Studebaker Commercial (1950)

Studebaker Commercial (1950)

[@jeffmissinne3866]

This film was probably not a TV commercial, but rather what was called an "industrial film," shown in 16mm by Studebaker dealers to groups of customers at local or regional auto shows.

[@artdecotimes2942]

News flash it wasn't. This was shown in shops next to the automobiles playing in the background. Industrial films had more monotone talkers.

[@autocamping5057]

Sad that such an industry has ended ,,, distinctive, beautiful and practical design !!!

[@stiltoncheesewright]

Great film ! Amazing to see these vehicles being punished like this. The Studebaker sedan appears to be a '49 model, as the 1950 models had the bullet-nose. The truck has the optional larger Commander engine; standard engine was the tiny 85 HP Champion engine.

[@rogercamp6071]

That's what I thought too that the sedan was an older model.

[@dennisr.levesque2320]

Brings back the memories. Reminds me when I took my 1950 Starlight coupe out to the strip mines. Oh, I miss that thing.

[@justinmyslive4108]

Studebaker was the first auto manufacturer to have it's own test track on the premises of the factory

[@scootergeorge9576]

The General Motors Milford Proving Ground was the industry's first dedicated automobile testing facility when it opened in 1924. The Studebaker factory was in South Bend, Indiana. The proving grounds were built in 1926 and located on 840 acres of oak and maple trees on the old Lincoln Highway west of town.

[@Code3forever]

Wow, this video brought back a memory. Being born and raised in LA, I saw all makes of cars and plenty of Studebaker's. In 1956 we went to Kansas to visit some relatives in some small town near Olathe. Being a little kid, I saw a Studebaker with the funny fenders like this and have not seen one since. I thought it was some special car because it was a police car of some kind with a red rotating light on top. I guess in the Midwest & East, the Desert Explorer was used more often due to winter snows. Never did see one in Southern California. Saw plenty of Studebaker pickup trucks though.

[@et1249]

Good to come across this video. Back in the early 1970's I had a 1954 V8 side valve Ford Mainline ute (pickup in the US) and fitted big fat cross ply tyres, can't remember if I changed the rims but it worked. We used it in the north west of Australia roo shooting and diving around the Exmouth area for over two years without a breakdown and never got bogged where we couldn't dig ourselves out. Nowadays it has to be 4x4 with all the paraphernalia that goes with them. We kept it simple, tough and practical back then.

[@theheartland1861]

I remember when I was very young, my dad owned a 48 Studebaker pickup. It was an orange color, and I still remember seeing Studebaker on the tailgate. The starter switch was on the floorboard also, but the key had to be in the ignition and turned on👍👍a very long time ago

[@verdant2215]

oh boy If the past car designers seen modern cars they'd have a heart attack

[@raulsaavedraviolante4350]

A Studebaker with modern passive safety features (collapsible steering column, side door beams, padded interior surfaces, high back seats, air bags, 3 point seatbelts, laminated glass) would be a keeper. It's amazing how those vehicles take the punishment. Try that with a newer Chevy truck and it's bye, bye to its front end.

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

I owned a 51 commando. It was a great automobile. When everyone was driving the latest, hottest cars in the mid 60s. They always thought the Stud was the coolest. I also got a lot of dates because I was not part of the ( looking what I got ) crowd. Love, love ,love ! Wish I still had it today. It was a 2 door 3 split rear window coup.

[@sistersarah2276]

They were tough. Wouldn't this be a cool job, test driving them?

[@TheFrameoff]

You couldn't take a new car on those tracks, the thing would fall apart

[@zxtenn]

+TheFrameoff All the computer controlled shocks and devices would simply go bonkers

[@FireVortex720]

+TheFrameoff Bullshit. Any new 4x4 would kick its ass. Landcruiser, Y62 Patrol, G Wagon... just to name a few. Just because Studebaker is old, doesn't make it invincible.

[@scooter2kool173]

FireVortex720 missing the point dipshit. Leather man and a Mexican speed wrench and u can do major repairs to the ole studebaker try that on your fJ & Land Rover and whatever else floats your boat

[@packingten]

@@FireVortex720 We wouldn't expect someone not born here to like American things. FYI Studebaker built MANY WW2 vehicles,Studebaker BUILT 21/2 TON 6X6AND 5 TON 6x4TRUCKS care to put you little FOREIGN TOYS Against REAL TRUCKS COMRADE😡😡. Signed a REAL 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸AMERICAN🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@packingten]

@@scooter2kool173 These foreigner imports were brought here by Bath house barry and they're allegiance is not in America😡,They come here and get free everything😡and I have a feeling that's going to change SOON!!. 😏

[@ztwntyn8]

I'm sold! I've always loved the round part on grill.

[@granskare]

I shall go to my nearest Studebaker dealer and demand the best sedan !!

[@jeffking291]

Herbert B. Bondsh They did export vehicles to South Africa, Australia, and other places as well. 🙂📻

[@chicory2008]

The poster who made derogatory comments about the Studebakers is sadly ill-informed. Studebaker built the most fuel efficient cars in the US for decades. Also, roads in 1950 were in many cases ungraded dirt, sand or gravel. Additionally, Honda did not even exist as a car maker, Mini same thing, Renault was building unreliable cars and the cars in Africa at the time were mostly American. I have driven my Studebakers offroad and they do handle well under the conditions.

[@jeffking291]

You are correct, Roads in the US at that time were still pretty rough, and in Northern cities, POTHOLES ❗️ 🙂📻

[@bcbloc02]

@@jeffking291 In 1950 80+% of road miles in the US were unpaved. People of today talk about the boat like handling of the cars of the 40's and 50's but fail to realize that at the time many were still being sold to be driven on unpaved roads and many roads crossed creeks and streams with no bridges you had to drive thru the water!

[@jeffking291]

@@bcbloc02 Correct. And even in the cities , especially in the North, after winter, the paved roads were all torn up after Winter [ and Salt], (( and still are, especially in many poorer Urban areas.)). Those old cars really were designed for rough roads, of all types. It wasn’t until almost the 1990’s when the Interstate System was “completed”. I remember way back , leaving a small town [ somewhere in Missouri - on vacation] . We went across a long “1- Lane” bridge, and after that, gravel and Washboard roads for about 2 hours before we came to another paved highway. 📻🙂

[@Jaybird248]

This must have been a special niche line for desert use. Note the extreme size tires on the car and the full cutout wheel openings in the rear to clear those tires. This was not how the standard cars were made.

[@triplel40]

Try this out with your brand new modern day passenger car

[@JeffDeWitt]

It would be interesting to see how something like a modern crossover car, something like a Subaru Outback, would do against a Studebaker Desert Explorer.

[@pookysdad4884]

Hell, you can hardly get a CAR anymore, everything is a damn SUV or "crossover", i.e. a car in high heels.

[@AltodaMontanha]

Love this 50's 1/2 ton truck

[@bobburro3642]

the half ton is my favourite

[@jbarner13]

I have a '51 with the large 6 (145 ci) flathead engine, three-on-the-tree shifter with Bendix overdrive. It is a nice driving truck with loads of torque. I believe it was the first mass-production truck without external running boards or pontoon rear fenders, and with a double-walled bed with steel floor. B

[@sincityq]

Thanks for the great vids!

[@pookysdad4884]

9.50x13" tires! Try finding a set of THOSE today! Great for sand, though, especially aired down to about 10 lbs.

[@pookysdad4884]

I never knew that Stude had "Desert Explorer" models of their cars and trucks. A novel idea, considering they didn't have 4 wheel drive vehicles at the time. Probably their attempt to compete with Jeep.

[@chrispile3878]

Oil companies opening up the Sahara needed vehicles to handle the desert terrain, and Studebaker was willing to make several modified cars and trucks for several years to supply them. They had a great reputation for engineering - sturdy, tough, and reliable.

[@wb5oxq]

They actually built worth the money cars. Many were used as taxis and held up well for many miles. Not the fanciest cars made but just a good falily sedan. Sometines they had advanced styling in a few models like the Avanti. You cannot compare them to cars that did not exist in the days they were built.

[@bw3506]

My grandpa always wanted Studebaker pickups till he couldn't find them anymore.

[@studebakerclarksnyder3681]

Great historical footage!

[@buckshot4428]

My aunt bought them for decades and decades until they went bust. I think they all had the 3 speed column shift and no a/c as it was too expensive.

[@JBC814]

Great looking truck.

[@wikiwikiohana]

It makes be proud to be a Studebaker! I gotta get one of these...

[@ScrutinizerBABAI]

Woow! 1950 cars suspensions looks better than today's cars

[@prianah85]

They dont make em like they used to.

[@ronaldfazekas6492]

But don't forget--these vehicles have a lot of special heavy-duty parts

[@davidvines6498]

Russia still makes them

[@warrenmcelroy4718]

But is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?

[@davidvines6498]

@@warrenmcelroy4718 it’s just a thing

[@alanstrong3295]

A Stude was a winner, car or truck. Now drive one with Roadhandler All Season tires.

[@kraftpr]

Wish they made cars like that today -- and at a price the average person could afford!. I wonder if Studebaker was still in business today would they still be American-made or owned and built (cheaply) in some foreign place? Hmmmm?

[@ahmaddarwish1486]

built cheaply in some foreign place, just like every other American car brand.

[@ranazeshan5125]

Exactly

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Today Studebaker manufactuers Hummers for the Military ..

[@kimdelong7379]

Studebaker has been put of business for 60 years

[@mikeskidmore6754]

@@kimdelong7379 Stuibaker is still in Business in 2021 AM General for staters the Compnay just stopped manufacturing Automobiles.. Not Military Weapons and many other products..

[@richardunicorn7879]

5:28 I drive a 1949 Studebaker 2R-5 truck, and I can tell you, it's not this smooth riding. It's is fun though! :-)

[@denjhill]

Nostalgia seems to dull common sense. I drive a 46 Dodge Powerwagon and will gladly confess it's not comfortable, smooth, quiet, fast, or even powerful. But it's fun. Also own a 57 Chev Belair with the 283 Power pack engine. I swear they issued assembly line employees two tools, a hammer and a crowbar and told them to make it fit. Poorly built. A modern day comparable vehicle would run circles around these old boat anchors.

[@bcbloc02]

You just have to drive it faster so it skips over the bumps like in this video. :-)

[@tom7601]

Interesting rear fender flares.

[@ramblerclassic400]

The narrator sounds like Paul Frees, who voiced countless commercials and cartoons.

[@FirstLast-uz6eq]

It might be. Announcers had multiple jobs.

[@rosaamarillo2110]

Studebaker was harking back to its old west days when it manufactured wagons to cross the deserts and mountains..

[@oldgysgt]

In the 1950's Studebaker was a car most Americans didn't want, and that's why they went out of business. Gas was cheap, so a few more miles per gallon was not big deal, and Ford, GM, and Chrysler were coming out with more advanced running gear at that time.

[@donaldstrishock3923]

They sure knew how to shovel it back then. Every vehical can hold up for a time-- if it is BRAND NEW. At least they had long travel suspension and frames--' no cumple zones or rinkle-uni-body tissuepaper and plastic construction. Woe-- not a single cupholder or a plastic slot fer da cellphoney. Just made in USA, BY USA workers, with USA parts --- nothing scaponesse or farmed out junk spot welded or glue together.

[@glennso47]

But did it have cup holders?

[@asteverino8569]

This is precious. 1950 Studebaker ad is great! Don’t run out of adjectives, please. 😀 See you in a middle eastern desert 🐪

[@johnrideout7124]

In 1962 I had a Studebaker Champion, built in 1953. If one were seen today with todays colours, you would think it was a newly designed car. At the time Studebaker cars made the ir competitors products look like model T Fords, thats why the "Big Three", put out negative reports about Studebakers, causing their decline. ! Now, to buy a Champion, or one of the Hawk models, you will need many Clams, of course, owners of oil wells would have no problems. !

[@sincityq]

BTW... been looking for a Studebaker news vid from WW2 in ref to their famous 2.5 ton trucks. Hear it is a rare thing to find because we were sending them overseas to USSR and GB before we got into the conflict. Secrecy was important.

[@buckshot4428]

The Russians loved Studebaker trucks.

[@ronaldfazekas6492]

To those who say "they don't make them like they used to"--I say in a lot of ways that;s good--back in the day--you needed a tune-up every 12k miles--which included plugs--tires lasted about 12k miles--shocks 25K miles--mufflers 50k--a valve job (or worse) at 100k--grease job at 3k--with over a dozen fittings--more on a truck--

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

You crossed out half ur comment

[@joevald3]

Studebaker should still be in business

[@packingten]

The first car I remember us having a green 1951 Studebaker I think it was a Champion,Dad loved it then a friend of Dad's got unable to drive he had a 49/50 Studebaker pick it looked like the one in this commercial,So don't quote me and start on me with statistics,I was a kid. But it was very reliable😊. Back when Americans were 🇺🇸 AMERICANS🇺🇸

[@MrShobar]

Back before Americans turned their backs on other AMERICANS and started buying Japanese. And what was I supposed to quote you about?

[@leeroyholloway4277]

I restored one of those trucks.... wish I had it back.

[@LucidDreamer54321]

Cool. I want to get a 2021 model.

[@megacap55]

Thinking that went to a classic cars show and were some in mint state Studebaker's

[@06colkurtz]

The Michigan desert? Wow. How come I never heard of the desert in Michigan?

[@rosaamarillo2110]

There are some sand dunes somewhere around where Indiana & Michigan meet..probably around Lake Michigan

[@kenbob1071]

Indiana Dunes Nat'l Park is along Lake Michigan. Not sure where in Michigan they are referring to.

[@allansmith3837]

A real Mechanic's car built the way I like them solid. Nothing fancy

[@WolfShadowhill]

I love these cars and they’re taught af

[@MrShobar]

Catering to the desert-dwelling market? That vast, untapped market? Didn't it occur to Studebaker that deserts are a place where practically no one lives? They must have decided that this was more profitable than the Polar Ice Cap or Antarctic markets they had earlier considered...

[@javierdenardo2607]

These were shipped to Saudi Arabia

[@zzoinks]

Pretty cool that they updated the regular truck and sedan with an off-road capability. Do they still do that today other than with SUVs? I presume trucks are already considered good enough off road to get a special edition, but they surely can't be as good as the Desert Explorer right?

[@mikeskidmore6754]

About as Modern as you could get in 1950...

[@parag93681]

I wish i had one of these

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

when cars were analog and reliable.

[@zxtenn]

Cool testing

[@user-yx6wj4er1v]

Если бы не Студебеккер, где бы мы были...

[@johnfarrelly4753]

I put of hitting the road west for 3 hours so I could visit the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, some interesting vehicles, but I'm not sure it was worth 3 hours, but I survived.

[@101Volts]

How do you think it would be with a 1984 Caprice?

[@pookysdad4884]

Those were damn good cars. I've had two, and drove several others as taxicabs.

[@cynthiaayers7696]

And this video was, oooh so smooth..... haha..

[@pl5624]

Pumped up balloon tires.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

LOL! If only cars today were built that rugged.

[@cashed-out2192]

Back then, they didn't have the good highways, we do now. Many places that were rural, lacked the road construction.

[@josephdickerson5802]

@@cashed-out2192 actually highways where well maintained back then compared to today there just wasn't as many paved roads but that's no excuse for automakers to make shitty products this day in age

[@orangepickel2]

Love this commercial.

[@pcno2832]

1:25 "Throughout these tests, this truck exceeded its maximum gross vehicle weight."?? But I don't see any payload at all in the truck; did they hide it somewhere? And why does the sedan that's being tested have a different grille design from the one they are touting at the end; was it the previous-year's model? The suicide doors look cool, but I suspect that the main reason for them was so that they could use very similar door shells for the front and for the rear.

[@1234cdsarver]

Cool thank you

[@glennmasters8062]

My grandfather had one those with gangster back doors it was black.

[@kennethsouthard6042]

Where would this film have been used at the time it was created, given that it was 8 + minutes

[@califdad4]

a dealer shown movie for salesman

[@davebethel7159]

That's not a 1950 model; it's a '49 or earlier. The 1950 models had the bullet-nosed grille.

[@pl5624]

I prefer this nose.

[@kenbob1071]

Wonder how many times they had to tow a stuck vehicle out of the sand to produce this 8 minute edited commercial.

[@trolllibtards2604]

If I could order one with A/C , SOLD!

[@redtra236]

Pretty sure the cars in the desert test had stronger suspension looks like they sit higher than the stock models

[@rosaamarillo2110]

Tires are bigger for sure

[@sd31263]

This isn't a commercial, it's a promotional film made for the corporation.

[@ltrin1969]

Os Studebakers não faziam direito a combustão da gasolina e o resultado era um festival de estampidos. Como pipocava os motores da Studebaker!

[@kraigcochran9995]

But none of them have air conditioning! When men were men 😂

[@TeamNoLimits865]

damn this is a LONG commerial

[@kevinmccorkle7331]

Now adays there would be plastic parts all over the field.

[@jeffking291]

Cool‼️ 📻🙂

[@dlwatib]

Despite the claims of "oh so smooth", those drivers were taking a real beating. It got to be kinda funny how the narrator was so blatantly ignoring all the bottoming out and driver head-bobbing from all the jolts. Studebaker always emphasized economy. Unfortunately for them, Americans were more interested in performance than economy. Still are. No wonder Studebaker is long gone.

[@kevinmckinzie]

The Avanti proved otherwise at the salt flats.

[@stgeorge5862]

The avanti proved otherwise on the salt flats. GG dlwatib lol

[@jerrybrooks870]

Wasn't anything wrong with their performance. When I was a teenager ( early 80's), my family had a 62 Studebaker Lark station wagon with a 259 V8 and automatic transmission. With nine people in it, it whipped the socks off of a 84 Corvette. It also averaged about 25 MPG. Studebaker went out of business because they refused to unionize. Some of the employees wanted to join a union, and Studebaker said, " If you vote to unionize, then we're closing the plant." Sadly, the vote to unionize passed, and they closed their doors.

[@kylesmith7379]

Hey I'm currently making a small news pkg about the Studebaker company. I was wondering if it would be alright to use some of this footage with credit?

[@geoben1810]

I want to know what the vehicle was that was filming this!

[@MitzvosGolem1]

I had a 55 pickup truck 289 v8

[@jerrybrooks870]

I have a 55 2&1/2 ton Studebaker cab and chassis with a 259 V8. I hope to eventually put a dump truck bed on it to use in my landscaping business. It's an awesome old truck.

[@Bodgemiester]

Try that with a new 3 series

[@jameswhitehead3322]

Pity the drivers, have to chuckle.

[@keniferusxj7047]

Could’ve bought one and won the mint 400

[@bobroth1951]

I liked the stupidbakers. They didn't sell too many of them though.

[@LanceisLawson]

The Studebakers from that era were notorious oil burners.

[@davebethel7159]

I had a 1950 and a 1951 and neither burned oil excessively. A quart per 1,000 miles was acceptable then and both of mine burned less.

[@n.mcneil4066]

@@davebethel7159 The 170 cid Champion engine liked to burn & leak oil.

[@TheGel69]

looks like the Citroen commercial a few years later, just saying

[@tbirdpimp07]

First baha trucks?

[@markdraper3469]

I dunno, the driver @6:28 looks a lot like a VU meter in there.

[@rachaelward6174]

I thought commercials were long today! Holy Cow!

[@MRTuning704]

0:50 what?

[@06colkurtz]

So their “truck” is really a car with a big trunk? No lander they are not sold LOL

[@georgewilson6917]

are.any.of.these.for.sale.how.much to do

[@zulumax1]

weak audio, bring up the gain

[@rallydogmakes3861]

Ayy

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

Wish I’d kept my 51’ pickup 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🐑🤷‍♂️

[@BattlecatRed]

that's a looooooooooooong commercial...

[@woodyofp8574]

900 by 13 tires? I've never seen a tire that fat with that small a wheel.

[@woodyofp8574]

@Charles Gnarley Yes, and I've never seen a tire that was nine inches wide on a 13 inch wheel.

[@rishi_rissh]

Who came here from upgrad

[@bogiewheelman71]

Studebaker , the car built like a truck .

[@bogiewheelman71]

And trucks smooth as cars

[@JBC814]

'52 was the last year for Stude's in the 50's. They didn't produce a decent car again until '62.