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1932 & 1934 Studebaker.....sort of

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by realsteel, Jan 14, 2015.

  1. realsteel
    Joined: Jun 7, 2008
    Posts: 46

    realsteel
    Member

    My father and I have been on the lookout for 1932-34 ford projects for years but were never able to hold onto or scrape together the funds necessary for them. We spent a while living out in Colorado where early metal is available but mostly comprised of non ford makes. One day, we stopped by the local engine builders shop, he pointed us in the direction of a 1934 Studebaker. A few miles away we found it, but it turned out to be a four door humpback sedan. However it was straight, relatively rust free, a roller and only $700. Why not right!? We hauled it home and started thinking of ways to make it into something we liked. We started by chopping out the rear doors, taking 5" out of the top and filling the roof insert, essentially making it a 5 window modified, haha not so pretty.
    That was more than ten years ago, since then it's been traded back and forth several times, sold off, re purchased by me then eventually given back to my father to pay my rent. The reason it stuck around is because as an ugly "orphan" 5 window studebaker modified, it just wasn't worth anything.
    When my father got it back the final time he said "screw it" I'll make a 3 window lakes style coupe out of it. This was achieved by lengthening the doors 8", re chopping and refilling the roof, grafting a 1949 Lincoln deck lid in and forming quarters using several old body scraps including the original rear door skins, 1936 buick fenders, 1949 dodge truck hood sections. The rear window is 1939 buick, door tops are 1939 Chevy.....the list goes on.
    The frame is the original '34 stude rails but they've been boxed, kicked front and rear, bobbed, pinched, 150 holes were filled.....
    Basically it took a lot of work!

    The second car started as a 1932 studebaker four door sedan, I think. The cowl and doors came in a collection of body parts piled up on a 1929 buick chassis. The cowl was folded down the middle, the doors and bottom cowl corners were rusted out, but it had bitching body lines reminiscent of a '32 ford. This was another thing that we held onto because, in that condition, it just wasn't worth anything.
    So when my father completed his '34, I asked if I could have a go with the '32 pieces.
    I hunted around for rear quarters for a few months to no avail, in the meantime I got a '27 Essex frame, and found a "rebuilt" '57 nailhead so I could set it up as a roller. After failing to find some quarters to graft on, I noticed a Plymouth deck lid sitting in the back of a friends truck, I laid it up behind the doors and figured it would do. I've had a bit of experience metal shaping but unfortunately we sold off the English wheel and other tools before one of our moves to CA. Luckily after asking around, several friends leant me everything necessary to form my quarters. Everything from the doors back was hand made excluding the decklid.
    Both of these cars were built from a pile of parts that just weren't worth a whole lot. We took inspiration from early hotroders who took what they got and made what they want. ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421256284.269053.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421256298.506042.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421256310.992293.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421256340.470351.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421256358.262496.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421256383.379035.jpg


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  2. Wow!!!!!!! I saw the three window in some pics and wondered about it. They are both beautiful cars. Good job!
     
  3. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

  4. Dick Stevens
    Joined: Aug 7, 2012
    Posts: 4,026

    Dick Stevens
    Member

    Just goes to show that you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you have the imagination and perseverance to do it, excellent job on both of them. ;)
     
  5. Maverick Daddy
    Joined: Nov 26, 2008
    Posts: 4,433

    Maverick Daddy
    Member

    Don't even know what to say, Both cars are just stunning! Great job on both!
     
  6. mikeallcars
    Joined: Feb 16, 2012
    Posts: 1,316

    mikeallcars
    Member

  7. I'll second everything said above.Great craftsmanship! Reminds me of that Johnny Cash song.
     
  8. lewk
    Joined: Apr 8, 2011
    Posts: 1,064

    lewk
    Member
    from Mt

    That's pretty cool. Any construction shots from either car?
     
    Maverick Daddy likes this.
  9. Impressive..
     
  10. traffic61
    Joined: Jun 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,556

    traffic61
    Member
    from Owasso, OK

  11. Both beautiful cars I'd say!
    You guys have the talent.
    I love those 30's Studebakers anyway.
     
  12. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,406

    Corn Fed
    Member

    I started reading your story before looking at any of the pics. I must say, in my head I was thinking this is gonna be a huge mess. I was blown away when I scrolled down & saw the cars. They are awesome. I truly think they could be the coolest hybrid cars I've ever seen. You and your Dad should be very proud of what you accomplished. You pulled off what hundreds have not. Way cool!
     
    cfmvw, 46international and deuce354 like this.
  13. Those are so cool- AND SO DIFFERENT !! nice work.
     
  14. camcb
    Joined: Sep 8, 2012
    Posts: 191

    camcb
    Member

    Holy smokes! Reading this had my minds eye in visioning something totally different (and not so good). Nice rides and excellent work !
     
  15. das858
    Joined: Jul 28, 2010
    Posts: 1,213

    das858
    Member

    Beautiful work!
     
  16. Peanut 1959
    Joined: Oct 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,183

    Peanut 1959
    Member

    You summed up my thoughts perfectly! Nice job on both cars.

    Any before and in-progress shots?
     
  17. aircap
    Joined: Mar 10, 2011
    Posts: 1,809

    aircap
    Member

    Two thumbs up from here!
     
  18. ss34coupe
    Joined: May 13, 2007
    Posts: 4,259

    ss34coupe
    Member

  19. tub1
    Joined: May 29, 2010
    Posts: 549

    tub1
    Member
    from tasmania

    you both should be so proud of what you did with those pieces two very nice cars
     
  20. realsteel
    Joined: Jun 7, 2008
    Posts: 46

    realsteel
    Member

    Thanks for the thumbs up! Much appreciated. Ha I know they sound like a Frankenstein nightmare.
    I found a few photos including what the '32 started with after a little straightening and rust repair.
    I have a few more in progress shots somewhere of the homemade intake on the '32 and hopefully one of the bellhousing my father made to run a Dodge 5 speed behind the hemi.

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317621.511791.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317639.624412.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317660.711240.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317680.240874.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317692.669319.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317708.294489.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317720.527756.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317733.172094.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421317746.871539.jpg


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    cfmvw and Okie Pete like this.
  21. Chucky
    Joined: Mar 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,845

    Chucky
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Completely refreshing, the grills are beautiful! Some guys pay good money just to get their car titled. Between the two cars, you probably had several to choose from!:D Again, very nice end result.
     
  22. Love the 3w style coupe, looks nice and I am sure has many people question "What is it?"
     
  23. k32t
    Joined: Jan 2, 2011
    Posts: 299

    k32t
    Member
    from Hog town

  24. realsteel
    Joined: Jun 7, 2008
    Posts: 46

    realsteel
    Member

    I recently came across a couple of awesome supercharged flatheads ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421729417.177449.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421729430.401128.jpg they gave me the idea of putting a 471 blower on the nailhead. A friend offered one up, but after I looked it over, it didn't seem worth the effort to rebuild it. A few days ago I met a guy less than a hour away with a beautiful piece I couldn't resist ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1421729321.262240.jpg . There's going I be a lot of work involved to get this thing on the nailhead but It's gotta happen. The next question is 2x4 or 4x2?


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  25. touring20
    Joined: Nov 27, 2007
    Posts: 239

    touring20
    Member

    You two have a great eye , good preport ions good fallow through , and detail ! More photos please , oh ya love the grills . What is the roadsters grill off of ?
     
  26. Peanut 1959
    Joined: Oct 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,183

    Peanut 1959
    Member

    4x2, of course! :)
     
  27. 33sporttruck
    Joined: Jun 5, 2012
    Posts: 530

    33sporttruck
    Member

    Need More Pictures !!! After viewing this Thread I was blown away by the quality of the Work and the Dedication to each project. Then You pulled an "Ace Card" and painted one of them Black !!! You Guys Got Balls..... Jeff
     

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