I saw a 53 Studebaker speedster tonight - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 09-20-2007, 03:07 AM

It was very very low to the ground like a porsche speedster with a very smalll roadster top. Short with only the one bench seat in front. Kindof a copper color with a v8, stick and dual exhausts. I had driven it to my folks house in rainy conditions and there was mud on the floor behind the seat. It was so low small and sleek. And it was mine.

The coolest car I ever owned.

And it was a dream.

A side effect of the flue, I guess.

Of course they never made one but now I will be thinking of making one since it was so cool looking,

Tom W

Trakehner · #2 09-20-2007, 03:16 AM

Wow, you've owned nice cars! I just googled a photo of one. How many cars have you owned in your life?

Jim B. · #3 09-20-2007, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

It was very very low to the ground like a porsche speedster with a very smalll roadster top. Short with only the one bench seat in front. Kindof a copper color with a v8, stick and dual exhausts. I had driven it to my folks house in rainy conditions and there was mud on the floor behind the seat. It was so low small and sleek. And it was mine.

The coolest car I ever owned.

And it was a dream.

A side effect of the flue, I guess.

Of course they never made one but now I will be thinking of making one since it was so cool looking,

Tom W

Get well soon, and here is praying that in the meantime you won't get so delirious that you go out and buy a piece of junk like a 1995 Camaro convertible or something!

LaRondo · #4 09-20-2007, 03:48 AM

I never heard of that one. It looks similar to the 'Hawk'.

Jim B. · #5 09-20-2007, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trakehner

Wow, you've owned nice cars! I just googled a photo of one. How many cars have you owned in your life?

It was a LOT. He answered the question once on a thread about this question, and there were so many, it was felt he had owned more different cars than anybody else who had ever been on Mercedesshop.

LaRondo · #6 09-20-2007, 05:40 AM

t walgamuth · #7 09-20-2007, 06:40 AM

Thanks, about a hundred.

I presently have two that I sold off some years back and bought back recently. both 123 mercedes, really the only cars well enough made for that scenario to work on.

Actually there was a Studebaker called a speedster, but it was a hard top. The 55 car pictured above may be a speedster.

The car in my dream was a little roadster version of the '53 Raymond Lowey designed coupe. The 53 was one of the best car designs ever, imho. Dad had one when I was a kid. It was his last interesting car before being overwhelmed by practicality and having eight children to haul around. All of the Hawks that followed were gussied up versions of the Lowey coupe. Under those tall fins (which are actually fiberglass) are the orignial 53 studie fenders.

That little Studebaker roadster that I dreamed up was cool though.

I had to write about it before the image faded away. I just came in here and wrote that post and went back to bed in hopes of dreaming of it again.....but I didn't.

Tom W

rickg · #8 09-20-2007, 07:00 AM

Needs to be the earlier Loewy design

t walgamuth · #9 09-20-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickg

Needs to be the earlier Loewy design

That is a 1950 studie "bulletnose" styled after the p-38 twin fuselage fighter plane of ww2, IIRC. Dad had a 51 bulletnose, identical except for details to that monster!

Loweys designs were not all hall of famers, but that bulletnose desgin sold very well for them.

Raymond Lowey's designs included some famous locomotives, lots of cars that you may or may not recognize, the famous parker pen and many many more. Google him and you will see what I mean.

Tom W

TheDon · #10 09-20-2007, 11:52 AM

I love the cars of past.. they had quality, beauty, soul and all that jazz

You know how car collectors tell you to go down old country roads and just look.. I was doing that the other day while taking a short cut into town... oh man.. I found a Hudson Hornet!!! in decent condition... oh man.. I want to sell my soul for it

865sp300e · #11 09-20-2007, 02:15 PM

I have an uncle who loves Studebakers, the most memorable was a '57 Golden Hawk, he now owns a '29 Commander Sedan.

t walgamuth · #12 09-20-2007, 02:25 PM

The golden hawk came out at the same time as the 57 chevy and many other finned american cars. I always liked them because my family still was driving studies.

My dad worked at studies in the late forties and early fifties. Also my uncle and grandfather. I have my grandfather's 15, 20 and 25 year studebaker pins.

The 57 hawk as noted earlier is basically a 53 studie with different hood and fins stuck on back.

Tom W

LaRondo · #13 09-21-2007, 12:31 AM

In 1996, I had an opportunity to purchase a 1958 Stude President 4 door hardtop sedan, in impaccable condition. The owner asked $5500 for it. Because of personal circumstances, I was unable to buy it. Now I can't even find a picture of this model/year online ....

LaRondo · #14 09-21-2007, 12:35 AM

But ... they still have the 'Avanti'.

daveuz · #15 09-21-2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

It was very very low to the ground like a porsche speedster with a very smalll roadster top. Short with only the one bench seat in front. Kindof a copper color with a v8, stick and dual exhausts. I had driven it to my folks house in rainy conditions and there was mud on the floor behind the seat. It was so low small and sleek. And it was mine.

The coolest car I ever owned.

And it was a dream.

A side effect of the flue, I guess.

Of course they never made one but now I will be thinking of making one since it was so cool looking,

Tom W

Vince Gardner , who worked for Lowey , had a roadster (1947) Stude. The Gardner special he crafted up. Gardner very interesting story was also involved with the Cord 810 design (circa 1934).