You don’t need any particular party affiliation to appreciate this 1956 Studebaker President Classic four door sedan for sale on Craigslist in Mount Union, Iowa for $4,950.00.
The South Bend, Indiana independent put the President name on the highest trim levels their product line in the mid-1950s. Originally, the President name graced their top of the line model beginning in 1926 and lasting up to the end of prewar domestic automobile production in 1942. It was revived in 1955.
This President is claimed to have been off the road for nearly 50 years and judging from the overall condition of the car it appears to have been stored inside and was well cared for. While there isn’t any obvious rust-through visible in the photos, the passenger side of the car hasn’t fared too well with failed paint on the doors and rear fender. The body looks very straight and the restrained (for the time) chrome trim looks like it is all present, with a few pieces in need of re-chroming.
Currently, the car is two-tone black and white, but the seller says that it was originally red and white. Red paint is visible in the engine bay and trunk area. The photos do not show it, but red paint may be present on the door jambs, too. I imagine that this car was a real looker in red.
The interior looks very nice with what appears to be the original upholstery and door trim. There is some staining on the back seat and we do not have any photos of the head liner. The odometer shows just over 60,000 miles but the seller doesn’t claim it to be the actual mileage. The “Cyclops Eye” speedometer captures the fifties style perfectly, I think.
Power comes from Studebaker’s 289 cubic inch, four barrel carb “Sweepstakes” V8 engine delivering 210 horsepower through an automatic transmission. It has power brakes and power steering to round out the list of options that the car came with. This was also a rare air-conditioned car and the big reciprocating compressor is visible in the engine bay. This could be a straightforward restoration with minimal bodywork required, or it might be one to preserve and enjoy. What do you think?
I’d go back to red with white highlights like it once was. Beautiful car even for a 4 door. As for the stain I’d first try to have it professionally removed before replacing the fabric. Nice car.
I’m with you Mark. Speaking of Studebaker’s, while driving through New Glarus Sunday, I saw a red Studebaker Daytona vert, top down. With all the outsiders in town no place to park. I did circle the block and stopped traffic briefly to check it out. I never heard of one. I hope to see it again someday.
had a ’64 Rambler (I think ‘American’) convertable (in ’69) w/170 6 cyl looked so very similar to the Daytona. Thanks 4 da memory.
Great cars, but just couldn’t get past the “Cyclops” speedometer, staring at you,,,it was the height of the scary Sci-fi movies(as scary as they could be without computer enhancement) and just too creepy for most. I think the ’58 Scotsman was the last to use it. This is probably the last popular Studebaker, ( I know, Studebakers were never popular outside of Indiana) before they began their slide into oblivion.
My grandfather had two Studebakers, a ’50 Land Cruiser and a ’59 Lark, and both of my parents had Studebakers later. All were from Brooklyn, NY.
The `56-`57 Studebakers IMHO, were so much nicer than the Packardbakers, and the President line proves that. That 2dr. hardtops of this era were very nice, and just restrained enough to still be attractive. This `56 is very solid-looking and complete, and hopefully will attract a buyer soon.I read mention that this car was originally red/white. If I had it, I would paint it white, with red spear & roof to be a little different, yet correct. One plus this car has is, the exhaust ports in the bumper parent rotted away! Trying to find a spare rear bumper for one of these could pose a serious obstacle.
I like it, keep the finish with a bit of touchup: remove the side trim and polish it, paint the insert areas on the passenger side, and do the 4-corner suspension mechanicals and call it a survivor. Oh, I’d put a modern compressor on and get the AC working. Oh, it’d probably benefit from a re-ring and bearing (where’s my JC Whitney catalog?) Nice car.
My dad’s last Studebaker was a ’56 Champion four like this one, but plain. When he wanted to trade it in ’61, I was sure he was going to buy a Lark, he said “never buy an orphan, Studebaker is dying.” He had three Studebakers and yes, we lived in Indiana.
The stain on the back seat, using ones imagination, came from an open wine bottle resting on the arm rest, with the arm rest in the partially raised position. If you look you can see the stain extends to the forward (or upper) edge of the arm rest. Or, perhaps a two liter of Coke? Perhaps the bottle jiggled just right and the driver was oblivious until they got home. Party on, Stude lovers!
back in 1956 i started driving with a 1948 starlight coupe, wish i still had it. if studebaker was in business today i would be driving one.
Wow wish I could be the one to save this one. The 56 Pres. “Classic” was my favorite. of the 2 options for 56. You mention the Pres returned in 56, it actually returned in 55 and the 55 with the classy “Butterknife side trim was a looker too having the famous Raymond Lowey design that made the 53-55 coupe so famous and collectible. 55 had 2 different models as well with mid year bringing a change in the windshield with the 2nd series having a wraparound dogleg fashion. For 56 there wer the Champions, the Commanders and the Standard President that was an upgrade in options and trim to the commander and the the “Classic” which had longer rear doors and the pop out rear vent windows more trim an upgraded interior and more foot room just a real top of the line car like this one. I have been fortunate enough to have had one just sold few years back, Re/White 289 4 barrel, standard trans o.d on the column. Very comfortable to drive and ride and dual exhaust from factory. The classics had a unique to that model multi piece rocker panel trim setting it apart from the standard Pres.. Studebake had beautiful classy upholstery materials along with their color schemes in those years. You are correct this car has original uph. The nice thing is Studebaker Uph kits are correctly reproduced by South East Studebaker in Knoxville Tn by a long time SDC Club member and ha for many years. The good thing is I am gleaning my cars but at 73 still have my 41 President Straight 8 a monstrous powerful car in its own right and still have it to bring back to its glory I hope before I croak. Maybe I will have that time who knows the 60 Convertible that I have recently finished and the 61 Cruiser which was the nearest thing they ever had not a luxury car after the last Pres in 57.These have to go to finiance the 41, as I am no longer able to do my own work and we all know you can buy one cheaper today than restore one unless you can do it all yourself and I have had these 25 years getting to this point so I will send them down the road to the care taking of someone else and be thankful I had the chance to have had them
Any idea who was the manufacturer of that big A/C compressor?
Looks like a York to me.
I believe it was made by York.
Definitely a York same as was on AMC and probably best made Got very cold. How many do you need. I have several and most any of themounting brackets and other parts for Studebakers from several years and some under dash units also the water jacket manifolds necessary to mount on Studebaker email studeman1945@gmail.com