 BILL
JACKAMEIT'S
STUDEBAKER
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Welcome fans of the pride of South Bend.
I am a long-time Studebaker fan and Studebaker Driver's Club member, having owned a 57 Silver Hawk in high school and a 59 Lark Regal Hardtop in college.
Since then, I have owned other Studes as hobby cars including a 62 Champ Pickup, a 64 Canadian Commander Special, a 62 GT Hawk, a 60 Lark Regal 4-door, and my present 57 Silver Hawk (not the same one I owned in high school -- that one I wrecked).
If you have any suggestions or comments, please send me a message.
Both text and image contributions are welcome.
STUDE OF THE MONTH
November 1995
1953 Commander Starlight Coupe
The 1953 Studebaker Starliner Hardtop and Starlight Coupe were landmarks in automotive styling.
The major difference between the two is that the hardtop had roll down rear windows and no center post while the coupe had a center post and small push-out rear windows.
Compared to other American cars of the time, the "Loewy Coupe" was low, sleek, and clean.
This outstanding example is a Commander Starlight Coupe.
Commanders were powered by Studebaker's 232 cubic inch displacement overhead valve V8 rated at 120 horsepower.
The Champion looked much the same but made due with 85 horsepower from a 170 cubic inch flathead six.
Chrome was used sparingly, and even the nicely intergrated backup lights on this example were an option.
These pictures were taken at the Colonial Virginia Meet in Yorktown several years ago.
The 1926 Studebaker Brougham parked next to the Starlight Coupe in the picture below gives some idea of just how low the 1953 model was.
A "Brougham" was a closed body style similar to a sedan but often more luxuriously trimmed.
With a 1926 Studebaker Brougham
STUDES I HAVE OWNED
1962 Studebaker Champ Pickup
I bought this 1962 Champ Pickup from a tire dealer in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
It had lived a relatively easy life running errands around town and was in good mechanical condition.
It was a six cylinder with manual transmission and no overdrive, so it was not a great highway vehicle.
I kept it for several years and used it to haul firewood during the 1970's wood stove craze.
When I sold it, the new buyer drove it home to western Pennsylvania.
That is much further than I ever drove it the whole time I owned it.
INSIDE THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
1934 Studebaker President Sedan
This picture was taken during my August 1994 visit to the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend.
The President was the top of the line Studebaker from 1927 to 1942.
The 1934 President was powered by a straight eight cylinder engine which displaced 250 cubic inches and made 110 horsepower.
The less expensive Dictator model had similiar styling but was powered by a 205 cubic inch six cylinder engine rated at 88 horsepower.
This picture of a sharp 1934 Dictator was found on the web.
* * TEST YOUR STUDEBAKER KNOWLEDGE * *
TAKE THE STUDEBAKER QUIZ.
The Pagemaster can be contacted here.
Published November 1995
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