60 ('59 nearly identical):

https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/STUDEBAKER-1959-LARK-ad-.jpg

'59 Ramblers--when I saw the one on the right, I thought, "It's the Frua Lark!":

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qIAAAOSw1-RUZmjx/s-l300.jpg

berri

Uh Oh - Uplander has his anti AMC claws out

uplanderguy

I'm overdue to goof on the "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10" speedometer numerals!

uplanderguy

I've always thought that this styling is the oddest AMC styling I can think of. DISCLAIMER: I like unusual and authentic/original, and this car is those things for sure. But it's out there!

1961 Ambassador:

https://assets.hemmings.com/story_image/42928-500-0@2x.jpg?rev=1

fintail

The slanted front end and the weird front wheel opening accent line doesn't help. 1961 was an oddball year in general for most makes, kind of a frozen point in metamorphosis between 50s silliness and 60s modernity.

uplanderguy

I agree with that last line. The only '61 Studebaker I think looks nice is the Lark hardtop, rarely seen today. And I really don't love it. I like the '61 Chevy hardtop coupe and the '61 Ford Starliner, and that's about it. Oh, and the Olds 88 hardtop coupe.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4143/4911795009_02b94b8e26_b.jpg

BTW, here's the other end of a '61 Ambassador:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/1961_AMC_Rambler_Ambassador_4-door_pink_rear.JPG

When I was a kid and watched "The Jetsons", the 'cars' reminded me of '61 GM 'bubbletops', LOL.

fintail

I like the 61 Impala too, the bubbletop is a nice looking car. Starliner is kind of a Ford bubbletop - but as some know, I am one of those weirdos who likes 60 Fords, and I would prefer my Starliner to be a 60. 61 Cadillacs also amuse me, with fins at top and bottom. The styling winner for 61 has to be the Continental. Stude was lucky in that it didn't attach the Lark to any specific trends, so it was able to remain with mild updates for some time.

That Ambassador also makes me think "fintail" due to its general shape and size. Of course, that comparison isn't new.

uplanderguy

Yes, the Lincoln is truly timeless. Brave to introduce it with no two-door models, and to make it smaller than a Cadillac. The desire to make it longer was apparently uncontrollable, and the '64 and '65's were that. For some reason, they returned to flat side glass on those cars. I don't like them as well as the '61-63 styling.

berri

1961 - I'll go with a big Pontiac

berri

I think the term I might use for that 61 Ambassador styling is "overwrought"

uplanderguy

I like the '61 Pontiacs, if they're on the shorter wheelbase (Catalina and Ventura). I can't get past the rear overhang on the Star Chief and Bonneville. I do like the triple taillights better, on the longer cars though. As was so often the case with '60's Pontiacs, they have beautiful interiors IMHO.

uplanderguy

With some late '50's and early '60's Ramblers, I always think "Eastern European". That's natural for an M-B, but unusual for a domestic, in my brain, anyway. Of course, I do think there is some smallish similarity between '63 Lark four-doors (including Cruiser) and M-B's. The '63 four-door Studebakers are my very favorite four-door Studebakers.

berri

If I had to pick a Studebaker favorite and excluding the popular Avanti and Hawk GT, I think I'd go for a mid 50's Conestoga wagon. But then, I like station wagons.

berri

As for big Pontiacs, I tend to prefer the Catalina over the Bonneville most years. I also like many of the Grand Prix, but I think they varied from which platform they were built in different years?

fintail

I think the ~63 Stude is more MB like than the Rambler, as it has a similar front design and similar greenhouse. Ramblers had similar fins and greenhouse shape, but the reverse C-pillar is a bit different. Both cars appear to be a similar size, what would be "intermediate" then I suppose.

Several European makes were really into that "Farina" look in the late 50s, and Rambler also had a history with Pininfarina.

uplanderguy

berri, the Grand Prix was built on the shorter Catalina wheelbase through 1968. In 1969 it moved to a stretched GM intermediate wheelbase, 118 inches IIRC; the extra over other GM intermediates ending up entirely in the hood. The '69 took off like crazy sales-wise, and it's still a great-looking car I think. But a '65 Grand Prix was always my favorite. I even like the '68 which usually gets the least respect of all '60's GP's, LOL.

Mr_Shiftright

They were pretty good performers though in their day. I mean, for an AMC car. GM was the only domestic maker of truly handsome cars in 1961 IMO. Fins died hard back then.

berri

I think that is probably true, but other than the big Pontiac and Chevy, I liked the 62 big Buick and Olds, and Cadillac styling better. I thought the big 62 Olds and Caddy were particularly cleanly styled. Just my personal preferences though.

The only non GM 61 that you might argue was handsome that I recall was the Continental.

uplanderguy

I like the '61 GM glassy rooflines.

uplanderguy

If I had to pick a Studebaker favorite and excluding the popular Avanti and Hawk GT, I think I'd go for a mid 50's Conestoga wagon. But then, I like station wagons.

I'd go for the 1964 two-door hardtop, of which I did own one that was above my pay grade for work needed. But I'd sure like another one. I think it looks formal, something not typically associated with '60's compacts. Only 2,414 made between South Bend and Hamilton, Ontario, so nice ones aren't for sale very often and they bring pretty good money. They are pretty highly-sought-after among Studebaker folks.

sda

uplanderguy said:

berri, the Grand Prix was built on the shorter Catalina wheelbase through 1968. In 1969 it moved to a stretched GM intermediate wheelbase, 118 inches IIRC; the extra over other GM intermediates ending up entirely in the hood. The '69 took off like crazy sales-wise, and it's still a great-looking car I think. But a '65 Grand Prix was always my favorite. I even like the '68 which usually gets the least respect of all '60's GP's, LOL.

I have a soft spot for the '67 GP convertible. With its hidden headlamps, wipers and slit full width tail lights I thought it was Batman cool to my 8 year old eyes, at least back then in '67.

uplanderguy

I can remember a couple of '67 Grand Prix convertibles in my small hometown when I was a kid. Both were red; one had off-white interior and the other, red. For a fairly-low production Pontiac, I'm surprised there were two in my town.

berri

Where I grew up you saw more Olds than Pontiac's, but unless there was a big promotion or sales contest going on, the Olds was often cheaper out the door than the comparable Pontiac despite a little higher sticker. Personally, I'm getting to appreciate that era Buick's these days.

uplanderguy

I wish this cheap Studebaker was closer for me to look at. I zero-in right away on originality/authenticity, and at least in the pics he's provided, it's dead-on.

No mention of rust. Somewhere in the '65 run they switched from tapered rear axles to flanged. Flanged is better.

The Canadian all-white wheel, which frankly I don't like, is visible here but it's correct so I'd leave it.

https://lincoln.craigslist.org/cto/6018267320.html

I remember a Consumer Guide book to old cars once said about this general-era Studebaker, "Size and character still appropriate" and I agree.

Of course, I appreciate the rarity (only 18K Studebakers of all models and bodystyles built) and that I'm old enough to remember them and the dealer in my hometown.

fintail

Looks like a decent deal. Road trip time!

Mr_Shiftright

uplanderguy said:

I wish this cheap Studebaker was closer for me to look at. I zero-in right away on originality/authenticity, and at least in the pics he's provided, it's dead-on.

No mention of rust. Somewhere in the '65 run they switched from tapered rear axles to flanged. Flanged is better.

The Canadian all-white wheel, which frankly I don't like, is visible here but it's correct so I'd leave it.

https://lincoln.craigslist.org/cto/6018267320.html

I remember a Consumer Guide book to old cars once said about this general-era Studebaker, "Size and character still appropriate" and I agree.

Of course, I appreciate the rarity (only 18K Studebakers of all models and bodystyles built) and that I'm old enough to remember them and the dealer in my hometown.

You could hire someone to go inspect it--probably cost you $300 bucks or so.

sda

I like the interior, quite conservative but not overly plain. Fit and finish looks good too. I've seen many cars of that era where simple things like glove box doors and ash trays are misaligned significantly and look awful.

sda

berri said:

I think that is probably true, but other than the big Pontiac and Chevy, I liked the 62 big Buick and Olds, and Cadillac styling better. I thought the big 62 Olds and Caddy were particularly cleanly styled. Just my personal preferences though.

The only non GM 61 that you might argue was handsome that I recall was the Continental.

I do like the '61 Olds Starfire, preferably convertible and like the '62 Starfire and 98. Was it '62 when Olds started to use the lumpy shifting slim Jim Hydramatic? Mom had that in her '63 88. Even as a young boy I remember how oddly that car sounded as it shifted compared to dad's '66 Galaxie.

uplanderguy

I like the later Stude instrument panels. Functional, all gauges, padding on the bottom of the panel too, red instrument lighting, slide-out vanity mirror in glove box. No funky gauge shapes or anything.

The rear seat has a fold-down center armrest and there are pockets/pouches across the back of the front seat and on the right front kick panel, near the floor.

Flying out there roundtrip is $700, prohibitive. Can rent a car for under $100 but nine hours each way. A friend knows a fellow who restored a top-notch Daytona convertible who lives about an hour from there, thinking he might be willing to go check it out for me. We'll see. Wife says go for it if I want and go look at it.

berri

I think the Starfire was a neat car for its time. I always thought whether it was a favorite or not, the 61 Olds was pretty uniquely styled which was kind of neat. I had a 63 Olds years back and like many, it dropped its tranny.

fintail

Instrument panels are something where Stude definitely wasn't influenced by MB, with the fintail's unique vertical speedometer.

I hope that Cruiser works out for you - I can tell you've wanted another old car for some time, and if that one is as good as it looks, it could be the one.

Funny that it costs $700 to fly there - I can get RT airfare to Europe for less than that out of Seattle right now. But I guess you'd be the only one on the plane

uplanderguy said:

I like the later Stude instrument panels. Functional, all gauges, padding on the bottom of the panel too, red instrument lighting, slide-out vanity mirror in glove box. No funky gauge shapes or anything.

The rear seat has a fold-down center armrest and there are pockets/pouches across the back of the front seat and on the right front kick panel, near the floor.

Flying out there roundtrip is $700, prohibitive. Can rent a car for under $100 but nine hours each way. A friend knows a fellow who restored a top-notch Daytona convertible who lives about an hour from there, thinking he might be willing to go check it out for me. We'll see. Wife says go for it if I want and go look at it.

berri

If you don't fly out of a major airport these days you are probably going to get hosed on airfare.

uplanderguy

I checked Cleveland and Akron to Omaha and Lincoln. Of course, I looked at flights for this coming week which probably didn't help.

I spoke to the seller and he said he's had a bunch of phone calls, and a guy from Omaha (75 miles away) is coming to look at it tomorrow. If it hasn't sold by then, I might drive out there Fr-Sun of this next week, I don't know.

berri

Omaha is actually a pretty neat town. maybe Mr. Buffet is ready for a new car (he keeps them awhile) and will sell you his Cadillac.

uplanderguy

I'd like to think I could get a good steak out there!

uplanderguy

Geez, just quoted $1,095 shipping to get it home if I buy it. I shouldn't be surprised I guess, but that adds 25% to the price of the car. Sheesh.

Mr_Shiftright

Is that closed or open shipping? Closed is a lot pricier. Why don't you tow it home?

fintail

Drive it home, make it an adventure. What could go wrong?

uplanderguy

Open trailer. I don't own a trailer myself; never drove a trailer; have two four-cylinder, FWD cars.

I haven't given up yet though! LOL

Mr_Shiftright

So rent a pickup truck ($19.95 a day) and a U-Haul dolly. Long drive, though, so you'll probably need a motel both ways, + gas. Still, you would save maybe half the trucker's bill.

berri

Shipping costs a fortune no matter what...car transport, movers, even the post office. When is the last time you sent a parcel post package for less than $8-10 ?

Mr_Shiftright

He's just being a Studebaker owner---this carries on a long tradition!

imidazol97

Get a friend to ride and help drive out. Then if purchased, rent a U-Haul and tow it back. Optimism is driving your pickup with trailer out to buy and offering a price lower than asking that the owner already had refused. That happened to a coworker of mine with an anniversary TransAm he was advertising. Guy showed up unannounced with the roll of cash--too low.

uplanderguy

Message from craigslist:

The Studebaker is sold. Thank you for your inquiry.

Well, nice to think of what it could've been for me.

Seller told me in the past two years it had had new tires, new battery, tune up, front brakes.

Onward and upward.

Only for sale three days.

berri

You Studebaker fans are hard core! Something else will turn up.

fintail

Aww that stinks. Must have been a good deal. Maybe the next one will be closer to you.

berri

What really stinks is now he can't get that Omaha steak ! Oftentimes stuff happens and then ends up better down the road. He'll find what he wants down the road. Studebaker club people are very loyal.

Besides, Chicago can be confusing driving through it. He might have gotten lost and ended up in Kenosha with something from AMC. Just kidding Uplander

uplanderguy

It's funny you say that, berri. When I was 23, three friends and I decided to visit a college gal friend who went to school at Clarion in PA but lived in Salt Lake City. We took my '81 Monte Carlo. Another guy was driving while we went through Chicago. He got pulled over for speeding. Cop said, "Where are you headed?" and we replied, "Utah". He said, "Well, you're headed for Wisconsin". Gave us directions and let us go. Foolish youth.

RE.: the car--I know there'll always be others, but it's not like Falcon or even Rambler Classic production numbers. I wanted more detailed pics to jump, never got them, and distance killed the deal for me apparently.

That interior appeared near-perfect original.

Oh well.

imidazol97

uplanderguy said:

I wanted more detailed pics to jump, never got them, and distance killed the deal for me apparently.

Too bad someone on forum or a Studebaker friend wasn't close enough to run over and take more pictures and evaluate for you to make a jump. That price wasn't much money.

uplanderguy

Yeah, a friend was going to ask his friend to do that--he lived about an hour away. The car sold before we could get to it. Seller told me they'd send pics but that never happened. I understand though.

The basically-Chevy six is a good thing for me, for getting work done on it. A Cruiser (nice interior) with six is unusual. They also used the 283 as their V8. The sixes bring less, of course.

Even with the six, it was a good bit under market and Stude folks realized that by how fast it sold.