The glorious 1953 Commander coupe ranks as one of the company’s best designs. Its sleek lines were a sharp departure from earlier Commanders: it lost the humpy bonnet and haunchy fenders of old, and gained a graceful greenhouse. The car looked positively European. Sales of all Commander models in ’53 settled at just shy of 76,000, but a precipitous decline was in store, as the ’54 models – nearly unchanged – managed production of only 30,000 units. It was the beginning of the end for Studebaker. Here on facebook Marketplace is a near-perfect example of a 1953 Starliner with an asking price of $29,000 – no doubt a fraction of its restoration cost. This car is located in Chelsea, Michigan, and the new owner can drive it home. Thanks once again to T.J., who always manages to spot interesting finds.
We rarely see any car’s engine bay – let alone those profiled in Barn Finds – looking this well-detailed. This Studebaker could impress even the pickiest judge at the most high-falutin’ concours. The engine is a 232.6 cu. in. V8, factory-equipped with a two-barrel Stromberg. good for 120 hp. The only transmission available was a column-shift three-speed manual; overdrive was optional. The seller notes that his car drives like a modern vehicle – quiet, smooth, and responsive.
Upholstery options included nylon or vinyl, and by special order, leather. This is the “Golden Tan” pleated vinyl; note the pleats repeat on the door cards. The pattern includes a smooth surround framing the seating surface on the driver’s side only. The rear seats are pleated throughout. Gold anodized accents highlight the center badge on the steering wheel and the switch bases. The driver’s footwell is marred by dark stains, but other than that, the cabin is above reproach.
Thanks to a festering rivalry between Raymond Loewy and Virgil Exner, Exner left Studebaker in 1949. But the styling benchmarks he established when the first Commander coupes arrived in 1947 influenced Robert Bourke, working under Loewy, when it was time to update the model. Despite the intervening decades, the styling remains fresh. As to value, we can hardly complain about the seller’s price relative to the obvious quality of this restoration, but it’s worth noting that a similarly spectacular Starliner sold for $27,453 a year ago, just a bit shy of our seller’s asking price.
Beautiful car then and now. I admit to spending a lot of time looking at mine and admiring the smooth lines and overall shape of the car.
What a beautiful Studebaker. I agree with Michelle. You’d be hard pressed to find a nicer one, and no way you could restore one for what they’re asking. What a beautiful design. Hope it goes to a good new home.
I’m impressed by the almost mirror-like finish on the fan shroud.
Hard to believe this sleek and beautiful design is a 1953 model when you compare it to what was available from the big three automakers. While not a fan of this color it is certainly a great example. Hope they get all the money.
All the way until their demise, Studebaker would use the same basic platform. Through all its iterations (and many of them were very nice), from this car to the Hawk to the Grand Turismo, this is still the best.
This was quite a car in its debut, but it more or less killed Studebaker . a lot of money was spent on this completely new car , but Studebaker didnt have the money to come up with another model car, and this platform didnt work well on the sedan and 2 door wagon as they were smallish and a bit odd looking, which didnt help sales any. in two years the Big three had all new designs and engines ; the cars were getting flashier every year and looked like something out of the future , while Studebaker was left putting facelifts and doo dads on a quickly aging body style . In a time where glitz and new styles were all the rage, Studebaker didnt have a chance
This car is perfect in just about every way, including the color which I like. It’s as close to “new” as you can get. There’s a ’73 Nova elsewhere on this page in not quite as nice of shape that is being sold for half again as much. Would I take that, or this? It’s a no brainer. Gimme the Stude!
What’s not to like?
That it isn’t MINE!
It’s a great design with a great color combination. Black with golden tan vinyl and redline tires would sharp. The design, IMHO, is right up there with a MB 300 SL gullwing for the period. I remember buying, as a kid, the Studebaker model kit at the big Marshall Fields store while on a school field trip to Chicago in the mid 1970’s. The teachers let us wonder around the store for part of the day… I’m sure the store appreciated that.
I only got to Marshall Fields once a,year for the Christmas displays. The folks would take us there to see all the store’s displays. All I ever got from ‘Fields was Frango mints. Didn’t even know they sold models. (Mom probably intentionally kept me away the models!)
The fit and finish were on a par with the medium Buick and Hudson, a step above Ford and Chevy, the V8 was troublesome in some, the ’53 frame flexed, fixed for the ’54’s. These were some of the reasons the ’54’s did not sell as well, based on the issues of the ’53’s. But this is the best of the lot, and, to me, a great color. Chevy had a bronze-like color in ’54 as well, loved it then, and now.
Worth every penny of the asking price.
Two things. There are more photos to check on Facebook site, along with a good video, though none of under. Secondly, the seller is a dealer with a not great record of selling before an arranged meeting. This car really looks fine, but it may well disappear prior to view without a deposit or way to hold. Lots of one-star reviews.
This was a high point for Studebaker, stylewise. Hate this colour, though. Near-perfect example. These used to rust-out around the cowl-vent: did they restore a rust-free example? — or will we encounter some hidden bondo in the usual places, here? Always loved the look of these: wouldn’t care to own one, though.
I thought Studebaker began offering an automatic transmission in 1950.
Yes they did and was popular in 53.
Regarding the stains in the driver’s side footwell, It’s quite possible the interior is all original with the stated mileage. The carpeting was unique in that the nap was sort of ribbed cut pile (best seen on the transmission hump in one of the FBM photos). You really can’t get accurate reproductions today. The close up of the driver’s seat back vinyl also looks like it has the correct grain.
Minor correction, Michelle – A Detroit Gear automatic was available in these cars in addition to the 3-speed, but the 3-speed with OD and hill-holder is my preferred combination.
Correction: Studebaker DID have an automatic trans option. I believe it came out during the 1950 model year. It was a Borg Warner unit and BW also supplied Ford with the same unit (“Fordomatic”).
I think they used Detroit Gear automatics through ’55. They supposedly were very good units with lock up torque converters. In ’56 they switched to the (presumably cheaper) BW unit with 2nd gear start for the V8 powered cars.
What wonderful styling……..especially for the early 1950’s. I’ve heard that Studebaker always built a superior automobile compared to the big three.
They didnt.
“The glorious 1953 Commander coupe ranks as one of the company’s best designs…..”
So sorry Michelle ,but that qualifier is an egregious injustice !
Certainly these rank as one of the top automotive designs EVER , and certainly of the era .
I stand corrected! Thanks mainly…
Love the car and hate the color.
A beautiful car and a good writting Michelle. It feels like the car design’ masters of the era have gradually disappeared in USA and in Europe as well. Now in the era of streamlining you have to look at the bonnet of any car to be sure about the maker. I recall that the brother of my grandmather, my uncle, at the time an immigrant in Africa that became rich (Greece was unbelievable poor after WWII and many left) ordered in the USA a Studebaker 1953 model as a wedding gift to my aunt. It was sold soon after because it was too expensive for the young newlyweds to maintain.