A Barrett-Jackson Question

[SoCal54Champion]

We hear of the "definitive" restorer for Mustangs, Camaro's and 'Vettes..the mear fact that so and so restored the car adds value....etc.
Is there a "definitive" Studebaker restorer?


"Oh That? It's a STUDEBAKER!!"

54 Champion Regal 2dr
Sedan

[JDP]

The finest restorations I've seen were done my individuals on their own cars. i.e. Ed Ellis on his 4 wheel drive truck, the Schrock brothers cars and the like.


64 Commander 2 dr.
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
62 GT Hawk 4 speed
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

The finest restorations I've seen were done my individuals on their own cars. i.e. Ed Ellis on his 4 wheel drive truck, the Schrock brothers cars and the like.


64 Commander 2 dr.
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
62 GT Hawk 4 speed
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[rusty nut garage]

I attended wed (free ticket I'd never pay to watch this stupidity)
while walking the tents looking @ all the variety of cars we came upon a employee of a dealer who has several cars on the block. He has the hood open and a small can of home depot interior paint blue in color and he's painting what little of the valve covers he can get to. The car was a 66 Lincoln Continetal convertible. We got to laughing because nearly every car that goes across the block is described as a rotisserie restored one of 22 yak yak yak documented by Mr Hemi himself or some such nonsense. I don't know what he had in mind because after the engine was restored he closed the hood. Kinda strange. If you ever have the opportunity to go to one of these its a good time for a car guy (ticket prices are steep). You get to see a variety of cars all in one place, but don't go looking to educate yourself on the true value of the cars


Russ Shop Foreman "Rusty Nut Garage"
57 SH (project)
60 Lark VIII 2dr sd (driver)

[rusty nut garage]

I attended wed (free ticket I'd never pay to watch this stupidity)
while walking the tents looking @ all the variety of cars we came upon a employee of a dealer who has several cars on the block. He has the hood open and a small can of home depot interior paint blue in color and he's painting what little of the valve covers he can get to. The car was a 66 Lincoln Continetal convertible. We got to laughing because nearly every car that goes across the block is described as a rotisserie restored one of 22 yak yak yak documented by Mr Hemi himself or some such nonsense. I don't know what he had in mind because after the engine was restored he closed the hood. Kinda strange. If you ever have the opportunity to go to one of these its a good time for a car guy (ticket prices are steep). You get to see a variety of cars all in one place, but don't go looking to educate yourself on the true value of the cars


Russ Shop Foreman "Rusty Nut Garage"
57 SH (project)
60 Lark VIII 2dr sd (driver)

[Bill Pressler]

I thought Ed Ellis' 4wd was done by Westmoreland in Pennsylvania. I could of course be wrong.

Bill Pressler
Kent, OH

quote:Originally posted by JDP

The finest restorations I've seen were done my individuals on their own cars. i.e. Ed Ellis on his 4 wheel drive truck, the Schrock brothers cars and the like.


64 Commander 2 dr.
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
62 GT Hawk 4 speed
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[Bill Pressler]

I thought Ed Ellis' 4wd was done by Westmoreland in Pennsylvania. I could of course be wrong.

Bill Pressler
Kent, OH

quote:Originally posted by JDP

The finest restorations I've seen were done my individuals on their own cars. i.e. Ed Ellis on his 4 wheel drive truck, the Schrock brothers cars and the like.


64 Commander 2 dr.
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
62 GT Hawk 4 speed
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[JBOYLE]

I wish there were a difinitive Studebaker shop....like Amos Minter with 2 seat T-Birds.
I'd ship him my Avanti and tell him I don't want to see it until it's done.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[JBOYLE]

I wish there were a difinitive Studebaker shop....like Amos Minter with 2 seat T-Birds.
I'd ship him my Avanti and tell him I don't want to see it until it's done.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[studegary]

The names that come to my mind are Shrock Brothers(that I don't believe does complete cars for others any longer), Keilen's Auto Restoring and Westmoreland [in that order]-the fourth Studebaker specialist is recently deceased. I learned a long time ago to not judge a restoration shop by the work that they do on their own vehicles. That work is far superior to what a paying customer gets. It shouldn't be that way, but that is what decades of experience has shown me.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

1959 DeLuxe pickup (restomod)

[studegary]

The names that come to my mind are Shrock Brothers(that I don't believe does complete cars for others any longer), Keilen's Auto Restoring and Westmoreland [in that order]-the fourth Studebaker specialist is recently deceased. I learned a long time ago to not judge a restoration shop by the work that they do on their own vehicles. That work is far superior to what a paying customer gets. It shouldn't be that way, but that is what decades of experience has shown me.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

1959 DeLuxe pickup (restomod)

[HNCadet]

I too have searched for that Studebaker specialist. Being new to the marque I wasn't about to jump in and start tearing things up without the knowledge of how they were supposed to go back together. I own two Avanti's right now and the R3 motor #B92. The motor was sent to Myer's to be torn down, inspected , documented and rebuilt. That was an easy decision, other than Nimesh, I don't believe anyone else out there does commercial work. At least no one directed me to them when I requested that info. The body and mechanical is another issue.

Without a lot of strong written and visual documentation you're relying on past experience and personal connections to those who claim to have it. The judging issue that some have experienced at National shows is an example of the inadequate documentation within the Studebaker community. I've toured and spoken with two Pebble Beach Class restorers here in San Diego(Alan Taylor & Hjeltness) both have LIBRARIES both written and pictures of Dusenberg's, Talbot Lagos, Packards, MB Gullwings, etc. but no info on Studies. Both would happily take the job, because at shop rates, it doesn't matter to them if it's a Dusenberg or an Avanti. BTW both shops have rates cheaper than any dealership. Getting a slot is another issue 12-18 mos min! AND they do a proper restoration, NO cheap fixes, their name and reputation goes out the door ON your car.

Because of the Time Issue, I chose to go with two small local shops, each shop has it's own specialty, one a 50's-60's Corvette shop will do my wife's daily driver. It will be frame-off but more a resto-mod(it already was morphed into an Avanti II in the mid-eighties). He knows fiberglass and chebby running gear. It will eventually get an R1 motor but not until my R3 gets done. Timing and sequencing here are the problem. Still waiting on my R3 to get done.

The R3 motored vehicle goes to another one-man specialty shop. This gentleman worked for a resto house and eventually moved to the country, got a nice shop and took on specialty vehicles. He has/is doing a couple of El Morrocco's and has done an absolutely beautiful '56 Chevy Dual-Cab mod on a Suburban frame for towing! Immaculate!

I will be heavily involved in each project being the "parts" man and step'n fetchit. Best way to learn I figure, before I go out and look for the next project. My wife now likes the Packard Hawk! go figure. I'd prefer a '35 Hupmobile(still with Loewy's influence)

In the meantime I continue to collect as much data as I can from this and other websites. People like Bob Johnstone, JDP, Myer's, Ted Harbit have all provided excellent help, but it needs to be formally documented with pictures and any written documentation any of you may have acquired and squirreled away. I WILL post all documentation of my R3 rebuild when completed.



Post it if you got it!

Thanks Guys.

HN Cadet

[HNCadet]

I too have searched for that Studebaker specialist. Being new to the marque I wasn't about to jump in and start tearing things up without the knowledge of how they were supposed to go back together. I own two Avanti's right now and the R3 motor #B92. The motor was sent to Myer's to be torn down, inspected , documented and rebuilt. That was an easy decision, other than Nimesh, I don't believe anyone else out there does commercial work. At least no one directed me to them when I requested that info. The body and mechanical is another issue.

Without a lot of strong written and visual documentation you're relying on past experience and personal connections to those who claim to have it. The judging issue that some have experienced at National shows is an example of the inadequate documentation within the Studebaker community. I've toured and spoken with two Pebble Beach Class restorers here in San Diego(Alan Taylor & Hjeltness) both have LIBRARIES both written and pictures of Dusenberg's, Talbot Lagos, Packards, MB Gullwings, etc. but no info on Studies. Both would happily take the job, because at shop rates, it doesn't matter to them if it's a Dusenberg or an Avanti. BTW both shops have rates cheaper than any dealership. Getting a slot is another issue 12-18 mos min! AND they do a proper restoration, NO cheap fixes, their name and reputation goes out the door ON your car.

Because of the Time Issue, I chose to go with two small local shops, each shop has it's own specialty, one a 50's-60's Corvette shop will do my wife's daily driver. It will be frame-off but more a resto-mod(it already was morphed into an Avanti II in the mid-eighties). He knows fiberglass and chebby running gear. It will eventually get an R1 motor but not until my R3 gets done. Timing and sequencing here are the problem. Still waiting on my R3 to get done.

The R3 motored vehicle goes to another one-man specialty shop. This gentleman worked for a resto house and eventually moved to the country, got a nice shop and took on specialty vehicles. He has/is doing a couple of El Morrocco's and has done an absolutely beautiful '56 Chevy Dual-Cab mod on a Suburban frame for towing! Immaculate!

I will be heavily involved in each project being the "parts" man and step'n fetchit. Best way to learn I figure, before I go out and look for the next project. My wife now likes the Packard Hawk! go figure. I'd prefer a '35 Hupmobile(still with Loewy's influence)

In the meantime I continue to collect as much data as I can from this and other websites. People like Bob Johnstone, JDP, Myer's, Ted Harbit have all provided excellent help, but it needs to be formally documented with pictures and any written documentation any of you may have acquired and squirreled away. I WILL post all documentation of my R3 rebuild when completed.



Post it if you got it!

Thanks Guys.

HN Cadet