Projects A new addition to the ACME Family

This story started about a year ago. I was standing next to my wife at a car show as a worn out old station wagon drove by. It was an original paint car but was nothing special, in fact I don't remember what make it was.

Cynthia looked at it and said "I'd like to have an old truck with worn out sunburned paint like that wagon". She went on to explain that "I would want it to be completely modern as far as the motor and all that stuff but I'd leave the paint all worn out". I remember thinking that it seemed like she had given this some thought. I was surprised to hear this from her because she is usually very carful to say this sort of thing to me because she knows I can be a bit impulsive and may just run off and buy something because she expressed a passing interest in it.

We do quite a few shows vending ACME Speed Shop stuff and over the next few months she kept making these comments when she saw an old worn paint job on a car or truck. Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I could swear she was really thinking about an old truck of her own.

So I started poking around on the internet to see what I could find. The search was pretty loose at first and I was honestly just looking for the right "old paint".
I found a few first series Chevy's that looked alright but then I thought if I was to do this it needed to be something less common. I have always loved the '49-'54 Studebakers and as luck would have it (actually, luck and a whole lot of Craig's list searches) I found this truck.

I took a big chance and surprised her with it for Christmas. It was a high probability that she would tell me to sell it because she wouldn't want to start another project. I was wrong; she has already named it.

Meet Stella, the Studebaker truck.

 

Wow. That's an awesome truck. Pretty cool of you to surprise her with this for Christmas.

 

It looks like she likes her new Stud !! ,,,,, I mean Stude , oops !

 

Chop and stance like the Old Crow truck with some good running gear under her would be right nice indeed. Might take a little creative touch up work to maintain the "patina" if chopped, but would be worth it.

 

I approve. Awesome!

When I got my first Studebaker (which I still have and still use) I was just looking for a cool old work truck to haul stuff around in. Came across an old Studebaker on *bay and thought it was cool and off beat. I like off beat, never even really knew what a Studebaker was up to that point. Won the auction, had it shipped to me sight unseen and have been driving the truck ever since in old paint. I found out years later the seller was Povertyflats here on the hamb. I remember he asked me after I had won the auction if 'I realized this was just a beat up old farm truck.' I said, 'Yep, that is exactly what I wanted'.

Initially, I was totally surprised by how much people like that old truck, as is, crappy paint, dents and all. Surprisingly and especially women. I had never had women of all types express interest in any car/truck like my old Studebaker. So, not surprising she loves it. Good score on that and does look like as is.

I'd say just run through the mechanicals and get everything working like new as it should and she'd be surprised at how drivable it still is. I'd be careful updating to much, the charm is more than skin deep.

 

Wow, she's a keeper and the truck isnt bad either !!!!!

 

You've created a monster....

 

They are such cool trucks. And you have a cool wife too! You have it made. Looking forward to seeing wat she does with it

Pete

 

Great find!

Some kustom inspiration from Sweden.

 

Great story with a 'happy ending'/'new start'............I am sure your wife is very appreciative that you were 'listening' and came through in such a caring way.

Notice you have what appears to be a Sloan's Kwik Load trailer. First I've seen ( or noticed) in a pic on the HAMB. I have been using Kwik Loads for about 14 years and always get comments whenever someone sees it in operation. On my third one now, a 10,000 lb gross capacity with heavy duty deck on the 18 ft platform. Most versatile trailer I have ever owned.

Looking forward to seeing progress reports on the Studebaker.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

Yes, the butcher, the "Baker", and the candlestick maker!! Ya look mighty darlin in your Pendelton jacket my dear! Love those rigs, great score guys. ~sololobo~

 

Love this year of Studebaker Trucks
You did good John!

 

Yes, that is a sloan kwik load trailer. I have had it for about 10 years and it has performed flawlessly. I sprayed all of the exposed top surfaces (bed and fenders) with bed liner to make it non skid and because the paint was hammered after a gazillion road miles. These trailers are worth every penny and tow very well too. They are also less expensive than the competitors trailers that roll back for loading. Oh and they are also not too steep of and angle to load low cars most of the time.

 

Love the 'Baker' & thats a great looking bully you have there also he looks right at home with the misses! congrats!

 

cool truck

 

Great choice for a truck. Hope build pics to follow.

 

No need to chop that truck they already look cool the way they are. If you want to add some "chopped effect" find a visor for it. Stude trucks just look cool not a lot of flat surface on tose trucks. Man it's solid too! one of the guys in our club hauled one back from Nor-Cal and it's solid but will need a blast due to surface rust over every inch of it

 

We plan on leaving the body alone and no chop. As for build thread photos I'm afraid that will be a while because we don't have the money to start the project right now. We will be cutting the farm bumper off and a few other things just to "get our hands on it" as my wife says.

Thanks for the interest; I'll post some de-construction shots later today.

 

Nothing says Family like a Studebaker

 

Great story, great truck!
She looks so happy in the pics, the dog, not so much!

 

Nice Stude, John.....can't wait to see how this one will turn out.

 

That's awesome. Great gift.

 

Cool Truck!

 

Now that's a cool project. Love those Studes. Keep us posted!

 

Cool!

 

Great story and truck !!!!

 

We had the week off work and had great plans to conquer the world (of projects) but one by one we all got sick. Of course we didn't all get sick at once, we took turns. This meant that we were stuck home either being sick or nursing someone that was sick.

Turns out we didn't get much done on the truck but here are a few photos of the old farm bumper getting cut off. I was on the fence about keeping it or removing it but this is my wife's truck and she wanted it gone. Probably a good call. These trucks do have a nice looking back side.

Farm bumper was welded to the bed sides.



Surgery to get it off and cause as little damage to paint as possible.



Right side - weld had burned thru sheet metal and was a big blob of weld instead of sheet so we have a hole to patch now. I will have to come up with a god paint match to cover this up.



Left side is welded on both sides of the plate. What a bitch!



It will look better without the old bumper...anyone know where I can get a stock rear bumper? I still need to torch 6 bolts off underneath to drop the old bumper, ran out of steam, went home sick.

 

Nice truck .I wish my girlfriend wanted her own truck too.I can't wait to see what you do to it.Good luck have fun..........

 

Love those Studes. They were miles ahead of the big 3 in styling when it came to the pickups. I gotta buddy, Dan who never showed much of an interest in hotrod projects 'till one day he said he wanted an old stude pickup.
We all searched for the perfect project for him and one day my buddy, Tom found a 49 Stude pickup on an S-10 4X4 chassis for him for a reasonable price.
When it arrived via transport truck, we jumped on it and found it was a well-done frame swap. We swapped the 4.3 six banger for a new 350 and painted it the nicest ford-dove-gray you'd ever want. Tom did the interior for the old truck and Dan loves it!

 

Congratulations,,the Boss Lady looks like a happy camper. HRP