Elk's Lodge - Studebaker Meet-Up

We had a great turnout at the Elk's Lodge #6 in Sacramento, CA, today. Here are a few new pics:

A Quick Look Inside the Studebaker National Museum

A three-minute tour of the Studebaker National Museum. The quick clip made by another party shows a few of the cars at the SNM including a President, Commander, Dictator, and a Champion.

Automobile Magazine Feature on Bullet Nose Studebakers

Really nice write-up in Automobile Magazine about the '50 -'51 bullet nose Studebaker Champions, Commanders, and Landcruisers.

"Bob Bourke did the heavy lifting for Loewy on the redesign. With fighter-plane styling in the front and streamlined-railway-car "Vista Dome" treatment in the back, there've been few cars as stunning before or since. The design leadership was matched with comparatively up-to-the-minute engineering to make it more than worthy of contemporary consideration. Was there anything more modern on the road back then? Not really."

"Why buy? It's the most futuristic car of the past - a dream car that you can drive on a regular basis. Styling sets it apart, and straightforward mechanicals make it relatively easy to live with. Spare and reproduction parts abound, and the Studebaker community is very supportive. Nothing says "postwar" more emphatically; the Muppets drove one to box-office glory. You get to admit that it is, in fact, both going and coming and was, yes, ahead of its time, which seems to still have not arrived."

Read the full Automobile Magazine feature here.

Studebaker for the Postwar Generation

"Auto design in the immediate postwar era was strongly influenced by the streamlined shapes of fighter planes and bombers. Studebaker pointed the way with design cues like bullet-nose front ends (a shape meant to suggest aircraft engine housings), gun-sight hood ornaments and the wraparound rear windows of the 1947-52 Starlight coupe. The windows, along with other details, make the car’s front and rear ends look so similar that it was often called the “coming or going Studebaker.”

See the full article on the NY Times website.

Studebaker - Auctions - For Sale

Let it be known that a Studebaker remains an excellent investment. RM Auctions sold a 1929 Studebaker Commander Dual Cowl Phaeton for $93,500. Not bad for a Studebaker.

See a list of collectible Studebaker automobiles at RM Auctions.

Pictured: 1929 Studebaker Commander Seven-Passenger Touring and a 1951 Studebaker Land Cruiser Sedan

Dillinger Drove a Studebaker

"A black Studebaker Commander bearing Ohio license plates rolled to a stop on Jackson Street. With Dillinger were Harry Pierpont, 31, and Charles "Fat Charley" Makley, 44, Indiana State Prison escapees who had killed Sheriff Jess Sarber while freeing Dillinger from the Allen County, Ohio, jail in Lima 11 days earlier. The fourth gang member was prison parolee Harry Copeland, 37, who helped Dillinger rob two Indiana banks and one in Bluffton, Ohio, during the summer."

Read the full article here.

Studebaker Commander For Sale

This Studebaker Commander is for sale on eBay, and while I would never buy a car sight unseen, this vehicle looks amazing.

Studebaker Racing - 1951 Studebaker Commander

Bob Coolidge publishes a one-of-a-kind website about Studebaker racing. Here's an excerpt and image.

"Frank Gise from New Point, Indiana raced in two NASCAR events. He raced a 1951 Studebaker V8 Commander Starlight Coupe in the Southern 500 at Darlington, South Carolina on September 3, 1951. He started 9th but finished 65th out of 82 starters after the right front wheel broke on lap 215. On September 8, 1951 Frank raced the Central city Speedway in Macon, Georgia."

See the full Studebaker Racing website.

1955 Studebaker Commander - For Sale

Wow. Check out this beauty. A "1955 Studebaker fully restored. One year only model. Beautiful condition. Under 60,000 original miles. Call Mike for details. 805-260-2260. $13,000"

For more pictures of this 1955 Studebaker Commander.

Studebakers For Sale on Craig's List

Below are two Studebaker Champions and one Studebaker Commander for sale on Craig's List (California only) as of July 3, 2008; the ads were copied verbatim.

Make it an amazing Independence Day with an American-made Studebaker.

1950 Studebaker Champion Sedan
"This is a 1950 Bullet Nose Champion Sedan. They only made bullet nose Studebaker’s in 2 years – 1950 & 1951. It's original from the ground up with fairly new upholstery. Call: (707) 954-1459 or (707) 954-1460"

1951 Studebaker Starlight Coupe
"1951 Studebaker, Champion, Regal, Deluxe, Star Light, 5 Passenger Coupe, complete, original, running condition, Factory rated L Head Six, 26.5 MPG. standard 3 speed , gas saver over drive, unique A-1 factory air craft turret type rear windows, rare P-38 bullet nose model, minor surface rust, nice dash, instrument panel, factory P/B radio, bango crested,steering wheel, new carburetor, generator, battery, radiator, gas tank serviced, new fuel pump, H/D battery, 5 new premium radial w.s.w. tires, stainless steel wheel rings & factory caps, back up & front parking lights, factory under seat heater- climatetizer, H/D front coil springs, original steel out side visor, California pink title, original black non- opt plates, recent major tune up, needs brakes, paint & re-upholstery, many extras, factory memorabilia, color brochure, repair & owners manual.
California Gold Country 'Old School' History. Consider $ 5950 appreciating value, may take American, vintage, auto trade, can add cash. El Dorado California, 530-677-4125, E-mail: jcenter@sbcglobal.net. Information & pictures at web site: www.desertgold.com"

1950 Studebaker Commander Sedan
"1950 Studebaker Commander all original and complete. Straight body with a couple of dents. Original paint though rusty but no cancer. Motor runs good, straight six with a 3 spd trans with over drive. Car has all it's glass and suicide rear doors and straight bumpers. Clean title last licensed in 1986. Excellent car to restore or enjoy as is. If you love Studebakers you will want to look at this one, $4,500 OBO. Need to sell. For more info or to see, call 559-816-4000"

Studebaker Commander - New York Times - Collectible Cars Gallery

The New York Times Automobile section online has an amazing collection of reader-supplied photographs of classic cars including the Studebaker Commander.

From the Times: "Through their own words and photos, members share the story of their collectible cars; their intriguing history, the journey of the restoration process and the character that makes each of them one-of-a-kind."

See a convertible Studebaker Commander at NY Times.com.

Fozzie Bear - Muppet Movie - Studebaker Commander

"Two Studebakers, 1951 Commanders specifically, were used in the film. One unaltered vehicle was used for long-shots. The other car was specially outfitted to create the illusion that Fozzie was driving, with a monitor hidden in the car's bullet nose and the real driver in the trunk."

One of the two specially-painted 1951 Studebaker Commanders used in the film resides in the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana.

Fozzie's Studebaker on the Muppet Wiki.

Studebaker Commander - Car

My daughter and I had a great time perusing the classic car collection at the Towe Auto Museum in Sacramento, California.

One mandatory "hit" was the Studebaker Commander.

2200 Front Street
Sacramento, CA 95818-1106
Phone (916) 442-6802
Fax (916) 442-2646

Click here for more information about the Towe Auto Museum.

Studebaker Art - Champion

There's a mixed bag of Studebaker art online. Here are a few links to Studebaker art for your perusal:

My Studebaker Champion photograph (nose cone) on RedBubble.com.

Dreamstreet photograph at Art.com.

Studebaker art at DeviantArt.com

Studebaker Commander Landcruiser at AllPosters.com