Customs Studebaker 1953-55 Customs! Was there any cool ones??

Might get lucky and by me a 53 Studebaker hardtop this week. And now i wonder if there ever was any cool mild or wild custom 1953-1955 Studebakers in the 50's and 60's except Dick Gonzales 55 Yellow Pearl?

This is what i might buy!




This is Dick Gonzales 55 in the begining!!


And after it got watson painted!!!

 

Nice! I´m not so sure about the mods to the Gonzalez car, but the Watson style paint on a stock(ish) car would look great.

 

There is one setting in a yard not far from here that has a fiberglass hood. Did they all have that?

 

This one was posted on another thread a couple of days ago... I really like it.

Don't know nothing about it though.

 

That one was really cool.

 

Damn, wish mine looked that good!

 

Thats mad cool!

 

Got to be some more pics of it somewhere? Really dig that hoodmodification up front betwene the grills.

 

Have seen attempts at customizing the Studes, without many good results. They don't lend themselves well to a lot a major body mods. A simple "gentleman's chop" like Dick Dean used to do works though. Thats were just a very little is removed from the font of the roof to make it more level with the doorline. I think he took out about 1+1/2". All of the usual mild treatments work like shaving, de-chroming, nosing and decking, and of course get it down LOW! You might consider this:

 

Valley Custom Shop built these two

 

Stans 53 starlight coupe by valley customs shows how little these cars need to be changed.I love the way they look with the chrome trim removed from around the side glass and from below the windshield.I also think 53/54 "studebaker" accessory fog light bumper guards mounted in the inboard position make the front of these cars.

 

I like the first one! Except that pillar is a little distracting.

 

MILD is the way to go with that car. There have been plenty of failed efforts to improve on one of the most perfect designs ever....Centurion9

 

I'm with Centueion9 those are soo cool stock it's hard to find changes that are improvements. Nice find I'd grab it myself given the oppertunity

 

Damn an early '53 still has the Mercedes emblem in tact. That is pretty cool. its a shame you have to make that go away to make a custom from it.

Gotta question for ya. Well I'll PM ya so as not to highjack the post.

There were quit a few that I have seen over the years. They have good lines to customize.

 

How 'bout this ??

 

Can someone post a picture of of James Lynch's beautiful chopped '53 with the '41 Lincoln rear window? (Kustomrama lists it as appearing in Popular Customs Winter 1963 issue.) My favorite, and inspiration for my own Stude project.

And Norrland, you'd better buy that bad boy!!!

 

scan by John Manzo

 

I like this thread! Rocky Famoso's Stude is really nice too, and it's got a really bitchen motor!

 

They came kustom from the factory. Look at any other American model of that year. I love em. Had a 54 that I sold to fellow in Ohio. He got to live his dream by turning it into a Bonneville car and running it on the salt. Thats one I wish I would have kept, but here's some food for thought.

 

This is a BAD one. Love the chop and looks of it.

 

this is the cover... scan by John Manzo

 

Thanks, Rik!

This car was also unique for its heavily chromed, flathead 6 mill.
If i remember correctly, the interior was done in red velvet.
I love it!

 

I am digg'n the Smooth Stude, nice.

 

Like the chopt red one w/ white scallops, well paint could be improved but still a cool car.
The smooth stude also rules, on Skylarks and pinner whites.......son of its times no doubt!
I think Erykson did a chopt one w/ a carson top, pretty kool if i remember right.

 

How about a StudeCamino....

 

Nosing decking and shaving is a must and get it low. Thinking that and a flat gold pearl painted body with a bone white top and som black painted rims with spiders on them. To start with that is.

 

Both the Camino look a like and the Ragtop looks so good.

 

That Ragtop is perfect!



Also note that this kemp from resqd37Zep's earlier post has also been "converted".

 

Couple more....