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Well Hung Barn Find: 1927 Erskine Sedan

This remarkably well preserved 1927 Erskine Sedan Model 50W was the product of the famed Studebaker automobile company. It has been stored in a very interesting way and although not used since 1956, it is still in amazing condition. Find it here on eBay in Portland, Oregon with bidding $2,827 with the reserve not yet met.

Studebaker was once one of the foremost makers of quality cars in the US, beginning near the turn of the 20th Century. To diversify production, Albert Erskine, Studebaker’s President, had his engineers design a variety of cars including the Erskine, which debuted in 1927. This particular car was purchased new in 1927 and used until 1932, then garage-stored on blocks until 1956 when the original owner’s son used it for the summer. The car still retains its 1956 license plate.

Up until 1956 the car had accumulated only 28k miles. It was then driven out to the family farm and stored by hanging it from the rafters of the barn to guard against moisture, vandalism, and hopefully rodent damage. Seems like a strange way to store a vehicle, but it appears to have worked because it is in remarkable condition.

The car still retains its original paint and interior, and even the original tool kit and jack are still in place. A few mice were able to shimmy down the ropes and cause a little damage to the rear seat, but nothing that can’t be fixed. The wooden wheels are said to run true and the tires still hold air, although it would be prudent to replace them with reproduction tires if you plan on driving anywhere.

The numerous photos in the listing and on the seller’s site show a car that has minimal rust around the door edges and which needs upholstery and trim work, but which is otherwise very nice. The floors under the original mats are virtually rust free. The bumpers, lights, hardware and dash are intact and mostly in good condition. The seller suggests that this Erskine may be the nicest original 1927 Erskine still in existence.

This car may be unique, and its present condition makes it difficult to think of tearing into it as a 100-point restoration project. We would fix the cracked carburetor, fit new reproduction tires, and consider doing some limited paintwork to preserve it as it is to show the world what the once-great Studebaker company could produce when it decided to move downmarket and compete with firms making less expensive cars. If nothing else, just remember to hang your car from the rafters next time it goes into storage.

Comments

  1. Avatar Bob W.

    Nice. Love those orphan cars.

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  2. Avatar scot

    ~ i’m interested to see how it was suspended. i’ve got an old mother-in-law could use preserving.

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  3. Avatar Dan

    Beautiful car, never heard of it before.

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  4. Avatar Richard Van Hoose

    I say do as little as possible to make it drivable, unrestored cars such as this have great value for many reasons when left in their present condition.

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  5. Avatar Mark E

    Just FYI, you -CAN- vandalize things hung in a barn…the 1920s vintage barn blew down on my friend’s farm and when examined the cupola had plenty of bullet holes in it, some apparently shot from INSIDE the barn…

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  6. Avatar Bob

    Are you supposed to be able to remove the wheels using that very short wrench?

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    • Avatar Earlin

      No. That little short wrench just removes the hubcap – in those days, hubcaps were truly hubcaps. Then you remove the cotterkey, the large holding nut and then the wheel. Another wrench is used to remove the rim from the wheel. Then remove the tire and inner tube in the usual manner.

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      • Avatar Water

        Do you know anything about the Erskine carburetor? I purchased a 1927 Roadster in Brazil and there is a part missing on top of the carburetor that I think controls a pin that huts off the fuel coming into the “up draft carburetor”

        Walter

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    • Avatar Earlin

      Kinda yes. The wrench removes the hubcap – back when hubcaps were truly HUB caps, then remove a cotter key, the large hub nut THEN the wheel.

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  7. Avatar Tara

    Wow, i would love something like this to drive around in, i just love these older cars, its certainly the best looking barn find car i have ever seen, usualy there is not much left of anything that has been in a barn since 1956.

    Like 0

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