Commander Quirk

[@waynetaylor8082]

Well Katie's cover is finally blown. She is now recognize able and we can identify her should she appear in a "line-up."

[@nonamesplease6288]

She's pretty nice for a junkyard dog.

[@anthonypirozzi837]

She's just "eye candy" now👍

[@waynetaylor8082]

@@anthonypirozzi837 TOTALLY!!!

[@MyMeade12]

😅@@waynetaylor8082

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@bobbyoshomebuilt2544]

I love this channel.

[@butcher390]

Thank you 🙏 Steve , for covering Studebaker !! The independents DID contribute to the motoring scene , Before the big three took over Another under appreciated , Manufacturer Contributed too WW2 with their , 6x6s Their V8 deserves accolades 🏁 ( STP & gravely )

[@careycraig4360]

Great Video as always! It brought back some very old memories. My father was a strong Studebaker fan and I still have some memories of the 1952 Four Door Studebaker Commander my Father had when I was very young.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

This engine turned out to be the finest V8 made. It had 6 bolts surrounding each cylinder bore, not just 4 or 5, so blown head gaskets were super rare. No potentially troublesome hydraulic valve lifters, Stude kept sold lifters, so no lifter pump up at high revs. A super-strong bottom end with plenty of bearing area. Extra-thick cylinder walls, so it was capable of very large over-bores without cracking the cylinder walls. Yes it was rather heavy, but the average motorist wants durability more than feather-light weight.

[@LongIslandMopars]

Soft spot in my heart for Studebaker. My dad worked for DJ Sullivan Studebaker in Flushing, NY as their parts manager back in the 50s. Still have his shop coats and other memorabilia from his days there.

[@charlesacker8552]

Studebaker afficionado here, I own three. Thank you for another excellent presentation. As you noted the 1953 Loewy designed model really advanced the styling and brought it way beyond the competition. Look at the '53 Studebakers and compare them to the offerings of the Big Three. The '55, '56 and'57 Chevys weren't called shoeboxes for no reason.

[@scootergeorge7089]

1953 was a tough year for the independents. Ford launched an ill advised campaign to take the number one sales spot from Chevrolet by ramping up production and forcing dealers to discount the cars to an extent that low relatively low volume independents could not. In the case of Studebaker, production schedules initially favored sedans in favor of the Loewy coupes and hardtops. Also, build quality was horrible. Hardtop doors that would not close and when they did, sounded like a tin can. Source, "Studebaker; The Postwar Years."

[@michaelbenardo5695]

@@scootergeorge7089 The 53's frame was too light and the brakes were too small on the V8 model. These 53s ruined Studebaker's reputation. The 54 and 55 were much improved, but the damage was done.

[@scootergeorge7089]

@@michaelbenardo5695 - The flexi-frame was one reason why there was no convertible. Another issue was the water trap fenders that rusted. This was never really resolved.

[@customkey]

One of the most successful and longest running NHRA class racers is a guy named Ted Harbut in a 1951 Studebaker Commander v8 called "Chicken Hawk." Ted raced the car from the early '60s until crashing a few years ago. I think he still races a factory blown Lark.

[@johnpola6810]

There was a guy in my hometown that ran a 52 Studebaker for many years named Pete Magel, I walked past his house to go to grade school and my father had 4 STUDEES as he called them ,great on gas with the overdrive and aerodynamics!

[@savedin87ify]

Gotta love The old Studebaker. And as Fozzy Bear stadid Bears natural habitat is in a Studebaker.

[@williamslay310]

I love your videos... especially with Ms. Katie and model cars. Well done Sir!

[@rawbsworld6604]

Katie ! 🤗 lol soaking up some love & attention while on break from hunting rabbit intruders ✌️🤙

[@willhorting5317]

Back in the '70s, one of the bus drivers at my school owned nothing except Studebakers. Both cars and trucks. He and his family lived on a farm. And he had about 10 acres of his land covered by old Studebaker vehicles, dating back to the '30s, that he used for parts to keep the 1950s era vehicles running. His family were the only people that I knew who were still driving Studebakers in the 1970s.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

There were still a few here in my neck of the woods.

[@madmike2624]

Great content Steve!! Oh, The all but forgotten independent car makers! So cool and so long ago!

[@sammolloy1]

The 53 “Raymond Loewy” Stude was so similar to a 78 Firebird it’s spooky. The other companies conspired to buy up enough of the outside supplied parts so hundreds languished on factory lots and many orders were cancelled.

[@davidmiles8941]

Excellent Steve, you've shown us the Studebaker Landcruiser in a previous video, now we get the Commander, informative video once again.

[@peterruddick1952]

Wow, had an AMT '53 Stude model... I remember that from 70 years ago...

[@johnmcenaney7539]

Not to nitpick, and someone else may have already mentioned it but Studebaker used bolt on rear quarter panels until the end in 1966

[@FrankBullitt390]

I remember the late 90's / early 2000's era of pro mod racing where every car was either a 63 vette or a 53 Studebaker. And whats funny is, they weren't much slower than todays quickest stuff

[@lhaley9873]

Katie's always so happy and why not, dogs love cars to.

[@57WillysCJ]

Thanks for giving us Studebaker again. I have a fondness for vehicles not produced by the Big 3.

[@jameswebster8105]

Great video on a cool car. As as said earlier comment Katie, model cars and the crawl makes Saturday coffee even better.

[@SupergurlKara]

This one brings back childhood memories to this boomer. 1. Circa 1959-60, my mom had a '51 bullet-nosed Studebaker, and I remember the moment when my barely two-year-old sister fell out the back door onto the street immediately after we pulled out of our driveway. She didn't have a scratch on her. No child safety seats or even lap belts then. 2. Mom collected all kinds of kitsch, and I still have a couple of the Avon bottles (a VW Beetle bottle and mailbox bottle dubbed U.S. Male). I last opened them around 1970 but they're still full. 3. The AMT models. I had both of those '53 Studebaker kits, the Mr. Speed funny car and the kit that included the twin supercharged early hemi. Loewy's '53 Studebaker was a sleek, beautiful design that was not improved upon in subsequent years with added fins and chrome. Steve, to quote Bob Hope whom you mentioned, thanks for the memories.

[@Strider1954]

No argument about those fins (tho they could be removed) but the chrome wasn't an issue for me - the damn grill they added starting in 56 SUCKED.

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Steve,in 1966 I had a 1951 6 cyl. 2 door coupe Studebaker Champion with the 3 speed overdrive transmission.Super car for a teenager. When I bought my 1965 Mustang I handed it down to my sister and she drove it for a few years.

[@ellenransow3213]

My father loved his 1955 Studebaker "Commander"

[@googleusergp]

Katie would sit there for hours with the attention you'd give her. That is one friendly woofer. No VIN, can't win, but might go something like 3H for Studebaker Commander and the rest is the production sequence. The South Bend facility became Heartland Footwear some years later. There was a facility on Archer Ave in Chicago and Western Electric eventually bought that facility. Studebaker became Studebaker-Worthington from 1967 to 1979 and then was defunct by then. STP, Onan, Gravely and Clark Floor Equipment were all owned by Studebaker-Worthington during that time.

[@garymckee8857]

And Western Electric is now also defunct. Never owned a Studebaker but I like them.

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 WE was a great company. Very innovative. In some ways, the phone company was better as a monopoly.

[@jaylestingi]

Katie is such a good girl. Such a sweet dog❤

[@mgguygardening]

Get better Steve! We're rooting for you!

[@pre1980cars]

Looks like a restorable car

[@stevethomas760]

Would love to have an episode on the lesser known independents. Allstate? I'm old enough to remember the Allstate motorcycles in the Sears catalog, no autos. Great job, as usual

[@michaelbenardo5695]

The Allstate was a rebadged Henry J, made for Sears Roebuck to sell.

[@stevethomas760]

@@michaelbenardo5695 Thanks

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! This is a catch up . Steve the some of vehicle were some what styles. 🚗🚗🚗🚗 very informative !

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Wow! So Studebaker came up with the “Land Cruiser” name first way before Toyota! I wonder if they sold the name rights to them for use on their “Land Cruiser”? Great history from Studebaker! Amazing that that engine still in place!! Beautiful car.

[@greghamilton1638]

My dad had a 1951Studebaker convertable. Light blue in color. First had a black top, later the top was replaced with a white one.

[@hughjass1044]

Saw that guy in the background a couple days ago. I knew Steve wouldn't disappoint.

[@randyauer7303]

Another great video professor Steve get well soon brother we're waiting on you

[@rescuedandrestoredgarage]

Ther really did build a beautiful ride.

[@SolamenteVees]

Love the air-gap intake manifold.

[@Vet-7174]

Good Morning Gents ! 🇺🇸

[@jamesblair9614]

As you’ve mentioned before, Lowey and his design studio gets the credit for those beautiful cars, but Virgil Exner was working for Lowey and was a big part of those designs.

[@chrisscearce]

Hi Steve great video of this Studebaker Commander. Always good to see Katie. Have a blessed weekend everyone 🤙🏼Namaste 🙏🏼

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@ Chris You have a great weekend also you give some great comments. 👍

[@chrisscearce]

@@Daniel-fd3wp Hi 👋🏼 Daniel thanks for the heart warming ♥️ comment. I'm currently in Ohio at a music festival 🎵🎶for the weekend. I was supposed to go to a Tony Rice Memorial festival in Camp Springs NC. A very historical venue for the bluegrass scene. I was afraid the tropical storm that's plagued the east coast this weekend 🌧 would force them to cancel so I scored some free passes to this here festival, so it was hammer down to the Buckeye State. I hope you have had a wonderful weekend. 💛 Remember that our desires will not arrive by our schedule. If you really want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.😇🤣 Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored. Don't forget to thank a veteran 🇺🇲 and never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Thanks again and blessings to you and yours. Namaste 🙏🏼

[@mikefrech1123]

I had a teacher in elementary school in the fifties who started to tell us a joke about an Italian pastry chef who drank a lot and then he decided it was inappropriate, so he didn't finish the joke. Being the precocious young fellow that I was, I figured out the punch line. "A stewed a baker."

[@ernielaw]

Studebaker and Diefenbaker Both around at the same time

[@donhoffman3206]

"Ding, Dong!...Avon Calling!".....Thanks to Katina Manko

[@tkflanagan4449]

You are GREAT!!!

[@mikefed]

My mom spoke with affection for the Studebaker Champion they owned in the 40’s. A dependable well-made car for the times.

[@thefatherandthedaughter3156]

Thanks Steve! Really cool car!

[@DeadInsideButStillSmiling]

I had that Double Whammy Hemi Stude when I was a boy. Hadn't even thought about it till you showed it, Steve. Welp! Guess it's time for a trip to EvilBay.

[@Fljeff7]

Center bolt valve covers something that other manufacturers went to decades later

[@michaelbenardo5695]

GM - Buick and Chevrolet, used them since the 30s - 20s for the Buick.

[@ddellwo]

I had a crotchety old drafting professor at the School of Mines in Rapid City who made it well known that the Studebaker “hill holder” was the best invention ever created for driving out in the Black Hills! My dorm mate at the time collected minerals and he and his geology buddies would stay up all night playing Dungeons and Dragons and then go out into the mountains all day Saturday to looks for rocks. As you can probably imagine, the female scene at this school was bleak…….☹

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

Dungeons and Dragons I let you be Mandar the half elf. 👍

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Interesting and well done once more. Thank you, Steve.

[@Fore-Four-Dee-Too]

Get well soon Steve!

[@jeffclark2725]

Great video,liked the mention of the Hill holder brake feature thought Subaru created that ,learn something new every day

[@michaelbenardo5695]

There isn't much that they created. They COPIED what others invented.

[@jeffclark2725]

@Michael Benardo well said, watching this channel and a couple of other ones,still surprised what they did years ago,with building car engineering and it can get reinvented 20 years later

[@z978ady]

Very nice Cherry red color still well preserved on the firewall where the undisturbed crayon 68 is scribbled too, all part of the terse assembly line jargon. Good for the Rovers of that vintage purveying suicide doors into the early 1960's, based upon Studebaker design.

[@michaelbraden8988]

I have the same Avon mens after shave bottle a gift from my grandfather around 35 years ago

[@fishgeralding9224]

I worked at a bodyshop in the early 70's with a guy that drove a Lark. I think it was either a 259 or 289 V8, 3 on the tree. He'd put a 2 speed rear end in it. When he'd put in 3rd, with the rear end in high, it'd bog, and rattle valves, below about 65 mph. It actually cruised along nice at 75mph.

[@alanblanes2876]

Very enlightening, Steve!

[@chuckschultz7028]

That V-8's origin spawned many myths and rumors due to its similarity to the Cadillac and Olds OHV V-8s of the same era. You should do another video telling the true story.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I have always heard that the water pumps were interchangeable between the Stude and the Cad, and even the intake manifolds, with minor mods were as well. Any truth to that?

[@chuckselvage3157]

Dig the suicide doors and V8. Cool.

[@whalesong999]

Burbling from the speakers in '52..., Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney, Hank Williams, Frankie Lane, Eddie Fisher, .....on and on, such memorable times for this growing youngster but didn't know Studes had that petite V-8, neat little unit.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

By 56, there was a 289 version! Same basic block.

[@terrencegiordan2775]

Another fascinating video.

[@michaelmakes1225]

Thanks Steve! Let me add some info...1952 was the Company's 100th anniversary, and it was intended that the now legendary Loewy styles which came out in'53 would be the centennial design for '52.. well, for varied reasons that goal was not reached,and the result was the by now old '47 body style with a one year only nose that presaged their upcoming '53s & up..>if you see a convertible or 2 tone hardtop from '52, they are still pretty sharp and fairly rare.

[@CORVAIRWILD]

Jam PACKED facts... All good info, and I thot I knew it all...

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Enjoyed!!!! 👍 👍

[@ernielaw]

I believe Studebaker was the last North American car to discontinue the suicide doors before Eldorado Brougham brought it back in 1957 and Continental in 1961. Mercury did away with suicide doors after 1951. It is interesting that Steve described Studebaker's early horse drawn carriage as being a Connestoga wagon. Did anyone realize that was the name given to Studebaker's newly introduced station wagon in 1954?

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Yes, I remember the 54 and 55 Studebaker 2 door wagons. This basic wagon body wound up lasting until about 1963.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

The stude v8 had 5 main bearings, high nickel blocks, and was designed to take up to 20:1 compression ratio which is why it does so well when boosted. Studebaker’s still blow away competition at bonneville, and at the pure stock muscle car drags. Also the original visible v8 engine was based on the studebaker v8

[@kevinruble6858]

Good ol' Katie ❤️

[@indianasunsets5738]

Studebaker not only developed their own OHV V8s, but also went with disc brakes as an option in 1961. You couldn't get disc brakes on mist GM or Ford cars until the late 60s.

[@killerontheloose80]

1952 studebaker CLAM DIGGER front end!!

[@philippetays4263]

I was once told that Studebaker was the largest manufacturer of wheeled vehicles in the world on the 30s

[@edwinbruner1026]

I wouldn't mind seeing a video on the Silver/ Golden Hawks.

[@paulzammataro7185]

Speedy Recovery!

[@Slimjim260]

What a great car that must have been, outstanding researched information, enjoyed! Amazing glass lens taillights

[@melvinjones3895]

Good one.

[@BillCesavice]

MY grandpa buit this car...keep up the good work.

[@ValdezJu]

Nice find! I used to love the look of GT Hawks in the 60s but the Avanti was tit!

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

I’m a big stude fan. I’ve got a 58 silver hawk with a 4bbl 289, 3 speed with od and a dana 44 with twin traction

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I remember them.

[@mh53j]

My dad's first car he bought was a red and white Studebaker Commander.

[@kevincruz4045]

From what I've read Studebaker would have stopped making cars by '54 even though they did have a V8 and the two new models with Raymond Loewy styling for '53, it still wasn't enough to compete with the price wars between Ford & Chevy at that time. The big 3 was a force to be reckoned with by 1955! Great video Steve!

[@Jasona1976]

They were vicious....ask Preston Tucker.

[@dougtodd305]

Having come from a Studebaker family and worked on them ,they did not compare to Ford or Chevy...they were far superior

[@Jasona1976]

@@dougtodd305 The best product does not always win in the marketplace. Ask Sony Betamax...

[@dougtodd305]

I drive a Borgward

[@Jasona1976]

@@dougtodd305 Come hand wash my Tucker....

[@kcgarrigan4324]

Is there any truth to the story that Studebakers V8 is several hundred pounds heavier than competitors motors because they made an engineering choice during the late 1940's design stage that aircraft grade fuel would soon be available at the pump and very high compression/smaller displacement engines were the future? Those blocks are a beast!

[@michaelbenardo5695]

Not several hundred, but it was a little heavier, as Studebaker wanted it to be sturdy and reliable.

[@dougtodd305]

I had a 1952 Commander convertible, it had a 259 with a 3 speed with overdrive,l considered it a muscle car,it didn't smothout till 80mph. I loved that car ,it was identical to the 1952 Indy pace car .lt was stolen from me l also had a 52 Starliner Commander

[@aa64912]

Those were nice cars

[@MrRhino10]

Katie is so funny.

[@travelingfool9096]

Read this book: 'Studebaker: The Postwar Years' by Richard Langworth. there is a chapter from 1852 to 42 . Then onto to all the cool stuff up to R4 Avanti. Great Book and my Favorite Automotive book Writer.

[@woodyw6891]

It’s cool that you’re embracing the gray hair. We’ll consider it patina. The real Steve.

[@porcupinecone7188]

That Stude V8 engine compartment looks like nothing is removed. The body looks fairly solid considering its age and that its likely geen sitting there for decades.

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

Sad to see how many car companies were around back then,compared to today.

[@seed_drill7135]

It’s due to costs. 1953 was the last new platform for Studebaker. One Studebaker guy told me you can actually swap the doors from a 53 onto a 66 and they’d fit.

[@ericjswindle]

The rear quarters unbolted on the Loewy coupes as well. The bolts were hidden under stainless trim, in the door jams and behind the taillights.

[@gibbsey9579]

I have a 1965 Cruiser and it has bolt on quarters as well.

[@williampitzer5534]

👍

[@angeloavanti2538]

My uncle always bought Studebaker. That steering wheel will kill you just looking at it. lol

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Btw steve the stude v8 was being developed in 48,9 and 50 was the first year for the commander v8

[@jimpatnode4445]

I knew I recognized Katie, her picture is in the Post Office in Nashua NH. GET WELL SOON STEVE

[@jeffreysproul9110]

It would be neat if you could find a Crosley and do a review on it but I realize those are really hard to find. A Henry J would also be a good find.

[@Cstoreri]

Morning

[@radiodeletedude]

😎

[@donkeyboy585]

An air gap manifold. They knew all the way back then

[@michaelbenardo5695]

All the Overhead V8s had an "air gap" manifold until the 55 Chevy V8. That new engine used the intake manifold as the valley cover, just like the flathead Ford.

[@duradim1]

I just don't understand why Studebaker didn't dominate the market as they were so much more advanced than their competitors. They later year models looked much better. I love the Hawk.

[@lilmike2710]

I wanted to know about the vent on the front fender 😏

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

Hey Steve, find us a Muntz car.

[@ernielaw]

Didn't make for Muntz. Therefor hard to find.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

New show is born , queen Katie and virgin mags junk yard crawl

[@jameswebster8105]

ass a footnote. The 55 chevy tailight looks like a upright Studebaker tailight. huh I never noticed that before. I am sure both designs were in the making for a couple of years. Makes you wonder though.