I like my neighbors (well, some of them), but none of them have a ’53 Studebaker Commander socked away in their garage; if they did, I’d like them more. The eBay seller of this one casually mentions that it was pulled out of a “neighbor’s garage last week,” and that the neighbor bought it new back in ’53. It has 73,000 miles, a V8, and the original pink slip. It’s seen some stuff, but time was when every Bonneville guy would be salivating over a reasonably solid Stude. Is that still the case? We’ll see, but with a few days to go on the auction, the high bid is a mere $1,025. What are we getting ourselves into, car fans?
The seller’s claim that “I am not an expert” might explain the limited details about the current condition of the car, including the rotational qualities of its engine. It looks like a Studebaker V8 to me (including a Stromberg two barrel), and if so, it might be the little 120-horsepower 232, then in its third year of production. Back in the ’50s, engine swaps were common in these Loewy coupes; the “Studillac” was an aftermarket conversion when they were new, aptly named for their big Cadillac engines. Chevy small blocks soon made their way under Studebaker hoods, in addition to later Studebaker 289s and 304.5s. I think an R2-spec 289 would look about right in here.
Located in California, the Commander looks fairly solid, and the seller shows pictures of the rustiest parts of the car. The interior, however, is probably beyond help in its current state. In essence, the mice beat you to it. I hate to say it because I’m a “stocker” kind of guy, but a period-correct hot rod might be the way to go, because you can make upgrades to the interior without feeling as if you’re appalling the spirits of the Studebaker brothers. Anyone else think that the gauges are perfect? Studebaker could always do a dashboard.
Even if the sheetmetal is reasonably solid, it’s taken a few hits along the way. The driver’s fender and the passenger quarter will need some ministration if not replacement.
The swanky hubcaps tell us that this was someone’s mild custom at some point. Whatever it was, it is still a gorgeous car, perhaps the best-looking American car of the 1950s. I would love to see what the buyer does with it, because it is definitely worth the time and money it will take to put it back on the road looking good.
not a coupe. this is a 53 commander hardtop.
No offense intended. I’ve always thought of these as “Loewy Coupes,” so that’s why I titled it that way, even though it’s a hardtop.
Yes, I like the “coupe” description too!
One man’s coupe is another man’s coop! (Or Tudor)
These made any other 1953 production car except maybe a Corvette or a Jag XK120 look like a pregnant toad.
Another example of people being lazy, grab a bucket and a hose and wash the poor thing. Put some tires on it and just maybe vacuum a little inside. Love these Studebakers, what a great designed car. I don’t think Studebaker get enough attention because of their orphan car status. The Commanders and Hawk designs were way a head of the rest of the car industry. Just compare a 56 Chevy to a 56 Hawk. The Chevy though nice looking was so big and bulky compared to the Hawks. Hope this Commander finds a nice home.
True, but the 56 Chevy looks nothing like a 53 Chevy, but there’s no mistaking the 58 Hawk is just a freshened up 53 Champion, and a 59 Chevy looks nothing like a 56 Chevy, but the 59 Hawk, …. well
Two JC Whitney hub caps, no tires, and some rust. My ’53 was the coupe vs the hard top here but the good looks didn’t go away in that form. We stuck an Olds engine and hydromatic transmission in mine as the body came out of a wrecking yard with no rust, one little ding on the left rear fender, and no engine. All for $35 and $5 delivery. Good lookers and I too loved the dash board.
I was going to say “check out those JC Whitney Poverty Caps!” TriSpinners!
You can still purchase them today, Speedway and others have them. Styled after the 1956 Oldsmobile wheel covers. Very popular back in the day, along with 1957 Plymouth Fury/Belvedere wheel covers. We had a 57 Belvedere, the originals were stolen, then two more sets were stolen. My dad finally gave up and we went down to JC Whitney and bought their “replacements” They were a fair reproduction, but no one ever stole them again.
I saw one of these years ago at the closed Loring Air Force base land speed racing. It had the biggest turbo I’ve ever seen, with show car looks. For this example I would go for a streetable cruiser.
I’m hopeful that someone has the time, money and energy to save this one time beauty. It would be a shame to see any further aging.
I have been looking for this car for many years (a 53 Stude hard top), unfortunately for me, it is on the wrong end of the country.
That driver’s fender looks pretty nasty. I can smell the mouse ammonia from here. Probably at the price it’s at right now, it’s still a good deal if you don’t have to ship it far.
And if you llke the pure design of the ’53, the ’54 is the one to have since they stiffened up the chassis for the ’54’s. And, if you look at the fit and finish, compared to the Ford and Chevy of th day, Studebakers were considereably better.
My older brother had a 53″ Studillac in 1960’s. Tweaked hot rodded engine build with Two four barrels, 4 speed hydromantic and a Pontiac positraction rear end. It was one of the fastest cars around at the time. I don’t remember all the goodies about the car but it was pretty special.
Low miles my @$$!
Love it when a seller makes an obvious false statement – it warns us not to believe anything else.
Even the license plate reveals this piece was driven for decades and decades!
I think them’s Oldsmobile hubcaps! Both of them.
Mileage? No matter, it needs everything, anyway.
Yup, genuwine Olds, not the waffle-pattern knock-offs.
Not that it means much but I got a kick out of mentioning JC whitney hubcaps. # years back I needed some struts for vehicle, a search online shows carparts dot com for best prices. I called the # and talked to a dude who he himself told me that they are JC Whitney just rebranded. Who knows eh?
This is pretty much the way my 53 looked when I got it, Maybe not as bad. Now car guys walk past chevys,fords and mopars to look at my stude.
Valve covers not original but it is a 232. They are the only one with the girl pump in this plc
Ooo, I like them. Never seen one over here.
Decisions Decisions… A friend of mine in HS had a coupe that he had “dechromed” and painted a very dark rich green and had Caddy engine in it. Totally cool. If you restored it as stock it would have more guts than the six, but wouldn’t be a strong runner in today’s world. And the brakes and handing of the stock version left a lot to be desired. OTOH a restomod with a modern engine (LS is lighter and going to help the handling a lot) and modern suspension and lose all that unnecessary chrome and you’d have a really cool ride. If you went the extra mile and set it for Pro Touring and the value might shoot up. If it was closer I’d be all over it.