1953 Commander Convertible...and then some.

[S2DSteve]

[img][/img]Started out as a '56 Golden Hawk, damaged in a barn collapse. In 1983 the roof was removed and a complete convertible assembly from a '64 Dodge Dart grafted into place, along with front & rear sheetmetal and trim from a '53 coupe. The builder then stalled out on the project and parked it outside until selling it in the late 80's. We discovered it in a barn in 1995, and finally put it on the road in 2003, accumulating over 38,000 miles since then. Everything other than the original graft, upholstery, exhaust and air ride was homebuilt.

Drivetrain is a superchaged 'R2' V8 from a '63 Avanti, coupled to a GM 200R4 transmission.
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Added air ride suspension in 2005.

1953 Commander Convertible (show & go)
[img][/img]
1949 "GMOBaker"(GMC chassis/Mopar 440/Stude cab) Dually (workhorse)
[img][/img]
1954 Champion (daily driver)
[img][/img]

[paintim613]

What a car! Looks as good as the Barris 53 custom convertible I saw in February at AZ auction. That car went for only $19,000, so hang on to your beauty.

Tim-53 Custom Starlight aka The Studebird in Yuma, AZ

[Kdancy]

Awesome!

[bige]

One of the prettiest cars Stude or otherwise that I've ever seen.
ErnieR

[Michael]

A masterpiece for sure...

Michael Bostedt
Gavle, Sweden
-1953 Champion Starliner
-1953 Commander Starlight

[DEEPNHOCK]

I remember when it was purple (IIRC)
Jeff[8D]

[billmdonn]

Beautiful car, I hope to see it at Lancaster.

"I know nothing"

Sargent Schultz

[John Brayton]

[quote]Originally posted by paintim613

What a car! Looks as good as the Barris 53 custom convertible I saw in February at AZ auction. That car went for only $19,000, so hang on to your beauty.

Tim-53 Custom Starlight aka The Studebird in Yuma, AZ
Great looking convertible. Some cars naturally look good as a convertible and yours is perfect! John

john brayton

[Lothar]

It is a beautiful car, no doubt about it. Wouldn't converting a '53 coupe to a convertible make that body awfully flexible? Has it been beefed up in any way?

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[S2DSteve]

Yes, removing the roof would turn the car into a wobly, creaky wet noodle, and is the reason a lot of hommade jobs ended up in the scrap yard. The frame and body were substantially reinforced, and it rides as solid as a coupe.

[Toomanyprojects]

My 1953 Commander was converted around 1970. It has a 1963 Dart top, electric. This car is not any more flexible without 'beefing' than any other convertible. It has been cross country, mountain roads and rough back roads. It was a solid car with a good frame at the start. We are asked about this over and over and don't know who started the flexible frame rumor.

This car was at the Estes Park National Meet in the 1980's. It is still green, still sporting 1953 upholstry and dash. The engine is 1958 Studebaker.

[JGK 940]

quote:Originally posted by Toomanyprojects

My 1953 Commander was converted around 1970... still sporting 1953 upholstry and dash. The engine is 1958 Studebaker.

Um... not to put too fine a point on it, but this IS the "Members' Studebaker Pictures" section of the forum.

May we please see some pictures? []

Keoni Dibelka / HiloFoto
In Hawai'i; on Hawai'i; on the Windward Side
If da salt air never chew 'em up bumbye da lava will...

[fstst56]

Toomanyprojects,

I remember seeing your car in Estes Park.

That would have been 1987.

[Milaca]

Steve, that convertible looks to be the cream of the crop. Amazing!


Brent's rootbeer racer.
MN iron ore...it does your body good.

[55champion]

That is a super car.Great work