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Postwar Studebakers

2071 messages,  Last post on Jun 13, 2013 at 9:04 AM

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What is this discussion about? Classic Cars, Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 189 of 208

#1878 of 2071 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 2071 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.

#1880 of 2071 Re: Last Studebaker built today, on 3/17/66 [uplanderguy] by jljac

Mar 17, 2013 (10:46 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Mar 17, 2013 4:03 am)
I read a story in Turning Wheels last year that said that Studebaker employees in Canada knew the end was near when management did not replace the stamp in the press that made the trunk lids after it wore out. The employees believed that production would stop then they ran out of trunk lids and that is what happened. Studebaker kept building cars after 1964 until they had to make a major investment.

#1881 of 2071 Re: Last Studebaker built today, on 3/17/66 [jljac] by uplanderguy

Mar 17, 2013 (11:40 am)

Replying to: jljac (Mar 17, 2013 10:46 am)
I remember reading that article too. The '64-66 does have a complex trunk lid shape from the rear--multiple bends and surfaces. I don't ever remember Newman and Altman having '64-66 trunk lids, when they had '62-63 coming out the you-know-what, and earlier lids as well.

#1882 of 2071 Good Article About Studebaker MB Connection by jljac

Mar 25, 2013 (1:36 pm)

I got two interesting E-mails from my Studebaker website at www. Stude.net over the weekend.
 
The first one I received is about the Studebaker-Mercedes Benz connection. It is worth seeing. http://johnstraub.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-mercedes-studebaker-connection.html Many great photos and it seems like an interesting site. I will check it out more when I have the time.
 
The second one was from a girl named Gina who claims to be a descendant of Clem Studebaker and is seeking information about the Studebaker family. I sent her info about a web site that is all about Studebaker family http://www.studebakerfamily.org/

#1883 of 2071 Re: Good Article About Studebaker MB Connection [jljac] by fintail

Mar 25, 2013 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: jljac (Mar 25, 2013 1:36 pm)
Neat article! Love the 300SL assembly pics, swoon.
 
I like the look of this dealership a lot, I could see my fintail there:
 

 
And speaking of assembly line pics, I like this one - somehow makes me think of the opening sequence in "Christine":
 

#1884 of 2071 Re: Good Article About Studebaker MB Connection [fintail] by bhill2

Mar 25, 2013 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Mar 25, 2013 3:54 pm)
And speaking of assembly line pics, I like this one - somehow makes me think of the opening sequence in "Christine"
 
Fin, you have a truly twisted sense of humor. I respect you for that.

#1885 of 2071 Re: Good Article About Studebaker MB Connection [fintail] by jljac

Mar 25, 2013 (4:25 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Mar 25, 2013 3:54 pm)
I like the movie Christine a lot and have a lot of sympathy for the guy who bought that car. Christine was the inspiration for the slide show I made about my Commander. Go to the bottom of this page and click on James Dean Road To Cholame Slide Show - http://stude.net/commander.html

#1886 of 2071 Re: Good Article About Studebaker MB Connection [fintail] by berri

Mar 25, 2013 (4:46 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Mar 25, 2013 3:54 pm)
...except shouldn't that be Kristine or Kristina over there?

#1887 of 2071 Re: Good Article About Studebaker MB Connection [jljac] by uplanderguy

Mar 25, 2013 (4:49 pm)

Replying to: jljac (Mar 25, 2013 1:36 pm)
I've seen that '63 photo of the dealership before...thinking it's in S.C. I could enjoy owning every car that's visible in that pic! Particularly, I'd love that black Gran Turismo Hawk. That badge at the bottom of the fender indicates Avanti power, either R1 or supercharged R2, very rare even then and desirable today.

Messages Page 189 of 208

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