Features Studebaker's lets see them

A Stude pullin' a Stude...

 

Sort of a Swan Song here - just sold my numbers matching 63 Super Red R2 Package Super Lark with swapped in B57 R4 (a la R3) engine. Had it since 1972. Street raced it extensively for a couple years then restored it - worst decision of my life - restoring it was like stabbing it in the heart since that ended it's daily fun. People still call me "Studebaker" and selling it was like selling off part of my identity. When I posted it, people posted pics from the 1978 Stude national meet of my car - that was nice. But the last 45 years of ownership were very frustrating because I am NOT a Restored Car Guy. I'm more of a Rat Rod or Work Truck guy. ....or Sleeper Guy because back in the mid-seventies, not many people even knew what a "Sleeper" was - and can you imaging a Studebaker Sleeper with a Paxton Thing-a-ma-bob on top of the engine??? Those experiences back then cannot ever be recaptured. Like watching Star Wars in 1978 for the first time when it opened in the big 'Scope theaters (!)

As far as the pic goes, one down and one to go. Don't like the other car either - another loooong story.

 

daaaaaaang it...........

 

I'da kept the Stude & dumped the Viper...

 

They're both going. I'd rather have a comfortable modern car that gets good gas mileage - I'm 70 and no interest in drama. I do not enjoy driving the Lark and just hate the sight of it restored and not in Sleeper form. GTS: In the modern era, I bot a new 2000 GTS and it was a Magic Car to drive around. Back then it was rare and a big deal. For me, now 48, it was the first attention grabbing car I ever owned and I enjoyed it since I had no interest whatsoever in street racing.

 

Just picked this pile of parts..
I think the axles and frame are from different cars/trucks.

 

Plenty there for a start... can't ID. the front axle, but the rear is a Dana. Probably not original, but so what. Those are cool trucks, that style... build it!

 

What is there looks pretty solid. It is a good start. Do you have a plan yet?

 

This one is going to Florida soon. Anyone know of a transport to take it from central South Dakota to central Florida?

 

This is also in central South Dakota. It is for sale

 

Thanks

It's very straight and solid,..plan is to wait till I get other projects out of the way

 

That's a Stude front axel and pretty sure that's a rear as well.....betting that's a later Stude frame under that M series truck - kinda what I'm doing with my 1946 M series.....putting it on a later 1953 truck frame.....which maybe was a stupid idea as the 1 ton frame wasnt bad.

 

Here's an album full of photos I took while touring the Studebaker National Museum https://www.studebakermuseum.org/ in March of 2020. Well worth the trip if you are nearby or passing through South Bend, Indiana: https://public.fotki.com/celicagts83/vehicles/cars-1/studebaker-museum/

 

Yes, that museum is amazing! From the early wood-spoke wheels and wheel barrows built for the gold rush in "Wheel-barrow Johnny" Studebaker's blacksmith shop in Placerville, California, Lincoln's Studebaker hearse, presidential limousines, Fozzy Bear's "Natural Habitat" bullet nose, concept cars and everything in between. Absolutely worth spending a day to experience!

 

A resident of Texas visiting Delaware for the summer to get away from the HOT Texas summers. Flatheads and early Fords have been my interest for over 60 years but went to my first car show in Delaware in June—-not one single flatmotor but oh my goodness—-what a knocked out bitchen Stude with ‘Baker power and a supercharger;beautiful,functional, and well built!!

 

Wow.....lot's of engineering right there.....sweet !

 

Was there a bump in the hood? The sedans & wagons are 4" shorter from firewall to radiator and even Studebaker mounted the supercharger high with a bump in the Hawks. This has a lower mount like the Larks. Getting all that under the stock hood on my son's '54 wagon was a challenge. What a runner though when we were done! That is a beautiful coupe.

 

Looks like a Dana 41, so probably is original. Be warned, it most likely has a very steep ratio, as in high 4s.

 

Yeah, he's got it all mashed down in there somehow! And A/C to boot!

 

I stuffed an Sbc 327 in this ‘62 Lark…

 

Even with the extra 4" length I don't think we could have gotten an AC in the wagon. I see he is picking up intake air from near the firewall like we did. That hot air is not the best to then push through a supercharger.

A small block Chevy is smaller and lighter than a Stude V8. Heck most V8s are lighter than Stude but they are still bad ass.

 

Yep.....noticed the nice louvered hood.....sure there is an electric fan also hiding in there..........

 

"REAL" lowered cars don't have air bags or hydraulics!
True, but "REAL" lowered cars won't make it to my place.

 

Then come on over to mine... it's smooth and I have cold beer!