Studebaker Speedster, Anyone?
I have only seen vintage Studebakers from the 1950s in photos. All of them have been stunning, even captivating. The Studebaker has an allure that cannot be disregarded.
Perhaps the only model I’ve every viewed live in the flesh was the 1963 Avanti, which I would always gaze at with a puzzled expression because it looked like a sports car that passed through a time warp from the 1970s. They are extremely rare cars today, and I haven’t seen one cruise the streets of the Boston area in years.
One model that I have become extremely fond of is the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster, which I have seen in some online classic car classifieds. Actually this car has become sort of a fantastic obsession of mine. The photos show evidence of the existence of this automobile—only 2,215 were ever produced—but it seems unlikely that I will ever be able to see one without traveling great distances across the States. There seems to be a few in the mid-West for instance.
The Studebaker Speedster is a noteworthy old classic car for several reasons. It was produced for only one year, which is reason alone why it is so prized. Another extraordinary thing about it was its chrome. The front grille, front and rear bumpers, fender as well as hood accents and headlight sockets all had a shiny platinum mirror finish. It was probably one of the first low-rider cars ever produced judging by photographs. The color schemes were either two-toned or three-toned—the first ones off the assembly line had a yellow and lime color scheme. I found a photo of one online that has a chocolate and white two-tone finish—absolutely gorgeous.
Then there are the specifications: a 185 horsepower, 259 cubic-inch V8 engine with 258 Torque, a four-barrel carburetor, automatic or overdrive transmission, dual exhaust, power brakes and power steering. It apparently had an average top speed of around 110 mph, although the speedometer read 160 mph at the top. The genuine leather upholstery was stitched in an attractive diamond pattern. There was ample room to seat four passengers plus the driver, with conveniences like a push button tube radio (high-tech at the time), a chrome-finish ashtray as well as a cigarette lighter, two-speed windshield wipers, a clock, whitewall tubeless tires and a triple-tone horn.
In 1955 the Speedster sold for $3,253. Today you would have to pay as high as $28,000 for one in immaculate condition, perhaps even more.
The Studebaker Speedster, like many other cars of its heyday and even long before, can be found in classic car classifieds online. Like I previously mentioned, they are few and far between, but if you admire automotive legends with a passion and want to own one, classic car classifieds should be your starting point.
Photo courtesy of HowStuffWorks.
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Nice article. I used to live in South Bend (Indiana) where the remains of the Studebaker factory still exist, even though it closed in the 1960′s. There is a great Studebaker Museum there, with lots of historic models. Well worth a visit.