Article Excerpt: Studebaker’s New V-8: Triumph and Tragedy

Just a few excerpts from an ambitious tome by Murray D. Stahl. Have a look at the full article (link below).

"From Studebaker’s New V-8: Triumph and Tragedy - An Independent Automobile Company’s Quest to Survive a Change in Its Reality." By Murray D. Stahl

"As the new V8 was introduced, Studebaker management were congratulating themselves on 1950 sales of 334,554 vehicles. It was a high water mark. Soon the company would be hanging on by their proverbial fingernails selling 82,000 cars, 113,920 vehicles in '54; a 66% drop in three years despite a “state of the art” engine and redesigned automobiles."

"The new engine offered more power and the additional benefit of greater economy as well. In the Mobilgas Economy Run of 1951 a V-8-powered Commander with overdrive managed a 28-mpg average from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon via Death Valley. That beat the 1950 L-head Six Commander's mileage by more than four miles per gallon. As you look at the EPA figures for our modern full size cars take note of how few can match this fuel economy 50 plus years later."

View the full article on StudebakerSpeedster.blogspot.com.

How Studebaker Came Not to Be

Hemmings has a scan of a fascinating article about the rise and demise of Studebaker. It's a sad tale for us Studebaker fans, but definitely worth a read.

Read the article about Studebaker Corporation on Hemmings.com now.

Studebaker Building Demolished

Another piece of Studebaker history will be lost as one of the remaining Studebaker buildings is demolished.

"The building that once housed the engine plant of the Studebaker Corp. in South Bend will start to come down in the next few months. The building is the most visible remnant of the Studebaker complex and was built in 1917. Studebaker went out of business in 1965, and that's when South Bend Lathe moved into the structure."

Read the news article about the Studebaker building demolition.

See pictures of the Studebaker complex.