Studebaker was not only in the automobile business but also built pickup trucks. Such as the 2RS Series produced from 1949 to 1953. They were modern by the standards of the day, including the industry’s first running board-less pickups. This 1949 half-ton edition has been in the barn for ages, and its engine/transmission now resides in the bed of the truck. Needing a thorough restoration, the rolling project is near Sacramento, California, and is available here on craigslist for $2,500. Kudos for the patina tip, “Barney”.
The new late-1940s Studebaker trucks looked cleaner than others on the market after World War II. But mechanically, they were the “same-old-same-ole” using the 170 cubic inch inline-6 from Studebaker’s Champion passenger cars. They were a bit underpowered until a 245 I-6 and a V8 came along later. These trucks were largely unchanged for years until the Champ light-duty models arrived a decade later. Studebaker would exit the truck market in late 1963 when U.S. vehicle production was discontinued.
This 1949 truck is a true barn find that the seller describes as being in “salvage” condition. That’s likely because the drivetrain was pulled out (why?) and now sits in the back of the pickup. Perhaps a restoration was in the plans at some point, but things changed, and work never got off the drawing board.
If there is rust beyond the surface variety, the photos don’t help much. But the Studebaker is a patina lover’s dream as you can’t really tell what the original color of the vehicle was. It may or may not be complete, and we can’t tell if the interior looks any better than the exterior. These trucks weren’t around in huge quantities when new, so finding one in any condition today is probably not easy. Would you take a chance on bringing this old soldier back to life?
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