2010 California Automobile Museum Car Cruise

Just awesome.

"Doc" was back on the road thanks to Jim and the crew at Porter Sprague. With my daughter beside me we cruised the streets of Sacramento and proudly displayed our 1950 Studebaker Champion in Midtown at 23rd and K Streets. I've got a patient wife and some great kids to thank.

Also, it was great to reconnect with the crew from the Karel Staple Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Cub - a kind group of folks with some beautiful cars.

California Automobile Museum Car Cruise

Some more pics for your review.

1950 Studebaker Champion Drawing

Nice article and great drawing by Joe Sherlock.

"Demand for the bullet-nose '50s proved so strong that Studebaker added a third shift at its large South Bend factory and ran its Southern California and Hamilton, Ontario, assembly plants at capacity. A 14-month long model year produced 343,164 cars - the most for any vehicle in Studebaker's long history. By the end of 1950, company employment was up to 25,000 - a peacetime record."

Click here to visit Joe's website.

Deja Vu All Over Again

Another week, another fuel pump or line issue.

"Doc" must have sediment in the tank or line, because getting fuel to the engine has become a temperamental exercise for the Studebaker.

Last night, we bonked a few blocks from home and had to push it home. This was a repeat of the first fuel pump issue, only a longer a trek.

My hypotheses are:

- Burnt out fuel pump #4
- Sediment or dirty cotton in the tank
- Blocked fuel line
- Wonky carburator

So, it's back to the shop, which means that I'll miss the California Automobile Museum Car Cruise and some beautiful weekend driving.

Until next drive.

Studebaker 1965 Commander Ambulette

Here's a one-of-a-kind ...

"The photo shows a restored 1965 Studebaker Ambulette at the St. Joseph County jail, apparently a beloved local rescue vehicle. Before today's fancy paramedic vans, the Ambulette was called a 'grab and go:'"

Read the full article here.

Image by: By Barbara Allison/South Bend Tribune via AP

Chevrolet Bel Air - Down on the Street

I arrived home after attending the California State Fair to find a Chevrolet Bel Air hot rod outside our home. The exterior is amazing and the interior is nicely arranged and professionally assembled. Photographs below.

California State Fair - Studebaker

The Karel Staple Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club exhibited its collection of amazing cars at the California State Fair last weekend, but there is another Studebaker that is part of the California Automobile Museum's permanent exhibition - the Studebaker Avanti. This is the same car that beat the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Picture below.

Packard Plant Alive With Interest, But Not For Its Auto History

"Of all the derelict buildings filling the city of Detroit, one of the most famous is the former Packard automobile plant. As much as the city of Detroit would like to do something about the the 3,500,000-square-foot facility, nobody seems quite sure who owns the dilapidated building... nor is there any consensus on who should foot the bill for the massive clean-up project. Recently, though, the old Packard plant became just a little bit more valuable, leading to a skirmish between an assortment of interested parties.

British-born and highly-secretive street artist Banksy recently descended on the decrepit Packard plant, leaving his mark behind in the form of an image of a young boy holding a can of red paint. Beside the boy are the words "I remember when all this was trees." It seems that Banksy's handiwork has a rather high value attached to it. In fact, Angelina Jolie is said to have paid half a million dollars for a few pieces of the UK artist's previous paintings, and this latest piece is said to be valued at over $100,000. But in this instance, there are questions as to who, if anyone, owns Banksy's work."

Read the full article here.

The Studebaker and the Cow

"Parker's brother, who worked at Madison Street Auto Body at the time, took ownership of the badly damaged Studebaker four-door sedan after it was rear-ended and the owners decided not to even bother with repairs.

Parker was intrigued by the car but, as a 14-year-old, didn't have a lot of assets to his name. So he milked his only cash cow - literally.

In exchange for the car, Parker offered to give his brother, a farmer, the cow he had been raising for 4-H and FFA."

Read the full story here.

New Fuel Pump - Studebaker

I've had better mornings. Hopefully Doc will be back on the road with a new fuel pump shortly.

Propane-Burning, Supercharged Studebaker Lark

"You say your daily driver needs classic early-60s looks, clean-burning alternative fuel... and enough supercharged horsepower to rip out your spine? You want instant Project Car Hell Poster Child status? We've found your next car!"

Read the full Jalopnik article here.