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Postwar Studebakers

2059 messages,  Last post on May 18, 2013 at 6:23 PM

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Messages Page 188 of 206

#1870 of 2059 Studebaker color, silent Bonneville video by uplanderguy

Feb 22, 2013 (6:41 pm)

I'm loving this, as I'd not seen this film before....obviously a promotional piece for Ashland Oil and Valvoline ("Studebaker Record Test Runs, Powered by Ashland Gasoline and Protected by Valvoline"). Not-very-subtle product placement at around 1:20, 2:02, and 2:14 (although I love the Studebaker Champ with whitewalls and "Hot Rod" magazine on the door at 2:14).
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAYrKW1vxjc
 
That Avanti in the video, number 9, was on prominent display at the Studebaker National Museum during the International Meet last summer, still wearing its Halibrand mag wheels and looking remarkably unchanged from this video.

#1871 of 2059 Borg Warner AT used by Studebaker? by texases

Mar 14, 2013 (1:05 pm)

What's the relationship between Studebaker and the BW automatic? Another board has a question, one poster indicating that Studebaker pretty much came up with their own AT after some discussions with BW. I though it was a BW transmission.

#1872 of 2059 Re: Borg Warner AT used by Studebaker? [texases] by uplanderguy

Mar 14, 2013 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: texases (Mar 14, 2013 1:05 pm)
Although I'm mostly interested in '60's Studebakers, my understanding is that Studebaker, in conjunction with B-W, developed their "Automatic Drive" in 1950, that had a lock-up torque converter like Packard's Ultramatic of the year before. I have read in more than one place that Ford wished to buy the Studebaker "Automatic Drive" but that Studebaker wouldn't sell--a dumb idea! By '56, when Studebaker's fortunes were failing, they began to buy B-W automatics (called "Flightomatic" by Studebaker) 'off the shelf', so to speak.
 
When the Avanti was introduced, supposedly Studebaker worked in conjunction with B-W to come up with a 3-speed automatic that could be shifted manually through three forward speeds (quadrant PRND21). Supposedly that was an Avanti exclusive at the time of introduction--summer '62. Later, in the '63 model year, that trans was offered in Larks and Hawks too.
 
Hope this helps a little.

#1873 of 2059 Re: Borg Warner AT used by Studebaker? [uplanderguy] by texases

Mar 14, 2013 (2:21 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Mar 14, 2013 2:10 pm)
Yep, helps a lot. Thanks!

#1874 of 2059 Re: Borg Warner AT used by Studebaker? [texases] by uplanderguy

Mar 14, 2013 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: texases (Mar 14, 2013 2:21 pm)
Here's some info from wikipedia that's basically the same as I said:
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Drive

#1878 of 2059 Re: Borg Warner AT used by Studebaker? [uplanderguy] by jljac

Mar 14, 2013 (2:55 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Mar 14, 2013 2:10 pm)
I agree with everything Uplanderguy said about the Studebaker Automatic drive that it developed with Borg Warner. My 1955 Commander has one of those and I wrote an earlier post about all the reasons I like it. Three speeds, starts in first gear, excellent gas mileage, air cooled etc.
 
It was too expensive for Studebaker after their sales decreased, so they switched to the Ford automatic in 1956, but then the very same transmission that Studebaker developed with Borg Warner showed up in Mercedes Benz cars until approximately 1962. It was used in Jaguars too.

#1879 of 2059 Last Studebaker built today, on 3/17/66 by uplanderguy

Mar 17, 2013 (4:03 am)

A Cruiser, here it is:
 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1966_Studebaker_Cruiser.jpg
 
Options include white vinyl top, disc brakes, factory air, transistorized ignition, and 50/50 split front seats. It has a beautiful black brocade cloth interior with rear-seat center armrest.
 
Immediately given to a Stude exec in South Bend to drive (although was built in Hamilton, Ontario), in 1969 Studebaker Corp. gave the car to the city of South Bend. It had just under 20K miles when I last looked inside of it.

Messages Page 188 of 206

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