Avanti to Enertia - 100mpg

An interesting redux of the Avanti ...

From http://www.enertiamotors.com:

After 20+ years of dealing with fuel-free heating and cooling and household electricity, we turn our attention to transportation - the last remaining piece of the environmental and self-sufficiency puzzle.

Enertia cars are diesel hybrid electric. They are plug-in hybrids with a biodiesel generator on board to extend the range. Combined with the Enertia Home photovoltaic smart garage, it may be possible to achieve the bulk of your transportation needs with no fuel at all.

The Enertia™ car is being built with several goals in mind:

- It has to travel at up to at least 100 mph.
- It has to travel 100 miles on one gallon of fuel.
- It has to be reproducible and marketable (people have to WANT it).

See the full Enertia Motors car project website.

Studebaker - Birth Certificate - Factory Order

Today, I received my Studebaker's birth certificate from the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. The details:

Factory Order # X21378
Date Written: 02-22-50
Model and Body Type: 9G W3
Paint Number and Color: P 2285 Maui Blue
Trim Number: 7484 Mohair
Accessory Group V.B.
Transmission: OD
Yes to the Hill Holder
Yes to the Wet Air Cleaner (oil bath)
Other special features: Wiper Booster
Date Shipped: 02-27-50

The Champion is no longer Maui Blue, but rather Concord Blue.

I'll take some time to compare the original engine, body and key numbers with what's currently on the car.

Post-War Car By Far - Studebaker

The Canadian National Post has a very brief op-ed about the history of Studebaker - noting that Studebaker entered the automobile business with an electric car in 1902.

"Styling remained unchanged except for trim and grille treatments until 1950 when the "bullet nose" models arrived. By this time, the rest of the industry had caught up, and Studebaker no longer held the styling advantage.

In spite of some excellent designs such as the Hawk series and the futuristic Avanti, Studebaker suffered the plight of other independent automakers and disappeared from the scene in 1966. It built its last cars in its Canadian plant in Hamilton, Ont.

But for those few years following the Second World War, the audacious little company from South Bend had led the industry in styling."

Read the National Post Op-Ed about Studebaker here.

Studebaker Champ Truck Paper Model

This is the first I've seen of a paper model of a Studebaker Champ truck. Download the Studebaker Champ Truck paper model for free here.

Studebaker Southwest Zone Meet Photographs

The Studebaker Southwest Zone Meet took place in Sacramento, CA this past weekend. Here are a few photographs from the car display.

Studebaker Silverhawk

"In a ten minute time span, the thieves broke into builder Chris Milano's warehouse, where the car was being stored, and while in the process of stealing it, bumped a BMW and scratched up a Porsche Boxster and a Studebaker Silverhawk."

See the news video of this event.

SASCO to Move - Studebaker Parts

South Bend, Indiana understandably wants to create new industry and tax streams. That said, one must not forget its past ... and in this case, its soul.

"SASCO is a parts business for Studebaker automobiles, which took over for Newman & Altman Inc. several years ago. Its inventory includes parts such as fenders, hoods, chrome bumpers and engines. It is considered the last remaining supplier of Studebaker parts for cars made by the automaker, which closed in 1963."

Read the full article.

1941 Studebaker Commander

I've recently met people that are in-process with five or 10 year restoration projects. Here's a fun on to watch:

"I bought this car off Ebay back in 2005 for about $430. Spent another $600 to get it home from Vermont. 6 hour drive up there, about 14 hours back because we hit a snow storm! Once I got it home I parked it in the garage as seen in these pics, and that is where it has been sitting for the past few years.

It is a 1941 Studebaker Commander 4 door. It has been subframed with a 1969 Chevy Nova front end. With the Nova front end, it has a Chevy Straight 6 engine with 4 speed on the floor, as well as self adjusting front drums."

See Phil's 1941 Studebaker Commander website.