Projects 4 door into a 2 door long roof, ideas? examples?

Got a question from a customer today.. And I don't know if it has been done before.

Customer asked me to convert an early 1950 Studebaker bulletnose 4 door, into a station wagen.

Has anyone done this before? any ideas? bad idea?

What could I use for the back end? I guess I need a piece of roof and the rear hatch?

Thanks for any input.

 

There was a red one on the cover of Custom Rodder, but it was quite a few yrs ago, as I recall they made most of the roof, and used a modified 49-54 Chevy sedan delivery rear door and opening, it was a 2 door as well.

 

Check out The Hottest customs lately thread, Tom Davison did a photo shop on my stude, which I think will give you a great visual.

 

Found the Pic I was referring to

 

Thats pretty wild. I really like the flow on that.

 

That looks great, will the rear open? it looks like a sold roof with a trunk instead of a full opening hatch?

 

Don't do it.

 

That pic is a photo shop of what could be. I think it could be pretty cool with a lift up gl*** section and a drop down gate just like a nomad or 50s ford wagon 2nd suggestion would be a whole lift up hatch either way it would be a lot of work, but both ways it could be pretty cool!!!

 

Wow, a Arrownose Studey Nomad! Though I'm not real sure that is an arrownose, it may be a flat windshield snubnose?
Nonetheless, well done with a full usable interior and an opening lift gate and tailgate, that could be a magazine cover and a crowdpleaser.

 

Anyone?

Customer is not sure after we discussed the cost.. but I like the idea and may do it for one of my own projects (as if I don't have enough)

 

Just pulling from memory. One of the magazines had one where the back half was shoebox Ford wagon and Studebaker bullet nose front clip. That may help keep the cost down with less fab work than the photoshop picture.

Reminds me of the McDonald's hot wheel car from back about four years. Have one on the shelf. I always thought it looked pretty good.

Neal

 

That photoshop is nothing like what I'm planning on, I like the idea of using a shoebox wagon, relatively easy to find.. mmmhh. I was thinking of using an early/mid '50s chevy but shoebox sounds good to.

 

If you dig you can find photos of the one Stude wagon built to that body style. The car was made with a plastic experimental roof if I remember right as a one-off and was rescued from the proving grounds boneyard after Stude quit in South Bend. Might be something to go off from.

I think 52-54 Ford might be the best fit with the other shapes, the roof on those is kind of flatter crowned than the 49-51 Chevy or Ford wagons. Will be easier to find, too.

 

It would be cool if the "two" rear windows latched in the middle, and swung out to give access to the rear... Just a thought...

 

There were no 49-51 Ford steel bodied station wagons, only woodys, and they don't come cheap. The 52-54 Ford would work, but basically you'd be grafting a bullet nose front clip and quarters onto the Ford car.

I like the photoshop shown above, I'd use a 4 door sedan body and add that rear roof section to where the trunklid was, instead of extending out the original 2 door body. Then I'd use 2 door sedan doors in front to eliminate the back doors.

Cool as hell but would be a ton of work.

 

Yes, that is correct. I had '52-'54 in my mind but typed shoebox. Had too many random thoughts bouncing around. My mistake.

Neal

 

I've heard the term "shoebox" applied to all 49-54 Fords and also Tri-5 Chevys so I'd say it's open for interpretation.