Studebaker – CARS-YDSE.com

1972 Vega Station Wagon (Kammback)

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 Notice the front bumpers are cut on both sides of the grill,
I've seen this in several other pictures on the Web.

There is a lot to tell about the 1972 Vega, some of which involves me and an ex-girlfriend in Washington D.C. in 1972. Well, the girlfriend part is rather boring but Bonnie, was the proud owner of a very simple Vega in 1972, while we were dating. Her car had a simple 2 speed transmission and was very, very slow. Apparently, the Vegas were not all like hers, thank goodness.

The Vega was a unique vehicle. It was a part of a Corporate G.M. project that started in 1969 to help fight off the VW, Toyoto and Datsun lead in the sub-compact car category. According to Wikipedia, a dedicated team was established under one manager to design and bring the car to market in 24 mouths. The team succeeded but the car had mixed reviews. The car won Car Of The Year from major magazines and also made other magazine’s worst cars of all time list.

The cars basic style came from the Fiat 124 sports coupe, the car I was driving in 1972. Also, the aluminum block engine was originally tested in a Fiat sedan. Thanks go out to the Italian’s.

1972 models were essentially carried over from 1971 with a few refinements and additions. Vibration and noise levels were reduced by a revised exhaust system and better driveline damping and the rear shock absorbers were revised. The Turbo-hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission and a custom cloth interior were new options and a glove box was added.[19]

Apparently, my ex-girlfriend did not buy the 3 speed option.

Original script logo was replaced in 1973

One other interesting note relates to the cars tenancy to rust.

The original design provided for the full inner fender liners from the beginning. But at a cost review meeting the finance department cancelled the liners, as they would have added $1.14 per side, or $2.28 per car to the product cost. One of the program objectives was to produce a 2,000-pound car to sell for $2,000.00, and every penny was watched. Five years later, after GM had spent millions to replace thousands of sets of rusted-out Vega fenders in the field….

Click Here for extensive information from Wikipeadia on the Chevy Vega

1954 Studebaker Commander

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At the risk of getting too much of a good thing, I am posting yet another Studebaker, this time a 1954 Commander. To me this car is a fantastic example of Studebaker styling leadership. The car was first released in 1953 when most of the US car companies were selling bathtub shaped vehicles that were at least 1.5 times as big. Unfortunately, this was not rewarded by growing sales. The notable exception to this was Chevrolet’s release of the Corvette in 1954, the same model year this car was released.

I don’t think these exhaust pipe extenders are original.

I found this information on the net.

The sleek European styling of the 1953-1954 Studebaker Commander Regal Starlight/Starliner was matched by equally nice interiors trimmed mainly in vinyl or (for 1954 only) cloth, both color-keyed. There was also a slightly less posh DeLuxe-trim version of the fixed pillar Starlight offered in both years.

Click Here for more information on this Post War Car

NOTE – Some of you who look at my site often may also recognize the street setting this car was photographed in. It is the same place I photographed this 1957 Golden Hawk last year. In fact, I have a suspicion that the owner of both of these cars is the same; just a guess. Click on the picture for a link to the related post.

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1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, Wow!!!

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I was walking in the one of San Francisco’s biggest tourist areas, Fisherman’s Wharf, and spotted this sleek 1957 Golden Hawk. To me, it still looks like more modern design than most of the other cars of its time. After all, this car is 53 years old. From what I have read, it was not very well engineered and had a very heavy front end that hindered its handling and kept sales figures down. Too bad for Studebaker that went out of business a few years after the Golden Hawk was discontinued.

Just look at the front of this car, very neatly done for a ’57.
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Here’s a little history on the Golden Hawk.

From 1956 to 1958, Studebaker’s top-model was the Golden Hawk, which was available only with the Paxton supercharged 289 cubic-inch overhead valve V8 that offered 275 horsepower at 4800 RPM. There was a Flight-O-Matic automatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The hardtop versions of the Golden Hawk, Sky Hawk, and Flight Hawk were based on the original 1953 Starliner body.

The five-passenger Gold Hawk was Studebaker’s sports car putting it in competition with Chevrolet’s Corvette and Ford’s Thunderbird.

More Information, click here

1962 Studebaker Lark Station Wagon

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This car and the photos are a bit different than the others in this collection. I know the person who owns this car and he sent me these pictures in 1999. I believe this car to be a 1962 Studebaker Lark station wagon. Also, these photos are over 10 years old so please excuse the quality.

The 1962 and 1963 Studebaker Lark

Turning his attention to the upcoming 1962 and 1963 Studebaker Lark models, Stevens — sensing that the public had tired of the car’s stubby appearance — stretched the wheelbase of all four-door cars to 113 inches.

More Information on the Studebaker, click here

A 1962 Compact Car

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In 1959 Studebaker introduced the Lark as a compact car. I saw this quote on the web.

“This 1962 lark is being built for a wife to take cruising. The Lark was a “compact” car built between 1959 and 1963 by The Studebaker – Packard Corporation. The Studebaker Lark was a car design that used the core body and panels of the full-sized 1953-1958 Studebaker models. The car was built as a compact car, achieved by reducing the front and rear overhangs and shortening the wheelbase.”

LICK HERE

A Fairly Rare Car

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This is a 1958 Studebaker President. It was produced right near the end of the Studebaker/Packhard auto company went out of business a few years latrer. This was a fairly rare car just parked on a city street. I snapped this one in Palo Alto on the same trip as the 57 Chevy below.