Before evolving into the Hawk, the stylish two-door Studebaker entered the market in 1955 as the President Speedster. This 1955 Studebaker President Speedster in South Bend, Indiana comes to market from the estate of a collector. Running “a few” years ago, it has not been started due to concerns about the state of the fuel system. Look at that chrome! The trim looks fantastic, and there’s plenty of it. Listed here on eBay, the stylish coupe awaits an opening bid of $6000 as we go to press.
The 259 cid (4.2L) V8 made 185 HP. A lack of disconnected parts supports the “ran when parked” claim. With all due respect to the small-block Chevy 350, it’s good to see a factory engine under the hood of this single year model. The all-stock engine compartment suits a true collector.
An engine-turned dash brings the bling to the interior, where the layout strikes a more European flair than most mid-’50s cars. The name “President” returned to Studebaker’s lineup for 1955 after a long hiatus. Studebaker built a President in the 1920s and ’30s with straight-eight cylinder engines that claimed land speed records and other accolades, according to Wikipedia.
The original Coral paint job gave way to this brown respray at some point. Large wrap-around bumpers are typical for ’50s cars, offering partial protection to the sides as well as the front and rear.
The abundance of brightwork continues at the rear, and you can see what might be the optional diamond-quilted top-grain leather upholstery. The front shows more wear on the seats, and you can thank the seller for bravely pulling back the carpet to show surface rust and a few holes in the floor panels. While the later finned Golden Hawk may get most of the glory for this body style, this ’55 President will look fabulous after it’s fixed up and put back on the road. What’s your favorite Studebaker?
This is a pretty rare bird, they only made 2215 of them. Needs to be brought back to its former glory with the original “Coraltone” paint color.
I agree. The brown nearly breaks me heart!
Beautifull car! Sorry, I don’t speak English but I love Studebaker! I’m from Brasil and I did own Presidente, 1955 4 doors, automátic. Congratulations!!!
Thank tou.
Fabio,
are you aware there is a Studebaker Brasil group on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/Brasil-Studebakers-587249631396679
Has anyone else read the story of the notable Studebaker collector who spent thousands of dollars changing the front bumper, grill and sheet metal on his 1955 President to 1954 front bumper, grill and sheet metal? He said he couldn’t stand the front end of the ’55s. That story might have run in “Old Cars” magazine about million years ago. Quite a character, he was.
It IS an ugly bumper.
After owning a ’53 I agree with Paolo’s guy. Couldn’t believe a major manufacturer would do something like this to the original Lowey design.
It got worse when they added the tall fins in the rear and the Chrysler 300 grill to the front. Typical of American manufacturers to take a beautiful design and ruin it (IMO). Ford did it with the beautiful 57 model (that out sold Chevy) when they ruined it with the 58 monstrosity.
And the 59 Ford was even worse.
Different strokes… while I certainly agree that the ‘53-4 Studebakers were gorgeous, I strongly disagree the Finned Hawks “were even worse”. I love their no-holds-barred ‘50’s styling, where designers and stylists were bold and unafraid. Some people always want to compare them to the ‘53’s, but when I take one of our Hawks out to dinner, most people have never seen one, much less a ‘53, and they are BLOWN AWAY by the fabulous looks of the Hawk. Always taking pictures, thumbs up, high fives, on and on it goes. So… I guess haters will hate…
By the way , you said the body style started in 1955, but you are wrong it first was sold in 1953.with a more sleek front end and stayed for 2 years, 1953 and 54 but changed in 1955 as the one pictured. In 1956 the Hawk was introduced in four price levels, 1 Flight Hawk a coupe, 2 Power Hawk a coupe, 3 Sky Hawk a hardtop and 4 Golden Hawk a hardtop. The engine size was different in each level. I currently had a Power Hawk, ( not for sale)
Charles Ashby,
I had a Sky Hawk hardtop, only 50,000 miles, 289 V8, 3-speed & O.D., 4-barrel carb & dual exhaust. That was one fast car! I loved to street race Mustangs & Camaros, get the engine revved up in 2nd gear overdrive, then at about 50 mph shift it down into 3rd, flooring the gas pedal & shifting out of overdrive, then allowing it to shift into overdrive again, and leaving them behind.
The Lowry design was changed in 1955 and Lowry also did not like the design change for the hawk.
Perhaps you mean Raymond Loewy?
“The original Coral paint job gave way to this brown respray at some point.” This is what happens when one of “those” people get hold of it. Boring, dull, listless, the kind of people you cross the street when you see them coming. How happy a bright coral finish was, reminding of the beach, sunny days, and that “can’t wait to get back into it and drive it again feeling.” The new owner will most likely awaken and return the car to its original glory.
Not enough information or photos here to justify the asking price. What is shown of the front seat looks well baked and not saveable. What is shown of the driver’s floorboard makes me want to run the other way. The rust hole goes all the way to the kick panel/edge of floor pan where “the whole world comes together” on these Studebakers. There’s a bolt and joint right there which anchors the front fender, the rocker panel, and the floorboard all together.
Listing says it “does run” but hasn’t been started in years. Well, which is it? It can’t be both.
Pete Phillips,
Many BF members might not realize the seats are 100% leather, and replacement seats can easily run $5,000 or more, that’s assuming the special dye colors can be found today in an automotive leather. If not, then that’s going to be a special color leather order, so add another couple of grand.
About 30 years we restored a Speedster with the 2-tone lime paint scheme. Back then it was a special order, and ended up costing in excess of $5k.
Proper rust repair panels are readily available for the restoration of this car from Classic Enterprises
I used Classic Enterprises repair panels on various Studebakers we worked on in my restoration shop, never had a serious problem with the fit/look.
1953 was the prettiest Studebaker ever built. The chrome fetish of the day led to the foolishness of the 1955 grille. But I agree. This car would be brilliant back in its original colour and brought back to the road.
Most people don’t realize what a big change the 1955 Speedster made to the interiors of American cars, with the creation of the 1-piece fiberglass dashboard, a first for a production car. ALL Studebaker Hawks thru the 1964 model used 1-piece fiberglass dashboards, and the 1957-58 Packards did as well.
It was Studebaker, in 1962, that created the angled 3-panel instrument gauge cluster in front of the driver*, as part of a 1-piece dash. Not only did it look great, but unlike most American car dashboards, that were made up of many individual pieces bolted together, the Studebaker Hawk dash was a single piece, making it far less likely to squeak and rattle as it got some mileage on the car.
*That 3-panel instrument cluster is still in use by many high priced exotic automobiles today, as well as other so-called personal luxury cars put out by the big 3 in the 1970s thru the 1990s. For example, consider the Pontiac Grand Prix dash used for many years.
I am a fan of this Studebaker body style. I think it was the impetus for personal luxury coupes from GM and Ford.
Ed P,
No doubt about it. But it was also the beginning of the personal high performance car. [AKA the muscle car.] While the 1949 Oldsmobile 88 coupe was a powerful engine in a “smaller” car, it was never G.M.’s intention to produce a high performance car.
Starting in 1956, Studebaker, in bringing the public the Silver Hawk hardtop with the 289V8, with solid lifters, 4 barrel carb, and dual exhausts, plus the Golden Hawk with the Packard 352 V8, was an intentional drive to produce high performance vehicles in small 2-door hardtop bodies. This continued well into 1963-64 supercharged GT Hawks and the Avanti, both introduced before the GTO.
Correction,
in 1956 there was no Silver Hawk, it was the Sky Hawk hardtop.
Chased three of these with in a 10 mile radius of where I lived and finally gave up…..nice car here looks like it has the hub cap wires that look really good on these….always thought the little V/8 got pushed to 289 in 1955 for this model but guess I’m wrong.
56 was the first year for the 289. The diamond pleated leather interior was the standard interior on the Speedster I noticed missing piece of chrome which will be hard to find.
Love all the Studebaker comments, would have made my old man smile!!