From Barn Finds reader Dustyn F – Seller says it runs strong. I would rattle can paint job it and install some junkyard bucket seats to make a daily work beater. Thanks for the find, Dustyn! I agree, this 1965 Studebaker Commander seems to be to be begging to be put back on the road with a minimal amount of effort and expense. The body is described as “rough,” although most of what I see is surface rust with some dents thrown in for good measure. The interior is almost non-existent as the seller didn’t want to give the mice a chance. The V-8 engine runs strong and the three speed manual with two speed overdrive works well. Even the brakes and clutch are in great shape! In case you want to add this diamond in the rough to your fleet, it’s located in Grand Junction, Colorado and is for sale here on craigslist for only $600.
Yes a junkyard buckets with a Maaco paint job and you have a great daily work vehicle. Cool Car.
This would be such a great daily! Get cheap bodywork and paint job and some buckets and drive her.
If it was a 2 door I would very seriously consider going all the way to get it.
As a high school kid in the 70’s I couldn’t afford a “real” bodyshop, so I took my classics to the local production shops, “Fact-O-Bake” or “Econo Bake”. At the time paint jobs were $75, now they are around $300. I used to pull all the trim, wipers, etc. and sand the car myself. The spray guys were pretty talented and I got a decent paint job for almost nothing.
I dunno man, I’d spruce up the interior and polish the trim then take a scotch brite pad to the remaining paint/primer/rust to even it out and give it a matte finish before masking off the trim and glass and hosing the car down in a high gloss clear. I rather like the texture. I think it would look good with a nice set of fresh painted steelies, dog dish caps, red line tires, and lowered a few inches as a patina driver.
I love a vehicle with a little texture. :)
Is it just me or does ‘2 speed overdrive’ sound odd ?
These were the last of the Studebaker’s and this is suppose to have a 283 chevy in it. If I had an extra parking spot I would grab it just to wedge my spare 454 in and see how long the Borg Warner 3 speed would last. This would make an interesting sleeper.