Postwar Studebakers

uplanderguy

Actually, Stude used GM Diesels. Where they got one-upsmanship IMHO, was that they offered a Diesel in a one-ton size when nobody else did.

uplanderguy

From Facebook this a.m.:


National Association of Automobile Museums
Like This Page · 8 hrs · Edited ·

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the National Association of Automobile Museums. Hosting this years conference is the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. Members from museums all over the country have joined us at this years conference to celebrate our milestone!

berri

I got my latest Hemmings Classic Car today and there was an article on the 61 Champ. Ironic

uplanderguy

Yeah, not a fan of that particular one. I don't mind the wide, long bed, and in fact I prefer that to the old-style bed on Champs, but I do't like the short, wide bed that one had. Also, a good number of non-authentic stuff on that truck and I'm a snob about that, LOL.

ab348

I thought this '59 Lark ad was interesting, especially after reading a Curbside Classics piece alleging that the design was provided to Studebaker by a Chrysler stylist having access to the renderings for the 1960 Valiant.

uplanderguy

I saw Virgil Exner, Jr., who had worked for Studebaker, speak at the Studebaker National Museum probably 15 or so years ago and he did address that he saw the Valiant's grille, from his father, before the car was introduced and mentioned the similarity with the Lark's, which of course came out a year earlier. I have seen pics of clay models of the Lark pre-introduction that had the grille shape, and I'd heard too (logically it seems to me), that they also were apeing the Hawk front grille and were attempting to tie the Lark into the Hawk. Probably truth in both.

Thanks for that ad--I had never seen it before.

berri

One might say both of those grills may have had some influence from the 57 Chrysler 300.

uplanderguy

Yes. The upside-down trapezoidal grille was first seen on a Studebaker on the '56 Hawks.

berri

My dad always liked those earlier Hawks, but he felt the car was too small for the family. I think more than a few thought the same thing on the 53(?) Loewy redesign cars in general. After all, Detroit was up scaling I guess.

uplanderguy

They were longer than a lot of cars at 120.5 inches wheelbase (coupes and hardtops), but were lower and narrower.

uplanderguy

I think it's a travesty to molest an original car like this, but it brought $104,500 at Sotheby's yesteday, well-above the auction estimate of $45-65K:

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/fl19/fort-lauderdale/lots/r0286-1963-studebaker-avanti-r2-supercharged/751897

berri

Was that the "Florida" option package

bhill2

For some reason, I am really impressed by the integration of the AC. It is very unobtrusive.

uplanderguy

The factory A/C looked like this integration inside. Underhood, the factory didn't offer A/C with the supercharger but this owner got it figured out.

uplanderguy

Most everyone has probably heard by now, but South Bend's 'boy mayor', Mayor Pete, has his sights on the presidency. I've heard folks out there say he's done a good job. I post this link only because it's not often one sees Studebaker mentioned in a 2019 article about the presidency, LOL. I have heard him mention the name "Studebaker" in speeches before and a week or two ago on one of the Sunday morning shows he spoke in brief that his city "had lost an automobile manufacturer". Today's blog writers are too young to know, but the city not only lost "an automobile plant", but South Bend was the Corporate headquarters of course.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/4/3/18282638/pete-buttigieg-mayor-pete-pronounce-explained

uplanderguy

I would love to own these on eBay now but pretty sure I'd be in trouble spending money on something like this right before daughter one's wedding and daughter two's graduation from college, LOL:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Studebaker-Avanti-glass-tumbler-promo-item-for-dealers-in-1962-1963/312559125803?hash=item48c5f9c52b:g:Km8AAOSwUPlcpXCL&frcectupt=true

ab348

That style of glass must have been promoted to car manufacturers back then. 20+ years ago I got a set of the same type but with "Oldsmobile" lettering on them. From the photo they were the exact same glass design. I had 6 of them displayed because they were too small for most practical uses. Then one night a cat made an ill-advised leap on to the furniture piece they were on and wiped them out. I have one that isn't broken, maybe 2. No idea if that asking price is market. I think I paid half that for my set.

fintail

I have a set of Ford promotional drinking glasses I found at a yard sale years ago. They are like this googled image:



Unsure of the age or value (probably not a fortune), but with that logo I'd guess they are from the mid 50s.

uplanderguy

I would say that Ford glass is mid-fifties to late-fifties from the logo. Nice find.

ab348, you're lucky to have those glasses!

My guess is that the Avanti glasses were made in lower numbers than most others, but for someone to have bid $40 for one glass, yeesh.

thebean

uplanderguy said:

I would love to own these on eBay now but pretty sure I'd be in trouble spending money on something like this right before daughter one's wedding and daughter two's graduation from college, LOL:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Studebaker-Avanti-glass-tumbler-promo-item-for-dealers-in-1962-1963/312559125803?hash=item48c5f9c52b:g:Km8AAOSwUPlcpXCL&frcectupt=true

These are very cool, but 40 clams plus 6 for shipping, for one glass, is pretty pricey. But, I’ve never seen a hearse pulling along a safe behind it. So, if you really want it, get it. He has a 1956 glass for $18 that looks good, but you may already have one of those.

sda

I just attended the Charlotte Auto fair at the speedway and took a couple of pics of cars I think will be of interest. The quality is not good as there were too many people to work around.

uplanderguy

Thanks for posting. I hate those four-door Avantis, which were built about 40 miles from where I grew up, but love Gran Turismo Hawks. A couple authenticity items visible on the Hawk, but I see it's an R1, which is the non-supercharged engine used in the Avanti (240 hp, 10.5 to 1 compression, chromed air cleaner, valve covers, dipstick handle, and valley plate). In Studebaker circles that's a pretty desirable car. I'm not a fan of the deck-mounted antenna, which I've only seen in factory photos of Gran Turismos for '62 but people put them on later ones. Those Hawks have great instrument panels IMHO; a concave panel in front of the driver just full of gauges.

I like the '64 model better, with, among other things, the re-tooled smooth decklid without the overlay. If you take that overlay off the above car, it's the grooved decklid used back to '56.

Being an R1 it is most-likely a 4-speed or Powershift automatic (PRND21), although not necessarily. It probably has disc brakes too.

uplanderguy

Loving this '64, although not an R-powered car.

fintail

Those houses look kind of PNW-style, car local to me?

uplanderguy

There isn't a story where I got this photo, but looking elsewhere on the 'net, it does appear to be the R2-powered car bought by Allen Anderson of Ontario, Canada from Tacoma, WA--good eye! Allen apparently added the R2 badges where they belong. Here's footage from a Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag event with the car in it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWyaZ4cFNzk

uplanderguy

sda, the owner of that four-door Avanti posted this on the Avanti Owners' Association Facebook page:

Another milestone day for # 68,
1990 4 Door LTS, attended the AACA National car show hosted by the Hornest Nest Regional chapter. The event was held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in conjunction with the Auto Fair, a car enthusiasts dream. After much anticipation #68 received it's Second Generation Classic Vehicle badge and then the icing on top of the cake was receiving its First Place Junior Award. What a day!!!!

fintail

Nice drag showing by that GT , too.

fintail

For you, uplanderguy

uplanderguy

Thanks for sharing! That continental kit is abysmal, and it was never offered by the factory despite a comment I thought I saw there. I also dislike the wide whites which are not authentic for a '63 and the wheels should be off-white behind the full wheelcovers. Still, I do like a GT in black.

That zip code indicates western PA, so I wonder precisely where it is. Maybe if I look again I can see that.

Boy, he zips down that narrow country road faster than I would even in a late-model car!

uplanderguy

Here's what a '63 Hawk is, to my eyes--I always liked '63 'Blue Mist':

http://www.gentrylane.com/s/domestic-inventory/sold-domestic/1963-studebaker-hawk-gt

The ad shows production figures for the '64. '63 model year production of Hawks was 4,634. I don't know why people get stuff like this wrong, so often. It's in a number of sources.

fintail

Yeah I posted it just for that continental kit, what some people are thinking, I'll never understand.

Great color on that 63, and no continental kit!

ab348

That blue Hawk is gorgeous. You could not reasonably get the black one to that level unless you were willing to spend a ridiculous sum.

berri

That Hawk blue looms a bit like Fin's Fintail color

berri

Saw an episode of Chasing Classic Cars where Wayne acquires a practically pristine 54 Starliner coupe with 7K on the odometer. Nice car. I like that show because of the camera work. Took me back to being a kid!

uplanderguy

Someone IM'd me to turn that show on a week or two ago. That Stude was stunning.

sda

There was a horrible gas explosion yesterday in Durham, NC that injured 25 and one fatality. The building where the explosion happened was originally a Studebaker dealership in the 1920s. Next door was the prized Ingraham Porsche collection, which was heavily damaged. Google news, several articles and pics. Tragically sad.

uplanderguy

I saw before-and-after pics of the building today. The death and injuries were awful. The building was a beautiful building too. Sad in every respect.

uplanderguy

Just saw this factory photo of a '64 Gran Turismo Hawk on Facebook. Shows the new smooth decklid which I think cleaned up the look from the rear quite a bit. This example also has the new-for-'64 vinyl 'Sports Roof'.

berri

I like the color on it. I think it is quite complimentary to the Hawk's styling and looks.

uplanderguy

From my hometown's '63 phone book. Somebody posted a pic of the book on the town's Facebook memories page, and I asked him to look for the Stude dealer's ad. Believe it or not, I believe I remembered they had an ad like this in the phone book from when I was a kid.

fintail

Ooh modern, 7 digit dialing with all numbers.

uplanderguy

Previously was "JU8" for '588'. I faintly remember that..."Juniper 8".

uplanderguy

Our Ohio Region Studebaker Drivers' Club had a potluck dinner meet yesterday about an hour south of me. I went via Chevrolet Cruze but had a nice time. Despite thunderstorms predicted and even a tornado watch later in the day, these two Studebakers appeared:


1960 Lark VIII Regal convertible and 1961 Hawk (just plain 'Hawk' in '61).

uplanderguy

Two years ago, my 'new' '66 Studebaker Cruiser arrived. It'll probably be my last, but it's an original-paint, unrestored car with 25.7K miles when it arrived and I believe it. The last new Studebaker sold by the Stude dealer in Grand Junction, CO. This pic came up on my Facebook feed today.

sda

That's great. What have you done to it since you bought it? Hopefully enjoyed it at the very least!

uplanderguy

New exhaust (which I think is leaking), and rebuilt carb. However, my friend, in taking the carb off, broke off one of the mounting studs (supposedly not uncommon with a 283). New used intake manifold, first gasket leaked, found a local shop that re-did it (so far, so good). Dumb me tried to replace a burned-out back up light from inside the trunk, when the lens unscrews from the outside for bulb access (too many years of Chevys I guess). Well, now even with a new bulb, one side doesn't work--a wire broke. I can live with that, LOL. My first thing to get done is to get one of the metal buttons on the driver's seat bottom to pull back down tight so it doesn't snag my pants leg every time I get in or out. I'm thinking a local upholstery shop could do that easily.

berri

Now wouldn't a nice 63 Rambler look nice next to it

uplanderguy

A '63 is probably my favorite year Rambler, but you know me. No V8's until mid-year unless an Ambassador, and that goofy 0-12 speedometer would crack me up every time I drove it.

I am under no illusions as to the sexiness of this Studebaker. It's an old man's car. Hey, I'm an old man! LOL But I really like original and unrestored, or correctly restored, cars. This one has patina, trust me, but I kind-of like that old adage, "They're only original once".

berri

It's a good looking car really

fintail

I like your car too. Great colors, good preservation, clean styling. I don't think the image is too staid, but then again, the fintail doesn't exactly scream "young sports car" either (I've had people ask if I inherited it from grandpa), and my DDs tend to be older people cars as well.