A Studebaker Story

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

So there’s this place called Ragtops not 3 blocks away from my house. The unique thing is that it’s a classic car dealership which I would wager is fairly rare around the alligator-infested lands of Florida. I occasionally stop by to check out the new inventory and have made a casual relationship with the owner, Mr. Houck. This place is usually chock full of Big 3 stuff and imports but when I went there tonight I spied a Studebaker. This was the first Stude I had seen there and it wasn’t even a Hawk or an Avanti but a 1953 2R truck. I was flabbergasted that it was there in such fine shape but also pleased. It gives me hope...

[studegary]

Thanks for posting this. It looks like a nice and almost correct restoration (except for that unusual, but nice, tailgate treatment).

[Avanti Fanatic]

Ty (Houck) was actually an Avanti dealer in the '80's-he still has his '88 convertible from those days.Ragtops has been around since 1980,and is a pretty awesome place,and Ty is really a great guy.I'm about 3 blocks from there,myself,so Ragtops is a frequent stop.

[Mrs K Corbin]

sounds like a good meeting place to me.....

[jts359]

There's a little Antique shop I went into yesterday in Dunedin Fla. and I asked the Lady owner if she had any Studebaker items , She said look around ,But Her Daddy worked for a Studebaker dealer during the 30's and was paid 10.00 a week plus commission, I found 4 items 2 tootsie toy Larks, a tootsie M series and a 1928 fire truck

[Commander Eddie]

There is a classic car dealership just down the hill from my house and they have Studebakers in there every now and again. In fact, about a year ago they had a white '63 Avanti which ended up being purchased by Alice Cooper. The last Studebaker I saw in there was a '63 GT Hawk.
There may be more Studebakers still around than we realize. People just need to get them out of their garage.

[packard352]

I'll have to get my brother to drop in and have a look, he's only up the road in Lake Worth! If he was minded, he might drop down to Boca to pickup my Mother and make a family mouch out of it, lol!

[6hk71400]

Jake,

I appreciate your posts, and your enthusiasm. Keep the faith going.

Bob Miles
Tucson AZ

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

Ty (Houck) was actually an Avanti dealer in the '80's-he still has his '88 convertible from those days.Ragtops has been around since 1980,and is a pretty awesome place,and Ty is really a great guy.I'm about 3 blocks from there,myself,so Ragtops is a frequent stop.[ATTACH=CONFIG]69964[/ATTACH]

Yeah, I know he’s a great guy but I didn’t know that tidbit about the Avanti II business. I might ask him about it next time. On another note, do you really live close to Ragtops as well? I’d like to say hi sometime!

[Avanti Fanatic]

Yes-I am in the El Cid neighborhood,and drive my '63 Avanti frequently,so if you see a white Avanti parked,please stop by and say hello.