How educator Greg Lange decided to be a caretaker for a 1955 Studebaker President
Greg Lange, 53, an educator from Edmonds, Wash., on his 1955 Studebaker President, as told to A.J. Baime.
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April 7, 2015 9:16 PM
Oh, it stands out all right...that's one homely car.
April 7, 2015 9:15 PM
As Steady Breakers go, you certainly got a more unusual model than the Hawks or Avantis that are considered more collectible, but I love that you love it. Quite the time capsule. Enjoy!
April 7, 2015 9:15 PM
Back in "my day" you wouldn't be seen dead in one of those suckers. They bottom-ranked along with Henry J, DeSoto and Oldsmobile and Nash.Such are the prejudices of youth.
April 7, 2015 9:13 PM
My first new car was a Studebaker Hawk red/white. I still believe it is one of the best looking cars made.
April 7, 2015 9:13 PM
Studebaker...one of the major sponsors of "Mr. Ed..."
April 7, 2015 9:13 PM
Main problem, is they handled like supermarket trolleys.
April 7, 2015 9:12 PM
never was a "fan" of their sedans..however their pick-up "trucks" were rather interesting..
April 7, 2015 9:12 PM
I was hoping for an Avanti. Now that was a nice car!
April 7, 2015 9:11 PM
The Raymond Loewy designs of the early '50s, like the Studebaker Commander Starliner Hardtop, are classic.
April 7, 2015 9:10 PM
Greg,There's a family with a green Studebaker that lives just west of Bryant Elementary School. They may be the original owners. They are a really great couple. I hope you get to meet them.
April 7, 2015 9:10 PM
I have always admired the Studebaker, from my high high school days when I could just glimpse at a car and name its make, model and year. To me, this is one of the best and most beautiful, classic designs to come out of the U.S. It rivals any Italian design. Too bad it did not last longer. A real classic beauty!
April 7, 2015 9:09 PM
I still see Studebakers on occasion, and every once in a while a Packard. Saw Studebakers often as a kid. Amazingly enough, a Google search turned up someone who's trying to start his own version of Studebaker, but unfortunately I think this is coming to naught. If Studebaker had been able to settle on a niche, and successfully market to that niche, they might have been around longer. But Studebaker tried to be a full-line car and truck company competing with GM, Ford, and Chrysler, and that's what did them in.
April 7, 2015 9:09 PM
I had a 1950 Studebaker around 1959/60. It looked like it had been parked in saltwater, the fenders were rusted out. It burned a lot of oil, so I switched to 40 weight. The universal joints were noisy so I greased them regularly. The clutch slipped badly, except in reverse so I could always back out of mud holes. The fabric ducting for the heater was gone and oil smoke boiled up through the heater intake under the passenger seat. The radio antenna had broken off so I stuck a wire coat hanger in the hole. When the old radio hanging under the dash would act up I would kick it and then it played OK. It was a lot of fun and would have never passed any car inspection.
April 7, 2015 9:09 PM
The thing never left the garage. I think she sold it in the early 1970s for a few hundred dollars. Almost mint. Can't imagine what it would fetch today.
April 7, 2015 9:09 PM
My parents had a 49 Packard convertible. Packard later merged with Studie and produced the Golden Hawk which was a nice car.
April 7, 2015 9:09 PM
The good old "Steadypuker!!!" They originally made wagons. The Avanti with the Chevy engine was their "high water mark."