Thread: Latest Project

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Hey folks,

Wanted to share a little bit of what has been keeping me busy for the last few months. This is an all original 1954 Studebaker Commnader Hardtop that belongs to a friend of mine.




He has medical problems that keep him bed ridden most of the time. He started work on this car just before his condition got to this point. Another guy took all of the trim and glass off of it and it went to the body shop, was media blasted, new rockers put in and any other flaws fixed and then painted. I got it after it came out of the shop to put it back together. I was not the one who took it a part and most of the pieces, bolts screws etc were in a box unlabled. So that was the challenge. It was in the body shop for over a year. It was not running when I got it back, I got it running but discovered an exhaust valve was stuck open. Had to pull a head to fix that. I am finally finished now. It runs and looks great. Drove it about 80 miles to a Studebaker club meeting yesterday and it is sweet on the road. Today it goes back to the body shop for hood alignment and to have some knicks repaired. He is considering selling it now since he can no longer drive. I would be tempted, but also afraid I would not be able to resist messing with it! It is too nice an original car to start modifying at this point. You can see more of the assembly here:

Doug's 54 - a photoset on Flickr

Pat

Come on, you KNOW you want to buy it and customize it. Just think how much better yours looks that this one in stock form.

I owned two of these years ago........one stock and one with a sbc in it. The stocker was my daily driver and you are right, they were great drivers.

Post some pictures after you buy it and start the modifications.

Don

When I think about what may be "the most beautiful car ever built".... I know it is different for each person,.... but for me it is a tossup between this one and the E-type Jag.

Hard to believe an early '50s American car could be so sleek! Raymond Lowey....you were a genius!

Fantastic car , you should buy it.
BradC

As I said, this one has survived intact much to long to start modifying it now. Besides, paying what my friend needs to get out of it for project starter would be a little silly. If I get another one to build for myself, I'll start with something a little less "finished".

Next projects for me are helping another friend wire his HiBoy and painting and putting down laminated floor in the homestead. That should keep me busy for a while. Looks like this will be the first winter in a long time that I did not do a project on my car.

HRP, Don't forget to give Robert Bourke some credit for the design of these beauties too. He was the lead on the design team, and seldom gets much credit outside of Studebaker circles.

Glad you guys like the car.

Pat

You're a good friend Patrick!

Hi Pat, That 54 turned out very nice. Like you needed more practice,right! Hank

Originally Posted by halftanked

Hi Pat, That 54 turned out very nice. Like you needed more practice,right! Hank

Thanks again Bob and Hank. Actually this was a different and new experience for me. Trying to make sure it was put together "As Original" the way Studebaker did it was sometimes a pain in the butt. In 50+ years there have been numerous improvements made, but having to do things the old way is what the purists demand. I posted a picture of it on the Studebaker Drivers Club page and immediately had at least two people questioning the paint colors; having gone and looked up in their documentation to see if Studebaker offered such a combination in '54. The Yellow is correct, but the red top is in question. The car's build sheet says it was all yellow, the owner is researcing when the red top was applied, if it was a dealer choice or some time after. I think it looks great! These are just some of the reasons I am not suited to restoring cars to original!!

Pat