Located in a field near Greenville, North Carolina lies a “collection” of Studebaker cars and one truck. They’re all from the 1950s and 1960s and how they came together here isn’t known. They’ve been sitting outside since they were “found”, so rust is a certainty and mechanical condition unknown. They’re priced from as little as $500 to $1,200 at the high end. They’re available here on craigslist and, if you’re a Studebaker fan, bring a trailer and take one or more home with you! Our hat’s off to Gunter Kramer for this tip.
The seller isn’t certain of the model years of several of the cars, so the ones labeled 1951 may not be that model year. They all appear to be from the days before Studebaker merged with Packard, while the others are representative of the company’s final years. Unfortunately, there are no Hawks or Avanti’s in this group of at least nine vehicles (mostly sedans, but one truck and one convertible), Some of the hoods were rusted shut, so the seller couldn’t open many to verify what drivetrain is sitting underneath. And only one of the vehicles has a title, but the seller isn’t sure which car that piece of paper matches.
The 1950’s
1951 ? Commander 2-door Starlight Coupe – it has a transmission, but no engine. Asking $700.
1951 ? Commander 4-door Land Cruiser – it has a 232 cubic inch V8 engine. Asking $850.
1951 ? Champion 2-door Convertible – may or may not have a drivetrain. Asking $1,200.
1951 ? Champion 2door Sedan – may or may not have a drivetrain. Asking $800.
1959 Scotsman Pickup – may be a ½ ton truck. The seller is unsure if it’s a six or eight-cylinder engine. Has a tailgate from a GM truck. Asking $1,000.
The 1960’s
1960 Lark VIII 4-door Sedan – it has a 259 cubic inch V8. Asking $500.
1963 Lark 2-door Sedan – it also has a V8 engine. Asking $550.
1964 Commander 4-door Sedan – it has a 259 cubic inch V8. Asking $500.*
1964 Commander 2-door Sedan – it also has a 259 V8. Asking $500.*
*Studebaker shut down its South Bend, Indiana plant around Christmas 1963. After that, all production shifted to Hamilton, Ontario. So, depending on when those two cars were built, they could be of U.S. or Canadian origin. Automobile production would cease altogether two years later.
If you tally everything up, the tab looks to be $6,600 for all nine vehicles. Bet you could make a package deal to haul them all away, but then what would you do? Try to restore, part them out, add to the lawn art?
I always feel bad for Studebaker. Great vehicles, like Rambler, the last holdouts to the Big 3, but in the end, didn’t matter. I think there’s still enough Studebaker interest, someone will buy the whole lot for peanuts, but for anyone to restore one of these, that ship has sailed. Great find for someone, I hope.
Unfortunately, more like ‘dud’abakers.
I would take that 59 pick up in a heart beat… I have plans already… I have a D70 rear end, a 440 big block… strengthen what needs it and drive it as she sits… I’d probably put new seats in her too..LOL
There’s not a car in the bunch which is desirable or valuable enough to restore. As parts cars there’s not a lot there beyond perhaps the convertible top frame. An auto recycler might haul them away for free.
There was a truck like the one pictured about 6-10 months ago North of SF, CA. It was a driver with a 350 for about 5k from what I recall on Craigs. The only thing strange was the few pictures provided were taken at night.
Steve Magnante just devoted an episode of Junkyard Gold to Studebakers. It was a good history of a car company I knew very little about.
Yes I saw that episode tooo!
Whale…..where are the LS and low rider guys ?
As someone who has owned many Studebakers and worked on hundreds of them, I can tell you these are likely only good for parts. The tan 2-door ’63 lark V8 appears to be equipped with Studebaker factory [underdash] A/C.
Sadly, the few vehicles that could have been great restoration candidates a decade ago, are now suitable only for parts. Sure, they could be restored, but the costs & labor involved for the Commander convertible and the Starlite Coupe, just to do the rust repairs, means you will be terribly upside down when finished.
The high cost of transportation is a major impediment in saving these cars. I don’t know of any Studebaker parts suppliers in the south eastern USA, so hopefully someone local can come out and strip the useable parts off the cars before they get crushed.
The info on the Starlight Coupe has been deleted from the ad, so it’s probably sold.
I dont know that I would call it a “collection”
That pickup is NOT a 1959. It is a 1949 to 1955 model . That is a R model cab produced in those years. !959 would have been a champion which this is not.
Love the truck but may be too far gone. Definitely a full on project for anyone interested. Don’t have room for anymore projects at this point. But great find anyway
That pickup is neither a 1959 or a Scotsman. That is an R5 body which makes it a 1949 to 1955 model. Scotsman were built 1956 to 1958. Different body style. 1959 is the beginning of the Champion pickups and in another new body style.