Coming Or Going?

Studebaker’s bizarrely shaped back window was the brunt of jokes but didn’t stop the company from enjoying its best sales year in 1950. And could its huge 15-inch diameter rims help other cars with four-lugs reach higher speeds? Watch and discover.

[@tjjohnson9876]

Being out in the torrential heat and humidity to educate us viewers means an incredible effort on your part Steve. I appreciate and love these videos. Thank you for all that you do!!

[@kevinruble6858]

Finally, Katie gets the recognition she deserves 😉

[@mrfish3961]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@johnh3476]

Agree!

[@CatholicBoy1957]

So happy Katie got some luv returned from Steve. .

[@lelandcarlson1668]

My "commodious" count is four. You owe your buddy four bucks! Great video as always. I love learning automotive history. Thanks.

[@charlesacker8552]

Studebaker afficionado here. Wonderful informative video. In addition to my 1955 President I have a 1950 Commander. There are numerous apparent inconsistencies in Studebaker's treatment of the cheaper Champion and the more expensive Commander. The vacuum wipers were shared by both models. While the move to aircraft type shocks was welcome the Commander retained knee action shock absorbers. As you noted, turn signals were optional, as were backup lights. The more wrap around rear glass you noted had four segments and inaugurated the moniker "Starlite." Immensely enjoyable video.

[@user-wj3jl6tf2q]

It appears that Studebaker used high quality paint. I'm amazed at the condition of the paint on the frame and front end parts. The yellow paint on the body looks decent too.

[@jimc3688]

I see Fords on the road today with more rust.

[@vw4x4]

You have to be very observant. I noticed this also, but the f'ing camera jack A$$ , is as useless as it gets, and we didn't get a very good look at it.

[@tomwesley7884]

For as awful as the body looks, the frame and suspension look amazingly clean

[@lilmike2710]

​@@vw4x4Scroll back to 10:08 and hit pause. Then you can sit and stare at the door jamb as long as you want. 😏

[@lilmike2710]

​@@tomwesley7884I noticed that as well. But for all it's rusty ugliness, it appeared to only be surface rust. The only elemental damage that I saw was in the trunk, where the spare tire was meant to go.

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

That’s a thirsty Katie! Nice to see that you are aware of your costars needs! Cool video! I love those cars! I went to south bend once ,and saw their old plant! I also picked up a load at the then repurposed, Studebaker plant at 615 west 131st , street between broadway and 12th,ave in,New York City! It was a joy! I was driving an over the road / long haul/ highway tractor, and a 53 foot trailer! I had to blind side back into the alley slash dock, the people across the street had to open their garage doors, so I could pull my hood inside their garage,to get straight It was a back and forth adjustment! My clutch leg was twitching by the time I got in to the dock! They said I was the first driver to ever get a highway tractor trailer Combination to their dock! They said that they usually only loaded straight trucks there! It wasn’t easy getting out either! But, it was a cool historical building! Glad I never had to go back in a truck! I went back on google earth to check it out, but they’ve knocked down the residential properties across the street, there are new buildings there now! But the old alley slash dock, is still there! As well as the Studebaker building itself! I found out later that I wasn’t even supposed to be in there with an Over the road tractor, never mind a 53’ trailer, ooops! Good ole days!

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@jeffrey Carleton Oh I know the feeling been a Teamster Truck Driver myself 26 years. You pull up to a stop and look at the Dock. And you say out loud there is no way anybody can back in there. And you give it a shot and Bingo you bump the dock. But a lot of those older buildings like in your case they didn’t have Tractor Trailers that big they were intended for just Box Truck or Straight Trucks like you said. Greetings from San Diego. 👍

[@youtubefilmvisionary67]

Thanks for this Great memory of a Car Steve Magnante!!😊 ....my Great Grandmother's sister had a 1950 Studebaker I remember her Driving it up the Block to my Grandmother's this little old lady Driving & shifting it 😂 & this was about 1980 I was 12 so this was such a site !! I've never Forgotten it

[@dewworm1666]

I love that you never miss a dig at Motor Trend, Steve Mags. Greatly enjoyed The Tony DeFeo collaboration too! Youre Junkyard Gold, and I mean that in the most complimentary way!

[@tomwesley7884]

I happened to catch that yesterday, about an hour in

[@SteveMagnante]

Thanks for watching and writing. Uncle Tony DeFeo was / is a hero of mine. I used to read his stuff and then go out and do a little street racing after. When I say "street racing", we were a bunch of 18 to 30 year olds with a lot of money invested in our various cars looking to do some side-by-side validation tests. we always did dangerous things SAFELY and used a lightly travelled stretch of four-lane highway waaaay out on the edge of town. It was a great time in my life circa 1987 - 1990. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@dewworm1666]

@@SteveMagnante And you're a hero of mine...Been listening to every word from BJA since at least 2009 and I dont think I've forgotten a single obscure fact. Thank YOU for all your intentional and unintentional lessons, and even more for taking the time to reply. I grew up in a '68 Chrysler Newport as our family car, with a 1967 L78 Camaro rs/ss convertible in the garage. I love classic 1960's Detroit steel more than anything but have never had a Drivers license due to undiagnosed mental illness thwarting any chance before I was old enough to have the privilege, and am closer now than Ive ever been...although, still miles away it seems. But thats enough of that pity-party shit. Junk-yard crawler for life!

[@frankjones4094]

My Dad taught me to drive my first car at 11y.o. in 1964. It was a 50 Commander 4dr he paid $15 for it from a woman who had to get it out of the apartment parking lot where she lived. It was a three on the tree and the shifter was broke off. I remember how hard it was to shift with a little stub sticking out of the column and look over the dash at the same time.

[@genemanno1533]

Steve, another super Studebaker video. I was about three when my dad had a commander. We have pictures of me playing in it, standing behind the wheel and in the back window. As I recall it was grey and both mom and dad drove the three on the tree with a flat head 6 cylinder. Dad filled in the stuff I was too small to remember years ago.😊

[@robbchastain3036]

Thanks, Steve, for your love of rusty relics and all the work and craftsmanship and innovations which thousands of car guys and gals in offices and production lines put into each of these vehicles. And re the Studebaker you featured yesterday, an older gent here in my little town in Pennsylvania has one and that car is still cool with its sporty size and its Euro/Italian-like styling. And by the way, as a former radio announcer, I am never pleased to see radio delete. Like, seriously, you can't buy a car without a radio, c'mon, now. 😀

[@SteveMagnante]

I don't know about you, but I've been told "I have a face for radio". Thank You for watching and writing...Nowww back to you in the studio Rob! -Steve Magnante

[@arrellstormbringer1377]

Am I the only one that says "canceled? What do you mean we're canceled?" Out loud with Steve every time he does it? Lol

[@jarrodwidiger5472]

Oh no, I got these queued up ready to roll when I press play.

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

Your not the only one Hilarious. 😂😎

[@user-ev4pb9xj7e]

I was hoping you would do an episode on that studebaker every since it in the background of another episode. My dad had 2 when I was a very young kid, the car I thought was a spaceship because of the pointy nose, this was back just before the space race and I loved that car, dad maybe not so much as I remember him working on it all the time, lol. But seeing those round pedals bought back memories. We also had a studebaker pick up truck in which dad took the bed off and built a flatbed. I remember helping ( best I could being 6-7) changing out those front king pins. It took several days, because he would work on it after he got off work, beat on them for hours, heat them with a torch, they finally came loose, lol. Thank you for this episode, bought back a lot of good memories.

[@timstein3302]

Katie got a real scene today yay!😊

[@jimc3688]

Loved the impromptu commercial and star !

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

The water advertisement, AWESOME LOL

[@richdiscoveries]

I just stayed in the old American Optical building about a month ago. They built a hotel out of the beautiful main building. Got a beautiful marble staircase and fireplace in the old front door. I took some pictures but I still need to make a video. That place was beautiful

[@SteveMagnante]

Yes, American Optical was a POWER HOUSE for the local economy for nearly 100 years. By the time my Dad got there in 1967 working for the Safety Products Division (designing safety glasses and goggles and lenses) the corporate takeover by Bausch and Lomb (or was it Warner-Lambert?) had begun and the end was in sight. I'm pretty sure AO was washed up by 1985. Dad was there only through 1972 or so then went to work for Baird Atomic in New Bedford, MA. His work commute was nasty! Anyhoo, as you probably know, AO was founded by the Wells family long ago. They made enough money to do Fun Things. Like, create Old Sturbridge Village. If you've ever been, OSV is a re-creation of a circa 1790's New England village complete with churches, taverns, farms, cobbler shop, law office, bank, grist mill, carding mill and more. But here's the thing, each and every building in the 200 acre museum was MOVED THERE FROM FAR AWAY! Talk about some cubic money! The Wells family was a great force in the history of Old Sturbridge Village. I worked there during my summer vacations as a kid in 1982 - 85. It was my very first public speaking experience! Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@richdiscoveries]

@@SteveMagnante wow, thank you for all that information. . And yes, I love Old Sturbridge Village such beautiful history there. While I was staying at that hotel I was reading up on its history a little and that's when I learned the sons were responsible for bringing all those buildings and forming the village

[@Steve.Cutler]

I hope that flat washer and cotter pin was just to roll it up on a trailer to take it to the junkyard.

[@haljohnson5729]

In my neighborhood growing up there was a small shed/garage that faced the back alley. Being a nosy kid I could look through the crack of the two doors. All I could see was the bullet nose of a Studebaker, It never left that shed that I can remember. Wonder where it ended up?

[@LongIslandMopars]

I wish i got into Studebaker as my dad was the parts manager at DJ Sullivan Studebaker in Corona, Queens back in the early 50s. I have his shop coats and other memorabilia. When he became an auto insurance adjuster he got exposed to various makes and ultimately settled on Mopar as his auto maker of choice. I am now the caretaker of his 66 Coronet 500 SE that he bought new.

[@arthurmccarron4379]

Still can’t. Believe this styling. Very cool. Love. The dash thanks

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

GoodMorning

[@vet-7174]

Good Morning Gents ! 🇺🇸

[@FosterCovers]

Nice you & UT 😊

[@googleusergp]

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it looks like a larger "low boy" toilet bowl, but that was the styling back then. Yes, many were made in South Bend and some in Canada. I think there was a branch plant in Los Angeles, CA as well. Many Champions in 1950 had a "9G" model code. The serial number would have been on the driver's door post as with the car yesterday to my knowledge. That one surely hasn't seen a road mile since before Nixon was in office. Possible code "SS" Tulip Cream exterior paint.

[@truckladders4104]

Great video as usual! I watched the video on the trucks The Gar Wood story was fascinating My Grand Father raced and serviced speed boats on the Detroit river. He was across the river in Wndsor ONtario. He was a Gar Wood dealer. He was the chief mechanic on Miss Supertest a Allison powered Hydro boat owned by Jim Thompson of London also the owner of Supertest Gas

[@johnkranyics281]

Good morning from Ontario Canada. 👍👍🇨🇦

[@butcher390]

Studebaker started in 1852 ??!! Directional lever , was extra ?? Vacuum wipers ?? Look at that , ball joint bearing !! Definitely a base model Thank you for hydrating , Katie 🐶🙏 ( smooth shameless 👌 product plug )

[@bwright5520]

horse buggies

[@robertchristie9434]

My aunt bought a new '52 Yellow & Kelly green top Starliner hardtop. She loved it & was very pleased with it. In late '56 she hired in at the Chrysler Engineering center in Highland Park Michigan & traded the Studie in for an exec lease turn-in white with gold trim loaded '56 Plymouth Fury. Great memories & fun times.

[@danielulz1640]

Your Aunt had great taste in automobiles, sounds like one cool lady.

[@vintagesavoiur]

BEST CHANNEL ON KZbin!!!! The junkyard is definitely a library. Steve really makes it interesting! MotorTrend messed up when they canceled junkyard gold!!!!

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

Yay!! Katie is back! Such a good girl! That frame looks remarkably UN-rusty. Must be an abandoned resto project. The vacuum wipers are slow under acceleration, but boy are they fast when you coast!! Lol

[@tomwesley7884]

Yeah, no kidding, the front suspension/frame was amazingly clean. Firewall seemed to be pretty clean too.

[@markjohnson5081]

Love seeing Katie, your co-host.

[@jasonrackawack9369]

"Ahhhh....a bear in his natural habitat....a Studebaker" Fozzie Bear - The Muppet Movie

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Someone should save this ol girl

[@sombra6153]

Mickey Mouse…. In the early-mid 90s, zip ties, which were actually purchased and used by employer for disposable handcuff (“flex cuffs”) replaced cotter pins in holding some of our severely abused vehicles together for those times the shop didn’t seem to have any money to fix anything. They didn’t work long to support exhaust systems that were falling off. Most memorable was a battery case long gone and the zip ties used to hold the battery in place had broken and the battery was found on its side wedged up against the fan. It had apparently run in that condition at least long enough to get parked at the end of a shift.

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve......nice champion

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

By the way, great live show with uncle Tony last night, really enjoyed it

[@SteveMagnante]

@@peterantonopoulos2572 Thanks for watching. Uncle Tony DeFeo was / is a hero of mine! Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@The_Smith]

No idea why but seeing the key still in the ignition on a car in a wrecker's yard makes me smile. That truck in the background tomorrows episode?

[@SteveMagnante]

Your crystal ball is working! Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@johndustan1714]

Steve, you are the King of KZbin! Hope you do a video on Studebaker’s M5 pick up trucks one day.

[@Hyrev1]

Excellent video Steve! Didn't know about a connection with Gravely. We had a couple back in the 70s and 80s..tough mowers/garden tractors. 👍👍💯🇺🇸

[@FosterCovers]

Steve #1

[@brucecourchene8090]

Great stuff with the Smartwater sponsor segment 😂

[@scottbogfoot]

Mike actually gets 4 bucks

[@tomwesley7884]

Who's counting?

[@tomcampbell4414]

Genius dog!

[@FosterCovers]

A Bear in his natural habitat.

[@kevinruble6858]

Moving right along 😅

[@kc0lif]

Studebaker was before ford, Katie's all thumbs😂 we won't cancel ya😂

[@LongIslandMopars]

Cancelled? What do you mean cancelled?

[@TheBaddestMek]

That dashboard is so beautiful, you are doing a great work showing us all these gems Steve, greetings from Mexico!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

My Dad after ww2 had a Studebaker pick up truck! Boy that one sure is one weird looking car! But now they’re so collectible! Great video Steve!

[@wes11bravo]

Studebaker pickups are so cool! And they made thousands of the US6 2 1/2 Ton cargo truck during the war which were known for being rock solid reliable.

[@jaymorgan8017]

I'd like to go to this yard to hopefully meet Steve. And Katie.

[@jeanramberg1099]

Informative car history channel. I very much liked the segment with your sweet dog. too!

[@davidp2888]

Always loved the lines on these cars.

[@ikestoddard2458]

Bullet nose is my fave.

[@garymckee8857]

Never owned a Studebaker but I would like to one day.

[@todddenio3200]

Studebaker released that body style without the bullet nose in 1948 but from the firewall back they were virtually identical. Steve should have mentioned more of what Studebaker continued to make after cars, such as Paxton Superchargers, and STP Motor Treatment. They even made components for NASA. Many of their subsidiaries are still around.

[@deanstevenson6527]

Both! Col. Potter got it right in M*A*S*H. "1950..The year they put the front on the back of the Studebaker." The Bob Hope Joke got excellent Smileage per US Gallon.

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

🥝✔️

[@deanstevenson6527]

@@UnfinishedProjectDartSport Quote from Blackadder " There's something about you Bob, I just can't quite put my finger on it...". Must be the two Avacodao 🥑🥑's...

[@tomwesley7884]

What's a Kiwi doin' watchin' M*A*S*H?

[@deanstevenson6527]

@@tomwesley7884 I was a Career US Sitcom watcher, any thing with four letters SOAP, TAXI...FISH,

[@lilmike2710]

🤣 Yea the "both coming and going" thing... Everyone was thinking it, Bob Hope went ahead and said it. 🚗

[@williammeszaros3382]

Can I get .25 cents for " Colossal " ? Love your show !

[@nathanbarden9709]

On Lou’s My Car Story channel he featured a Studebaker that had a matching front end grafted on to the back end. You really couldn’t tell if it was coming or going!

[@randyauer7303]

Morning professor Steve on the shore of lake Erie this morning checking out your video Good work as usual Peace

[@Blowinshiddup]

Stay hydrated, Steve!

[@iplaymytele]

This Studebaker video was absolutely commodious….! 🎶👍🏻🎶 ( I have Three Studebaker Transistor radios?.🎶 )

[@mikepotter6426]

Not so sure about Katie not being smart. She gets to live in the junkyard.

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! Morning ☕️☕️🍩 & Good Evening 👍

[@johnkelly8525]

Thanks mate

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@johnkelly8525 👍🍺🍤

[@johnkelly8525]

What is your daily driver?

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@johnkelly8525 1976 GMC Sprint looks like the El Camino , 400 cid or 6.6 l . Mrs. Got it for my 70 birthday 🎂! Your’s is ?

[@johnkelly8525]

Me to,well2002 Holden g,m ,SS ute,5.7 ls1 posi track beef up auto.body kit stock fe2 suspension stock extractors And K&h ram air stock car looks great shit house ute great sports car and has afibreglass tub cover $3800 .5 year ago

[@abbush2921]

Just how big is that junkyard !

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

It's nice to see they have the cars in some semblance of order. My favorite junk yard here has stuff scattered I'll over the yard. If you are looking for corvair parts, there may be two on the far north side, one on the far south side and six somewhere between there. In there defence, Shawn and Tristan know where EVERYTHING is in that yard. It's the most awesome yard around!! Love that place

[@LongIslandMopars]

​@@xfactorautomotive1496I got to get there one day. From Long Island it shouldn't be too bad.

[@waynetaylor8082]

SEVENTY PLUS YEARS LATER, STILL OUTRAGEOUS!!! LOVE IT!

[@mcqueenfanman]

If anyone is around South Bend area make sure you check out the Studebaker Museum.

[@61rampy65]

I don't think the term "radio delete" is applicable on these older cars. Radios were not standard equipment on most cars, so the car has what it came with from the factory. "No radio option" would express it better. I love ole Studes, tho!

[@michaelatkins9780]

Great podcast with uncle Tony last night Steve. The best thing about it, googleuser wasn't commenting and so I was able to look at comments of others w/o being force fed 💩.

[@redneck5356]

Would make a good looking gasser .

[@barryandbonnievandergreft2265]

For a cheap car in it's day, Studebaker didn't seem to skimp out on chrome trim around the windows. I know I'm on the far side of the screen to be sure, but from my vantage point, it looks like it could be a restoration candidate. What's your opinion, Steve? Thanks for the work you do, keep it rolling.

[@SteveMagnante]

It is a solid one. I bet that low-line Sedan was harvested of useful parts - the priceless nose clip - to reconstruct a convertible. Though this car's bones are solid, the damage has been done. Finding the needed parts would cost a fortune. To me, this 2-door sedan is very desirable, far more so than any 4-door. But yes, I'd take a convertible over this poor-boy-coupe. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@coinslotsandjoysticks2572]

That dog loves you man, your there so much she thinks your family

[@daveywaite25]

Man, how hot was it there that day?

[@johnmollet2637]

Hi Steve, Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your collaboration with Uncle Tony last night. That axle was a little more than sketchy, surprised they didn't also have it wrapped up bailing wire or twine.

[@Strider1954]

I had a 51 Study, parked in the garage one night with the door open, lights off. Walking up the drive way I looked up and damn if the back end didn't look like the front! She was a nice hotrod and I miss those days a lot.

[@philippetays4263]

my grand father had one of those, remember riding it in the day, cousin Randel is actually restoring it now

[@TheopolisQSmith]

When I was a Senior in high school in 1969 one of the PE teachers drove a Studebaker very similar to that. I remember seeing him driving it down the interstate a year or so later.

[@Slimjim260]

All those old cars were the best!

[@jamesonpace726]

Your disparaging an OEM that gave choices for cheapness is the attitude that gave us $100k pickups....

[@tomwesley7884]

"...cameras 'n' sh!t..."

[@marklarson9436]

Make sure you are drinking a ton of water Steve.

[@michaelbean739]

Dog gone that was good.

[@clarencehoffmann3391]

My dad bought 50 Champ 4 dr new and he worked on the Pa Turnpike from Irwin to Ohio, I was with him when he picked up his final pay check we did 96 mph in overdrive. It almost made 100 mph.

[@daledavies2334]

Studebaker generally had solid engineering and styling was conservative. Especially interior and dash treatments. When Stude did step out on body design they took a big step. Some was good as in the Commanders of 53 and 54. Others were more under the beauty is in the eye of the beholder catagory.

[@jamesblair9614]

Another beautiful Studebaker, I really like the model with the full wrap around rear glass. I recall that the DNA of Studebaker Corperation is to be found in AM General.

[@Scale_Model_Mayhem]

What no bear? Fozie Bear says Studabaker a bear’s natural habitat

[@donmaclean5149]

My father had a 1952 Business man's coupe. It burnt so much oil on the way to Gloucester (my fathers favorite beach)you couldn't see the cars behind us on Rte 128!

[@twwap294]

It's cars like that that I wish had been saved. Nothing fancy but the design is the car.

[@king0cans]

Can I purchase commercial time?

[@bk14nyc]

Fozzy Bear Approves of this Video! 😂

[@hughmarloweverest1684]

I was riding in a Stude convertible when it came over the radio that Marilyn Monroe had passed away. This memory occurred in San Diego.

[@SteveMagnante]

Wow, that's an interesting "motor memory". Two of mine were also experienced in California (where I lived from 1991 - 2008). First was when Princess Diana had her Paris crash. I was driving home from a club on Highland in Hollywood at about 4:00 a.m. The radio announced the crash. The second was as I was driving to visit friends in Rancho Palos Verdes and the radio announced that Kurt Cobaine had been found dead. Anyhoo, Marilyn went too soon...Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@tinfoilhat3268]

I don't know if yall will see this but it would be Cool of there was a chronological oldest to newest playlist of these

[@williampitzer5534]

👍

[@frederickhettesheimer2698]

Great Video Steve, is there any truth that STP stands for Studebaker Transmission Product.

[@pauldow1648]

Thanks for bringing us your unique show. I love the period cars.

[@user-le2yl5wh6d]

As someone once said, "if your paying $2.99 for Smart Water - It's not working"

[@rixkafer56]

Great history lesson in todays class ! Thanks for sharing😎👍🍕🍉

[@janderson8401]

My dad had a 1960 Lark 2 door sedan that got traded in on a 63 Lark 4 door. He also had a 1948 Gravely model L tractor and a 1974 Gravely 812.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

👍👍👍👍

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

When you were in the trunk, you uttered your second "commodious" and added 2 more later. I think you owe $4. Great info about Studebaker. They always seemed to be a lot of them around town back then. If only they'd make a 50 or 51 (any model) Studebaker again. And if GM were to reproduce the 55-57 Chevies, same with Ford 55-60 body styles. I think they'd sell quite well.

[@tomm1109]

Interesting about the tar sprayed in the truck. You know everything! its amazing!

[@ChaChiVooDoo]

Right to the end Studebaker gave you very little unless you paid extra for it. My 62 Lark 6 cyl 3spd on the column I had in 1983 had no power brakes or steering, no radio, no lighter or ash tray, and no oil filter. As I mentioned in another video post the 65 Chevy II base model I bought after it was like a Caddy compared to that Lark. It was just so much better and sales figures then proved it.

[@Wildman9]

Hi Steve , back in the 50s I called those studes, a tank top , Because then top looked like a turret .lol.👍🇺🇸

[@aa64912]

These were great cars