Studebaker

The C Cab Studebaker Pickup was basically a HotRod from her very conception in 1949. HotRodders of the day were already taking the Old Bubbled Fendered Trucks, chopping the tops, flaring the fenders, installing big white wall tires, and shoeing in a V8. That is exactly what the Studebaker was strait from the factory, a Factory Built HotRod, or was she? Low roofline, steel flared fenders, and whitewall tires, very desirable still today the C Cab only lacked the V8, Ford still dominated in that market. Yet the 2R's Like their earlier cousins, the low profile car bodied pickups, were very popular.
 
However change was the name of the game; and for Studebaker, more then not, change spelt doom. Dropping their 2R line was no exception, Studebakers popularity was dropping like a rock. Studebakers Scotsman pickup, a Retro, a Throback version of Studebaker's 2R, would be a bump in that fall. indeed the Scotsman was well excepted. Had Studebaker thought a little more HotRod when they brought back her desirable bodystyle. The timing was correct, the truck desirable, only their advertising was wrong. Studebaker, although they offered the V8, advertised the 6, the striped down economy version that had been a success with their Scotsman "family" car, forgetting that a recession is mearily a gathering of money by the Ritch who too have an Accelies Heal in desire. So at the very dawn of the Muscle Car Error, Studebaker had the look, had the machine, but blew it in not advertising the HotRod they had. Lower her and add whitewalls, and maybe toss in some pinstripping; a little forethought and Studebaker would probably still be building Trucks today.

 
There can be no doubt of the NudeAutoMall's interest in this body style StudBuster Pickup, they have just always been a pricy truck even for those in less than desirable condition. This StudBuster was no exception. Only they wanted my Harley almost as bad as I wanted a StudBuster. A 2R would have been fine, but a Retro V8 2R, what a find, only 13 are known to have survived of about 600 built! The Scotsmans are Rare, period. A Scotsman with the almost unadvertised V8, much rarer. Her condition was not the greatest, but on second look, she was fairly solid. The thing about StudBusters is that they are simply different. Every Car Show is swarmed with Fords and Chevys, and thusly it takes a bit of work to make them stand out. Studebakers are to say the least, uncommon, they stand out. Add to the unusuallity of the StudBuster that they are visually appealing, and you have one very desireable ride. Bottom Line, one very Kool Truck well worth bring back to life.

 
The Rear Quarter and Rear Fender of this Old Studebaker were pretty mangled by a couple of old accidents. Blow Torch Body Work, cut welded heated and beat made a real mess out of some nice old vintage tin. Not that I havent used the torch myself a few times. Cuts and heat are truly necessary from time to time; but sometimes it is just better to use new metal.

 
Bullet Holes. Had a request as to how to fix Bullet Holes, and as we engaged the improbity drive, what were the odds that we would find an old Studebaker Bed in some junk given us by the Sheriff? Glad they thought of us instead of the scrappers, good to see anyone in Government trying to save Old Iron, instead of just cleaning it up (scraping our heritage). Anyhow these parts have plenty of Bullet Holes. Unfortunately this new Polaroid Camera is only blurry, and close up the Polariod is at it's worst. Hopefully next time I do Bullet Holes, I'll have a real camera again.