One of the most important services in small towns and cities throughout the Americas in the nineteenth century was the blacksmith shop. In 1852, the brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker opened their blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana. Operating initially under the name H & C Studebaker, the business would eventually evolve into the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of wagons and buggies.
During the transition between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a new form of transportation began to emerge: the automobile. Hundreds of small companies entered into the business of manufacturing automobiles. In 1902, Studebaker began to make cars. They began manufacturing electric cars and the second car made by Studebaker was purchased by Thomas Edison.
Studebaker began making gasoline powered cars in 1904. At this time, the company offered both horse drawn and self-propelled vehicles. Automobiles were manufactured in the company’s Detroit plant and the horse drawn carriages in its South Bend plant.
In 1911, the company became The Studebaker Corporation. Production of horse drawn carriages stopped in 1920. As for many other car companies, the 1920s were profitable years for Studebaker, but the Great Depression brought a dramatic decrease in car sales. By 1933, Studebaker was nearly bankrupt, but Paul Hoffman and Harold Vance, who had been appointed receivers, led the company back to solvency by 1935.
While automobiles started as modified carriages—and were thus known as horseless carriages—by the 1930s they bore little resemblance to the vehicles of two decades earlier. Design had become important in attracting buyers. So in 1936 Studebaker contracted with Raymond Loewy Associates to design its cars. The Loewry designs included the 1939 Champion, the 1947 Starlight Coupe, the 1950 “Bullet Nose”, the 1953 Starliner Hardtop and the 1963 Avanti.
During World War II, all automobile production stopped in the United States and the automakers turned to the production of war equipment. Studebaker produced engines for the B-17 airplanes. In addition, it produced a military vehicle known as the Weasel.
Shown above is the Studebaker Weasel.
Following World War II, Studebaker introduced new styling and attempted to establish itself as an automotive style leader. In 1950, it introduced the “bullet nose” styling. However, during the 1950s competition in the automotive market was stiff and Studebaker sales declined. In 1954, Studebaker merged with the Packard Motor Car Company. In 1958, the Packard brand was discontinued.
In 1959, Studebaker introduced its compact car, the Lark. Sales were good, but not enough to make the company profitable. In 1962, Studebaker introduced the Avanti. While stylish and modern, the Avanti failed to save the company. At the end of 1963, Studebaker closed its South Bend plant. The last Studebaker was assembled at the Hamilton, Ontario plant on March 17, 1966.
Shown below are some Studebakers which are on display in automobile museums.
LeMay—America’s Car Museum
Harold LeMay, a Tacoma businessman, loved cars and managed to collect more than 3,000 automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles over forty years of collecting. A number of the vehicles from his collection form the nucleus of the LeMay—America’s Car Museum. This collection of more than 300 cars, motorcycles, and trucks is displayed in a four-level building in Tacoma, Washington. Shown below are some of the Studebakers displayed in this museum.
Shown above is a 1947 Studebaker M-15 One Ton Pickup Truck.
Shown above is a 1951 Studebaker Champion Starlight, 2-Door Coupe.
Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum
The Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon has a collection of more than 100 automobiles. Shown below are some of the Studebakers in this collection.
Shown above is a 1929 Studebaker Commander 8. Studebaker began using the Commander name in 1927 and produced Commanders until 1964.
Shown above is a 1938 Studebaker State Commander.
Shown above: 1947 Studebaker Commander Starlight Coupe.
Shown above is 1950 Studebaker 1 ½ Ton Flatbed Truck.
Shown above is a 1951 Studebaker Champion. The Studebaker Champion, first introduced in 1939, was one of Studebaker’s best-selling models. The Champion was phased out in 1958.
Shown above is a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk. The Golden Hawk was produced from 1956 to 1958.
Shown above is a 1960 Studebaker Lark Convertible.
The Montana Auto Museum
The Montana Auto Museum is housed in the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge, Montana. The museum displays more than 150 automobiles. Shown below are some of the Studebakers on display in this museum.
Shown above is a 1950 Studebaker Champion which featured “bullet-nose” front and rear bumpers. It sold for $1,981.