Studebaker Celebration: It’s All in the Details

I’ve owned my Studebaker for over six years. One of the first resources that I looked to for advice was the Studebaker Drivers Club (SDC) – they have a terrific online forum with loads of info and helpful fellow Studebaker-ites. After getting my 1955 Studebaker on the road and to it’s first car show years ago, I realized just how unique us Studebaker owners are. Seldom crossing paths with other Studebakers, I’ve always planned to attend a SDC chapter event – but it just never happened. Until recently that is…

The Old World Studebaker Car Show is put on annually by the Beach Cities/Inland Empire chapter of the SDC. One of their members, John (who’s also a reader at GreaseGirl), emailed me ahead of time letting me know I should put it on my calender. I had penciled-in Studebaker events on the calender before, with every intention of attending, but my own car club or some other function always seemed to get in the way. But this time I was determined – Old World Car Show would be my very first Studebaker meet!

Upon arriving, I couldn’t wait to park my car and have a look at all the other beautiful Studebakers…there were even a handful of ’55s very similar to mine.

Photo courtesy of John Sanford.

I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the other owners and how much we had to talk about. I had a hard time knowing which to do, talk to people or walk around and look at all of the cars!

Knowing Studebaker’s better than any other make of car, it was really fun for me to notice all of the many details that set one model or year apart from another. Studebaker was definitely a well-designed automobile maker and their details are exquisite!

I had a great afternoon – and they even gave me a trophy (my very first)! Some may chuckle at it’s category, “Most Potential”, but I’ll take it. Even though Stude is complete, she certainly has plenty of potential and space for improvement…which will happen little by little!

I’m looking forward to the next time I can hang out with my Stude-folks.  The largest local meet of the year, La Palma,  is already on my calendar for May 26th, but I hope to join up with them before that. Until next time, here are a few of the fabulous Studebakers present at the Old World Meet – along with some of their corresponding details!

1955 Studebaker President

The engine bay from the ’55 President. Aside the Edelbrock carb, it’s a close to original Studebaker engine – similar to what would have originally been in my own ’55.

1923 Studebaker Special-6

The earliest Studebaker present, I couldn’t believe all the amenities this car featured. And, it’s still rolling on it’s wood-spoked wheels – one of the first things the Studebaker brothers made along with wagons when they went into business in the early 1850s.

1940 Studebaker Commander

One of my favorites, and also the People’s Choice award winner, this ’40 Commander carries so many of the elements that I adore in 40s cars. In the following picture alone, check out the curved fuel door, and ribbed detail on the bumper guard and tail lights – of course the Roosevelt sticker just adds that additional historical tidbit!

1956 Studebaker Commander

Studebaker’s really started squaring off more after 1955, which can be seen in the front and rear of this ’56 Commander – even the tail light lenses get some grid lines. I really dig the exhaust exit just underneath!

1932 Studebaker Dictator

Love the sexy fenders on this ’32 Dictator (still laugh at the name!) The fenders included wood step panels with these neat Studebaker step plates.

1955 Studebaker President

Check out the extra trunk-mounted reverse lights. These tail light lenses are cool also, with their little depressions (probably where the turn signal blinks).

1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk

One of the stars of the show, this ’57 Golden Hawk is one of the most sought after Studebaker models (a similar one went for around $100,000 at a Barrett Jackson auction last year). With it’s McCulloch supercharger and many special styling details, it truely does shine. Apparently these fins would bolt onto my rear fenders if I wanted!

1951 Studebaker Champion (or is it a ’50?)

The 1950 and ’51 Studebaker Coupes are famous for their bullet nose and bidirectional-looking front and rears…people couldn’t figure out if they were going forward or backward! There were a few great examples of these funny-looking favorites present at the Old World Meet.

1984 Avanti

The Avanti is another unique Studebaker model. Although the last Studebaker rolled off the lines in ’66, Avantis continued being produced into the 21st century via Avanti Motor Corp. First introduced in 1962, the 1963 Avanti set 29 records at Bonneville that year for the fastest stock production vehicle.

1946 Studebaker Champion Business Coupe

I loved the gasser style given to this ’46 coupe – it’s stance, wheels, louvered hood, flat black paint, flames, and Buick V-6 all scream “take me to the drag strip!”

1951 Studebaker 2R5

Last, but not least, Studebaker trucks are fantastic and this ’51 barn find is no exception. Beautifully restored, but not overdone, this would look so lovely out on the farm!

That’s all she wrote for this one! Don’t forget you can subscribe and get Grease Girl emails as soon as they’re published. Until next time, happy trails!

P.S. To see even more pictures of this event, check out this link for a photo album from Ric, ’51 Champion Owner and SDC member – https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qyfonq795a48fql/0fCqhpzvMT, enjoy!