What Happened To Studebaker Automobiles?
Mar 9, 2024 22:32:39 #
Mar 10, 2024 09:54:26 #
One of the issues that the article does not address is dealerships.
When a new dealership was about to open Ford or Chevrolet would
end up being the dealership and not Studebaker. They would offer
the new dealership a bigger return on each car sold and Studebaker
could not fight this type of strategy.
My dad and uncles all worked for Studebaker, and I knew several
owners of dealerships in the Indiana area.
Studebaker was head of its time in many ways but was not large enough to compete with
Fort and Chevrolet.
When a new dealership was about to open Ford or Chevrolet would
end up being the dealership and not Studebaker. They would offer
the new dealership a bigger return on each car sold and Studebaker
could not fight this type of strategy.
My dad and uncles all worked for Studebaker, and I knew several
owners of dealerships in the Indiana area.
Studebaker was head of its time in many ways but was not large enough to compete with
Fort and Chevrolet.
Mar 10, 2024 10:50:52 #
Mar 10, 2024 11:37:56 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
My favorite was the ‘53 Starliner Coupe - astoundingly ahead of its time in styling.
Stan
Stan
Mar 10, 2024 14:46:51 #
We had a battleship gray 1952 Studebaker. It was definitely an oil burner. The Lark was a nice car, and so were the Avanti and the Hawk.
Many of the old covered wagons were made by Studebaker.
Many of the old covered wagons were made by Studebaker.
Mar 10, 2024 17:24:04 #
Avanti was so far ahead of its time and influence everything we drive today. First with disc brakes, impact absorbing dash, etc. And fabulous styling and handled like a sports car. I had an Avanti and a Jaguar XKE and handling was surprising similar allowing for differences inherent in a lower two-seater and a four place sedan.
Mar 10, 2024 17:38:56 #
NDMarks
Loc: Dublin, Ca
I'm glad someone mentioned the Avanti. I remember wanting one years ago and really loved the look. I just couldn't find one with a 4 or 5 speed. I hate automatics. That.s the same reason I didn't get another of my favorite cars, the Buick Grand National - A real hotrod but only made with an automatic.
Mar 10, 2024 19:08:31 #
For some unknown reason, this reminded me of Earl Pickles' Studebaker.
https://www.gocomics.com/pickles/2021/01/25
https://www.gocomics.com/pickles/2021/01/25
Mar 10, 2024 20:36:11 #
My family owned a couple Studebakers, good cars. Studebakers were ahead of the times just like the Tucker which was also squashed by the Big three.
Mar 10, 2024 22:15:00 #
2 favorites. '53 Starliner and '57 Golden Hawk. Raymond Loewy, the designer, was ahead of his time.
Mar 10, 2024 22:23:22 #
dustie wrote:
For some unknown reason, this reminded me of Earl Pickles' Studebaker.
https://www.gocomics.com/pickles/2021/01/25
https://www.gocomics.com/pickles/2021/01/25
Mar 10, 2024 22:24:21 #
Ava'sPapa wrote:
2 favorites. '53 Starliner and '57 Golden Hawk.
Beauties.
Mar 11, 2024 00:54:10 #
Harry02
Loc: Gardena, CA
I had a Studebaker Lark station wagon.
It started out brown.
And soon faded to that infamous pink shade.
The family that bought it from me called it "the pink panther".
It started out brown.
And soon faded to that infamous pink shade.
The family that bought it from me called it "the pink panther".
Mar 11, 2024 08:12:53 #
NDMarks wrote:
I'm glad someone mentioned the Avanti. I remember wanting one years ago and really loved the look. I just couldn't find one with a 4 or 5 speed. I hate automatics. That.s the same reason I didn't get another of my favorite cars, the Buick Grand National - A real hotrod but only made with an automatic.
Automatics are great! Like B&W film, the only reason we had manual transmissions was that they couldn't make automatics. I started driving stick shifts decades ago, and there was a fun factor to shifting through the gears. For non-racing situations, automatic is the way to go. Of course, even racing cars now have paddle shifters (like my Fit), so they're almost automatic. The auto version of my Honda Fit gets better mileage than the stick.
Mar 12, 2024 00:09:41 #
Wyantry
Loc: SW Colorado
47greyfox wrote:
I sure did love the Hawk….
Found a picture of what looked like (color &c.) my first car: A 1963 Hawk Gt R3. Paxton blower, 4spd. Girling (Bendix) solid non-vented front disks — [Notable fade!]; AC, radio.
STILL looks better than most of the junky little squish-boxes out there today . . . .
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