The Speedster was a mid-year entry for 1955 that was largely a Studebaker President State 2-door hardtop that had a lot of bling that would otherwise have cost extra. The company restyled its cars for ’55 and went with larger front bumpers, ones that would detract from the Speedster’s otherwise smooth, flowing lines. This one is said to have been sitting for more than 40 years and will need a complete restoration, but it looks like a solid project to work with. Situated in Concord, California, this Studebaker is available here on eBay where the starting bid of $4,500 has not yet been made.
The Speedster began as a run of 20 show cars to help promote the company’s 1955 models. This was about the same time that Studebaker and Packard merged to tackle the automotive world as one. Reaction to the show cars was favorable, so management gave the green light for a mid-year introduction. Only 2,215 were built during its limited run and the Speedsters would be replaced by the previously planned Hawks for 1956.
We’re told this Speedster has been in California all its life and has been sitting since the 1970s, with the reason for its hibernation not mentioned. It looks to have come to rest in a partially enclosed structure, but that may have only been for two years given the seller’s tenure with the car. The body looks be straight and most of the chrome pieces may be there. There is some rust underneath one door and in the fenders. The floors and all are said to be solid. The cow-catcher front bumper is mighty rusty.
Of the relatively few Speedsters made for 1955, the seller says this one has a rare color, something he calls “Trip Green”, but I can’t find a ’55 color that sounds like that. Whatever the color wears, we’re told only 15 of them are said to have survived (how does the seller know this?). The interior looks surprisingly nice from what we can see, so perhaps minimal work will have to be done in there.
These Studebaker’s came with a 259 cubic inch V8 that produced 185 hp and this car is said to be numbers-matching. The seller has not tried to start the Speedster nor will he make any attempts, so there are no claims of whether it will run. But if it’s been dormant for 40+ years, the buyer should assume the worst and hope for the best. The motor is paired with automatic transmission. The original black license plates will come with the car as will the hubcaps which look like new inside a box.
Interesting car. Too bad the seller didn’t take better pictures.
By the way, these aren’t the original plates to the car, those would have been the reverse colors, yellow with black letters. Black plates were introduced in 1963. The presence of vintage black plates doesn’t guarantee anything, for the last several decades the California DMV has allowed anyone with a pair that was no longer in their system to be issued to any car from that era.
Steve R
Bumper is the same on most if not all coupes. What you are calling a bumper is the GRILLE. Do some research.
Russ is not incorrect, the bumper IS rusty.
As an example- those fog lights you see there on this Speedster will fit all Hawks from ‘56 on, but will not fit ‘53-‘54 Studes. The cut out on the back side is the wrong size/shape.
Actually, the bumper comment IS correct. ‘53 and ‘54 bumpers are narrower, and slimmer. ‘55-‘64 Hawk (C/K) bumpers are wider, and “taller”.
Do some research!
HHmmmm! Yes, part numbers changed every year, but bumper bar for a K body is basically the same for several years. Different holes for guards, lights. My ’55 bumper fit 53 style fiberglass nose without any problems.
Dang….what a dash !
Seriously? I’d be embarrassed to post this for sale!
Up for bid for 5 1/2 more days with the same bid it has now when it closes.
3 days left, and still no bids/offers.
Looks like a Bumper to me, Boss.
The looks only a mother could love
You love them or hate them. I have a ’55 Speedster and it was a difficult (and expensive) restoration. It’s not a car to restore and resell, you will lose 1/2 of your investment. But they are rare and cool, mine is one of only 151 built with a manual transmission. This example is in very rough shape and there is absolutely rust everywhere, just remove the carpets and seats. I know.
I have one as well and now we’re up to 25% of them with Barn Find readers. There are a lot more than 15 of them out there. lol
I don’t think this guy really knows much about them. BTW the color was nicknamed lemon/lime not trip green.
There’s one of these for sale on Craig’s in CT for $1500 iirc. Needs rust repair though.
Cool car with very European styling for 1955. Studebaker had a partnership with Mercedes in the 50s, and there a lot of Loewy styling cues in the later Mercedes ponton coupe of the late 50s-early 60s. Unfortunately, these aren’t super valuable, which may relegate this one to parts car status.
Pretty rare, but the seller seems overly optimistic as to its value…..IMHO
I wonder if he has the original square pink (title) that has those plate #s? If I remember right that grill shell in the front of the hood is pot metal and it might be different from the 4 door cars.
Both the front and rear bumper was changed in 55 and was used till 64. it still has the wheel covers which are quite expensive today. not knowing how the engine is not good. The cost to restore it would be more than it is worth.
A Studebaker V8 will rebuild for less than $5,000. This will include hardened valve seats any overboring and new bearings. I rebuilt my 60 258 ci V8 for less than $5,000, will worth it and keeps the car original. New AFB carburators can be had.
The front grille center section is the same as the sedans so would be somewhat cheaper and easier to find, unlike the side turn signal housings. Unobtanium pot metal. Wonder if the quilted leather seats just have those covers or are they gone? These cars are super expensive to restore properly.
Yes, EPO, a front end only a Mother could love. The ’53 is the absolute design standard, and whoever buys it, I have no room, should put a’53 clip on it and you’ll have a stunning car again. I have a ’53 2 Door Sedan, purchased with another car, and it still starts and runs all the time. It’s a 6 cylinder automatic,
nothing fancy, and everybody in the family drives it.
I have a ’55 Speedster with a ’53 fiberglass nose, makes the car cooler. Also it is a factory standard shift, one of 151 built. Restoration is a lot of work and these cars had/have a lot of rust issues. Never recover your investment, not enough or broad interest in these cars. This one will cost 30000 at least.
Surprised the 20 1955 Studebaker show cars had many favorable reactions. The 53 and 54’s front ends were so much better looking than the 55’s. Not sure how much difference in the production numbers were between those years but would guess they would be down in 55 because of the new styling and the introduction of the newly designed 55 Chevrolet.
Speedsters came standard with most everything and cost $3253 – a ton of $$$ in 1955. You could get a Olds 98 for a few hundred less. And when they were new people saw the front fenders on the essentially similar 53s already rusted up.