Rear engined '47?

[Tom Bredehoft]

In this eBay writeup

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Studebaker-STARLIGHT-1947-Studebaker-COMMANDER-STARLIGHT-SURVIVOR-RARE_W0QQitemZ140279362355QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140279362355&_trkparms=39%3A1| 65%3A10|240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

The seller alleges that the '47 Studebakers were designed by Raymond Lowey to be rear engined.

Is this new information, or another tid-bit that I've missed?


[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction 528 hrs.)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by Tom B

In this eBay writeup

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Studebaker-STARLIGHT-1947-Studebaker-COMMANDER-STARLIGHT-SURVIVOR-RARE_W0QQitemZ140279362355QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140279362355&_trkparms=39%3A1| 65%3A10|240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

The seller alleges that the '47 Studebakers were designed by Raymond Lowey to be rear engined.

Is this new information, or another tid-bit that I've missed?

Studebaker was experimenting with a rear-engined car back then, but hard to say if it was ever intended for production. I'm sure Richard Quinn can give us more insight on it.

Craig

[Chris Pile]

Perhaps he was thinking of the Tucker?

Chris Pile
Midway Chapter SDC
The Studebaker Special

[Roscomacaw]

It was being toyed with before WWII. In the book; Bob Bourke Designs for Studebaker, there's sketches of rear-engined cars that easily show their lineage to the '47 models that eventually came to be.[]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[raprice]

I didn't know about rear engine '47 Studes, but there is a rear engine Lark in the Studebaker Nat'l Museum. I believe it has a Porche designed engine in it. There was an article about it in Turning Wheels quite some time ago. Maybe someone remembers it.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop
Smithtown,NY

[PlainBrownR2]

Indeed, the idea was there to put an engine in the rear. The way it was told to me was the design was to incorporate an engine in the rear but the expense of retooling for a rear engine grounded the project, so it just became a large trunk in the rear. What's interesting is the vestigial trait is still there in the trunk. Ever look at the trunk space? It's kinda long, cavernous, kinda like something was supposed to slide into that space back there.
The Porsche engine in the Lark that is mentioned was the retrofit by Porsche. The Porsche engineers pulled the six and tranny out, gutted the trunk, and dropped the Porsche engine, suspension and rear axle in. What's even more interesting was this combination was furthered adapted by the Curtis Wright Corporation. Curtis Wright had a license to the ****el Rotary, so it was being prepared to receive the rotary engine, the one that is now in the Mazda lineup (RX-7 RX-8 etc). The relationship fell apart though before the rotary could be installed.
I'm a little sketchy on the details, particularly the Porsche connection, so I would recommend Bob Johnstone's website(yeah yeah, its a plug, lol[)]) for further info on the prototypes

[url]http://www.studebaker-info.org/[/url]

Here's some additional information on the Studebaker-Porsche connection.....

[url]http://www.studegarage.com/porsche.htm[/url]

[img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000137-1.jpg[/img=left]
[img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=left]