We are huge fans of the classic American station wagon! They are big, functional and good looking, but they are also getting hard to come across affordable examples that are in decent shape. This wagon might not be a ’57 Nomad, but it’s also a lot more affordable! It’s a 1957 Studebaker Provincial Wagon and is in pretty nice shape. Oh and at $3,600 or best offer it seems like a pretty affordable way into wagon ownership. You can find it here on eBay to make the seller an offer. It’s currently located in Redondo Beach, California.
It’s amazing given how rare these Studebaker wagons are that they aren’t worth more, but people tend to get more excited about Chevys and Fords then they do about Studebakers. It’s really a shame, as these were good cars. I guess it works out great for us budget minded car nuts, well as long as the car is complete and in good shape. Finding any parts that are unique to these wagons could be nearly impossible. Thankfully there are more and more Studebaker parts suppliers popping up these days.
I really do like the styling of these wagons and I think this one is a solid starting point. I don’t see any major issues, but I am a little curious about the paint. It looks like rattle can primer, but it could be original paint that is so oxidized and dry. It will take looking at it in person to be sure what is happening there. If it is original though, some very careful polishing could bring back the shine and make it look amazing again! So what do you think of these Studebaker wagons? How do they compare to the Tri Fives and Ford Ranch Wagons?
Saw this on TV many years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9QQQy1h8bQ
Studebaker had a combination of quality problems and sweetheart contracts that gave the auto workers union more than Studebaker could really afford.
I’ve seen this documentary before and it is great. Studebaker’s factory facilities were not efficient. e.g. The bodies were dropped out of a upper level to a waiting truck to be put back into the factory. A little extra manpower here and there added up. Their generosity did not end with workers. Stude also paid to much for management and dividends and reinvested too little in product.
Reminds me (in a very positive light) of the same year Pontiac Star Chief wagon at a third of the cost but with double the doors.
WANT.
Once again, wrong coast.
I like the “back porch” look between the tailgate and rear bumper
Rough for a museum peice was it stored outside I m not a wagon guy Ill pass,
Alas another nice car, but on the other side of the country. I would suspect the car is pretty much rust free being in CA plus that wonderful back porch was one of the first things to go. I’ve seen fully restored cars like this (especially the Packards) bring over $25k so this seems like a very good deal.
Whaddya mean “parts”?! Mechanical parts are EASY because Stude was too broke to redesign the running gear too often….they’re interchangeable with many years and models. Unique body and trim parts, on the other hand…
Didn’t last long, already pulled when I looked just now. Rare Studebaker and more people are looking for wagons nowdays. Plus it has the 289V8 engine, nice.
This rig is sweet! I’d much rather build a resto-mod Studebaker than the much more common and obvious Nomad. But, first-things-first. I’ve got a 1964 Volvo Amazon wagon that needs my attention…
Well, hells bells…it sold.
All Studes till the end used the same frame since 53. In 54 they beefed it up a little. No ball joints or stepdown floors.
When I was in elementary school some many, many years back and was becoming a car guy even then, I do remember our school principal drove one of these same type wagons. If I recall the two tone color was a pink or salmon color and white. I’ve always liked the odd ball cars and now the wagons especially. If I had the room and a bit more $$ to spend on a classic wagon at this time I would be all over this Stude. Also I can sure see the resemblance of the Stude taillights and the ’57 Pontiac’s.
Stude guy here…the early 55 back I can live with….the 56-58 not much so. They were not in the same class as the Nomads or what Ford offered. Kinda can maybe live with a little Lark wagon….like most say….Stude was a little behind on style…
I think( just me) it’s more the name, not the car or it’s style that people shyed away from. Easier to say Chevy or ford etc.
I’ve had one of these wagons, and also the Packard variant, equipped with the Golden Hawk 289 Supercharged V8. An interesting fact; these cars were available in a 9 passenger version, however due to the spare tire being stored under the back floor on the 6 passenger wagons, but that area taken up with the seat on the 3rd row when closed, and the passenger footwell when in use, the car didn’t have a spare tire. Instead, they were equipped with 4 special Goodyear “Tire within a tire” [aka run flat] tires. These special tires were discontinued only a couple of years later, and most owners either added a tire & rim in the back, or took the third seat out!
And frankly, I’d rather have the Vanden Plas bodied Daimler DS420 limousine behind the wagon! I’ve owned 2 of them, including the 1975 armored version assigned to the British Embassy and used by Queen Elizabeth during the US Bicentennial. It had 1″ thick Kevlar solid block panels in the sides & floor, but no bullet resistant glass for some reason.
Too bad it is no longer listed. My customer with this ’57 Packard would have loved to add it to his collection.