For you oldies thought you might enjoy this old Studebaker Commercial.

[stude31]

My wife was asking me about some memorabilia regarding my family's history of the Car industry.  So I started going through all my stuff in the basement and then I wanted to show her what my 1956 2dr president looked like if I would finish the restoration and I stumbled on this commercial.  Now it is only history but it brings back the days of products "made in the U.S.A".  Note at one time Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana had the world's largest machine shop.   My dad would take us to the ghost town when we were kids (note that was only 20 yrs ago ) It always made me think that where I was standing many thousands of people made this their career and how times have changed and faded away.  I am awe struck by this.  

On a side note I was in Kansas City over the weekend and felt the same feeling standing at the Union Station (huge train station that would handle 2 million people in a year back in 1947.)  Here I was standing in the hallway with hardly anyone in this massive place and the ceiling was well over 50 ft tall.  I had the same feeling as I did when I was twelve standing in parts of the Studebaker plant.  Brought back some wonderful memories of my childhood but it allowed me to imagine for a moment what it was like to be back in the "good ole days".   Enjoy the video.

1956 Studebaker Commercial..	powered by Aeva

Stude31

[f6john]

     Love that Golden Hawk. My Dad had that one near the top of his wish list, he owned one of the older bullet nose cars back in the day. Wasn't that Tom Bosley from "Happy Days" in the commercial??

[stude31]

Yeah Tom passed away last year. 

[R J]

Don't remember who owned it, grandpa or my uncle, but it was one big ole boat.

1937 Studebaker President 4 door, then they also had a 1937 President Funeral Limo.    Now that was a tub..........   Loved it, I could stretch out length wise in the rear floor board and take an undisturbed nap on a short trip.

Since grandpa had the funeral home, I figured the Limo was his and maybe the President was my uncle's, but grandpa could of owned both.  I was only 4 years old then, so how would I know? Grandpa was the one with the coins, the kids were all suckers, except mom, she worked for her $$$$$.    You know, suck the $$$$$ teet till it was dry.   Was mom's brother and her sister.   Her sister by the way is still alive.   She is 93 and her husband is 97.    They are sucking off of their kids now.

I'll shutup on them.........

As Forrest Gump would say:
“That's all I have to say about that.”

[ILcruiser]

Looks like someone acquired the Studebaker Motor Company name, and intends (hopes...prays) to resurrect the marque.  Gotta love the entrepeneureal spirit!

http://www.studebakermotorcompany.com/home/home/

[solo1]

The Hawk series were beautiful cars.  It didn't seem possible to me that the Hawks were designed and made by the same company that had made the p********d  Studebakers, I didn't much care for them.  Then came the Avanti which was really a neat car.  It seems to me the Avanti was supercharged.

 Other great Indiana cars were the Auburn, Cord, and  Duesenberg made in Auburn, although most couldn't afford them.

Speaking of that it doesn't look like the ACDC will happen this year.

[G-Man]

I saw a 50 something Studebaker go for $335,000 a couple of weeks ago on Barret-Jackson!

[Charlie McCready]

Stude31, thanks for that post, I like it !!  I've been a Studebaker fan all my life and have had a few. I have a 1953 Starliner Hardtop Commander now. I bought it in OK City in 2000. I have it in my garage downstairs 99.9% dis-assembled (two bolts holding the body on the frame !!). Then in '03 I got back into bikes with a '97 Valk.  Now a couple Valks and a Gold Wing later the Stude sits in the garage. I still contend I will finish it one day !!  See ya in Michigan ???

[Hoser]

Gramma and grampa had a bullet nose coupe with the wrap around back window when I was five, it was new!  Boy am I old.  hoser
Heres a slideshow of the car shows I entered ths year, find the Studebaker, ther is only one.
http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt259/jrlord/kansas/car%20show%202010/?albumview=slideshow

[Charlie McCready]

Hoser...it's a green '53 coupe.............

[shortleg]

  My Mom got a Golden Camando for her first car.
 I remember it well, it was black and yellow.
        Shortleg[Dave]

[stude31]

Charlie,

My dad has owned quite a few older cars.  I learned to drive on a 53 chevy pickup.  Dad has owned a 63 Lark, 57 chevy four door, 49 studebaker pick up, and now he still owns and drives a 51 "bulletnose" champion 4dr (suicide doors). 

I like you had picked this car up about ten years ago and five years this april was when I found my new hobby and that included the Valk.  I too, will one day restore mine...

[Hoser]

Hoser...it's a green '53 coupe.............

Correct sir. It had a heavily modified Chevy small block installed, a beautiful car.    hoser

[Willow]

Dad has owned a 63 Lark, 57 chevy four door, 49 studebaker pick up, and now he still owns and drives a 51 "bulletnose" champion 4dr (suicide doors). 

Joseph, you and I may have some experiences in common.  During my growing up years my dad owned two Studebaker pickups, two Commanders, and a Studebaker Lark.

My memories of the Lark are not nearly as pleasant as those of the Commanders.

[Thunderbolt]

I remember when I was in high school, a friend that rode my bus was a Studebaker fanatic.  He loved all of them, but REALLY liked the Avanti.  Didn't the Avanti have a 289 engine?

[Dave Ritsema]

I live in South Bend and have many fond memories of Studebaker. My father in law worked there and at Avanti and was one of the "dirty dozen". (Last 12 members of the assembly workers .)

The Studebaker Museum is quite nice and well worth the trip to an aficionado. I also worked at the former Studebaker Proving Grounds here for many years and enjoyed some unique experienced there as well.

It’s very sad to see how my town (South Bend) has evolved from a bustling industrial town with many good paying jobs a man could support a family on to a largely dead and dying town with a low paying service industry job base.

[Chattanooga Mark]

About 10 years ago I had a 1964 Champ Pickup with the 289 V8, automatic trans, long bed and even factory air. What an awesome truck. I had a 1954 Willys station wagon at the same time. I sure miss them and often look at Studebakers and Willys on eBay and such. My dad restored a beautiful 1951 Studebaker as well. That car was really something. They sure made some wonderful vehicles.

Thank you for the post on the Studebaker comercial,

Mark
 

[¿spoom]

I remember when I was in high school, a friend that rode my bus was a Studebaker fanatic.  He loved all of them, but REALLY liked the Avanti.  Didn't the Avanti have a 289 engine?

Yup, I just sold my '64 Avanti last Fall. Base R1 engine was a 289 (not the Ford one) engine with a Carter AFB 4bbl Carb. The R2 had the Supercharger. There were also some Lark sedans made with the blown R2 engines and sold as Police interceptors. Didn't corner real well with that heavy cast iron 289 but they sure could reel ya in on the straights.

[¿spoom]

 Note at one time Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana had the world's largest machine shop.   My dad would take us to the ghost town when we were kids (note that was only 20 yrs ago ) It always made me think that where I was standing many thousands of people made this their career and how times have changed and faded away.  I am awe struck by this.  





Stude31

Interesting, we almost bumped into each other. I went through some of sometime in the middle/late 80s. Mostly in the original Avanti section when the second owner of the Avanti II company was folding. Always sad when these places go ghost town.

[RLD]

My dad owns a '20 Stude big 6 touring that was purchased new by my great-great grandfather. It still has the original leather seats. Quite the car.