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Utilitarian Beauty: 1938 Studebaker K10 Fast Express

Who decided that utilitarian vehicles couldn’t be beautiful? Well, Studebaker obviously had an interesting vision with their beautiful prewar trucks. This gorgeous machine is claimed to be 1 of roughly 100 units built in this configuration. Rare, beautiful, and built on a full size truck frame? Where can I sign to sell a kidney or two for this lovely Deco era machine? With 7 days remaining, this Studebaker is bid up to $20,100 with the reserve unmet. Find it here on eBay out of Denver, Colorado. Thanks to “Jake from MN” for the beautiful submission!

Having spent 25 years with the current owner, it is clear this Studebaker has been cherished. Fit as a fiddle, this 6 cylinder engine is clean and authentic. Note the cloth covered wiring. The 6 cylinder is described as the original numbers machine engine. The engine bay is in excellent condition, as is the engine.

The interior is much like the exterior. Beautifully stunning.  The interior draws resemblance to a museum, or a fine Art Deco dance hall. The dash looks as if it would be from a higher end automobile that would pack a few more cylinders, instead of being in a pickup. The banjo steering wheel is wonderful. This interior is like a time chamber. Virtually flaw free, and absolutely gorgeous.

Displaying its reflective qualities, this Studebaker is a very nice truck. Possibly one of the nicest restored trucks of this vintage I have seen. The sheet metal is clean and straight and there are no waves in the body panels. The paint is smooth enough to see if you have any of your lunch left in your teeth. The underbody reflects that this truck has been used lightly, and only in fair conditions. The undercarriage is clean enough to run your hands over with white gloves. Rare, beautiful, and in excellent condition, is this Studebaker the truck of your dreams?

Comments

  1. Avatar Howard A Member

    I’m just speechless. ( some might go “YAY”) I thought I’ve seen them all. I’m familiar with the “Coupe Express”, but this needs to be in a museum. So many cool little things, the hole in the water pump pulley for grease, the “heat” ( instead of temp) gauge, brake light not hooked up, ( one little light above the license plate, look what we have today, the whole back lights up, and even THAT isn’t good enough), just an amazing truck. Tell you what, with 17 leafs on the back axle( I counted them) this won’t be a cushy ride.( while it’s nice it’s original, that really could have been taken down some) I’d say, got to be a 1-ton, at least. It appears, Studebaker was trying to cash in on the “Diamond T crowd”. Those wheel covers, I think they are wheel covers, look a lot like the Diamond T. As beautiful as this is, quite possibly, the most beautiful pickup I’ve ever seen too ( love the 30’s stuff) it looks a tad odd. Got this big grill, wide spaced headlights, wide running boards, this small cab, and a very snazzy bed.( However, I don’t care for the wide whites, or any “whites” on a truck, for that matter) Museum piece, 6 figures, for sure. What a find, Brian.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Bobsmyuncle

    Any experts know which plant this would have been built in?

    Like 1
  3. Avatar Jim B

    Absolutely, stunningly beautiful. Great find, Jake from MN!!!

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Joeinthousandoaks

    Odd proportions but what a beautiful pickup.

    I beleive these would have been produced in the Indiana plant.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar geomechs Member

    Talk about one of a kind! That DOES need to belong in a museum. On the other hand it still needs to be exercised to keep it in good shape and allow the owner some quality time with it. Butchering this would be a justifiable homicide…

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Ed P

    Yay. I agree with Howard, the ride would be harsh. However with such a beautiful finish the white walls look good but, inappropriate for a working truck.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Chris in WNC

    lose the whitewalls and it will look perfect……

    Like 0
  8. Avatar JW454

    This appears to be a “Gentleman’s” truck much like the Chevrolet Cameo or the Dodge Swept Line from the late 1950’s or perhaps the Hudson pickup from the late 40’s. Somehow, I just don’t see anyone using this truck to load cow manure in the barnyard to haul out to the garden when it was new.

    Very nice truck. I agree it should be in a museum and maybe driven a few times each year.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Jim Mc

    It’s bea-UTE-iful.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Jerryl

    The bed and rear fenders are not stock. The stock bed looks much much better.
    The 1937 version is also more attractive.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Bruce Best

    There is one that has very low miles up in Idaho in a national park, I was used as a pump engine for a mine. The bed was on it and a shack built over it when I saw it. If memory serves it had less than 20K miles on it and was totally perfect. I would have taken it back in the late 70’s if there had been a road to get it out on.

    Jerryl is correct that this is not the original bed for the rear fenders swept into the start of the fenders that was on the bed itself. Very unusual design feature. These are sized more like a dodge Dakota than what is considered a full size truck today. The I look at it more like an El Camino than a true work truck so the white wall tires do not offend.

    This is one of those designs that is far better looking in real life than in photos. Even one as nice as this one. As for that one in the mountains of Idaho and or Montana I am not telling so do not ask. I have dreams of renting some mules and getting it out for me.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Dolphin Member

    This Stude is just too cool.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar studelover

    That is the original bed and fenders. You are mistaking this truck for the smaller coupe express truck that was built on a car frame. This truck model was called the fast express and this was the deluxe bed that was available from the factory. Here is a factory photo.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Howard A Member

      Hi studelover, research shows you are correct. The K10 was a 1 ton and the K15, which had dual rear wheels and I’d imagine a 1.5 ton, came in several styles. This pickup box, a stake bed or a cab and chassis and fitted with this fire engine body. Most pictures I’ve seen, they weren’t near this fancy. I believe they were called “Fast Transport Express”.
      http://billstudepage.homestead.com/files/42K15fire.jpg

      Like 0
    • Avatar Bruce Best

      Sorry you are correct

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Jerryl

    Thanks for the additional information. I stand corrected.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar packrat

    This and the 37 Hudson Terraplane truck barnfinds featured in 2014 are two of the prettiest cab designs for a truck I have ever seen IMO and I would love to have either one of them restored to the nines like this.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar studelover

    Truck was discussed on the Studebaker drivers club forum and a gentleman posted these images of the original truck sales flyer from 1938. Images were not clear enough to read but the pictures are cool.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Howard A Member

      Thanks studelover, can you imagine finding a panel like that?

      Like 0
  17. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Not that I can afford to buy it, but I sure would like to see some photos of this pretty girl in some light.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Melvin Burwell

    That’s the most beautiful truck on earth. My goodness. The truck of your dreams. This should be six figures?

    Like 0
  19. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Well she didn’t get to six figures, but sold for $59,000.00. With 55 bids.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Kurt

    Not My favorite Studie truck but I agree, for a heavy truck,Studebaker outdid themselves and every other manufacturer of the era..Just gorgeous..My tastes lean a year earlier and quite a few pounds lighter with the 37 Pickup..The Presidents front sheetmetal carried over from the car line does it for me! Cleanest looking design of anything from the 30’s..And Studebaker had the smarts to build an all steel bed that looked futuristic and Art Deco at the same time! Just like Raymond Lowey did in 53!!!!

    Like 0

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