Grille paint treatments on '54-56 trucks ??

[PackardV8]

Greetings, SDCrs,

I bought my '55 E12 at the Seattle International Meet in the early '80s, restored it as original and drove it hard 'til last fall.

It's in pieces, body-off-frame and ready for paint. It isn't going to be a pure restoration this time. Been there, done that, no fun to drive on the highway. With a few modifications for speed, power and NVH reduction, it'll be ready for another fifty years of service.

Since it isn't going back OEM, I'm open to possibilities for the grille other than plain white. IIRC, some of you have done some creative two-tone treatments, so I'd appreciate seeing as many as can be shared here.

Also, after twenty-five years of looking at it, I'm going to delete that huge chrome hood ornament, fender-mount turn signals and badges. (yes, I'll save them for the next owner, but I've just decided I'll like the truck better without them for this iteration.) So show us any trucks with a clean front end also, please.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

[jimmijim8]

Put the 56-58 c-k parking lights on the fenders. Wire them for turn signals. jimmijim

Stude Junkie+++++++Do it right the f$$$$ Time. Never mind. Just do it right. When youre done your done. You'll know it.

[PackardV8]

Thanks for the suggestion, but, no, thanks.

Still looking for paint info. One '54 truck owner sent nice photos. I definitely like the smaller '54 Studebaker nameplate over the huge '55 nameplate. darn Buick and GM for loading on the chrome and darn Studebaker for following the leader on the '55 models. The '55 truck/C/K and sedans front end treatment was not an improvement, to put it mildly.

jack vines

PackardV8

[Chris_Dresbach]

How 'bout making the grille not exactly white, but yellowish white, or ivory color. Stock, but not.[?][]

Chris Dresbach

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by PackardV8

Greetings, SDCrs,

I bought my '55 E12 at the Seattle International Meet in the early '80s, restored it as original and drove it hard 'til last fall.

It's in pieces, body-off-frame and ready for paint. It isn't going to be a pure restoration this time. Been there, done that, no fun to drive on the highway. With a few modifications for speed, power and NVH reduction, it'll be ready for another fifty years of service.

Since it isn't going back OEM, I'm open to possibilities for the grille other than plain white. IIRC, some of you have done some creative two-tone treatments, so I'd appreciate seeing as many as can be shared here.

Also, after twenty-five years of looking at it, I'm going to delete that huge chrome hood ornament, fender-mount turn signals and badges. (yes, I'll save them for the next owner, but I've just decided I'll like the truck better without them for this iteration.) So show us any trucks with a clean front end also, please.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

Here's a few I had on my work computer. I know I have more at home but can't access right now. The blue truck shows what I plan on doing to my '55 E7 - a '56 grille with the '56 turn signals. Agree with you about the huge 'Studebaker' plate on the hood. I think the last two are factory pics.




Paul
Winston-Salem, NC
Visit The NEW Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com

[PackardV8]

Hi, Paul,

Thanks for the photos. Pretty much what I was looking for.

The decision now is whether to paint the lower grille bar white, as per the factory '54 photo or body color as per the '56 photo.

I've about decided my ideal Stude truck would be the '54 body, '55 window shades, '56 grille and early Dana 44 axle and '64 289" and 3-speed overdrive.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

[Chris_Dresbach]

quote:Originally posted by r1lark

quote:Originally posted by PackardV8

Greetings, SDCrs,

I bought my '55 E12 at the Seattle International Meet in the early '80s, restored it as original and drove it hard 'til last fall.

It's in pieces, body-off-frame and ready for paint. It isn't going to be a pure restoration this time. Been there, done that, no fun to drive on the highway. With a few modifications for speed, power and NVH reduction, it'll be ready for another fifty years of service.

Since it isn't going back OEM, I'm open to possibilities for the grille other than plain white. IIRC, some of you have done some creative two-tone treatments, so I'd appreciate seeing as many as can be shared here.

Also, after twenty-five years of looking at it, I'm going to delete that huge chrome hood ornament, fender-mount turn signals and badges. (yes, I'll save them for the next owner, but I've just decided I'll like the truck better without them for this iteration.) So show us any trucks with a clean front end also, please.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

Here's a few I had on my work computer. I know I have more at home but can't access right now. The blue truck shows what I plan on doing to my '55 E7 - a '56 grille with the '56 turn signals. Agree with you about the huge 'Studebaker' plate on the hood. I think the last two are factory pics.




Paul
Winston-Salem, NC
Visit The NEW Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com

Where were these photos taken at? I think I see a "S" on one of the buildings and it got my curiosity.[?]

Chris Dresbach

[mbstude]

Looks like the Proving Ground.

Matthew Burnette
Your Friendly Stude Trim Bender

[studelark]

Faulty memory bank here, but I believe I have seen this blue/white truck at several meets here in Virginia, I think at the Spring meets at Yorktown in the mid-80s and 90s.

The other two photos are factory publicity photos for press kits or dealer kits. As Matthew has observed, the location appears to be at the test grounds. Notice the 3R38-71 stake truck in the background of the first photo-that is a scarce one, even when new.[8D][]

Frank Drumheller
Louisa, VA
60S-W6
1948 M16-52 Boyer-bodied fire truck

[Mark57]

'Course you could always go with CHROME!



<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island Chapter
http://visdc.shawwebspace.ca/ </h5>

[PackardV8]

Hi, Mark,

That's one way to go, chrome everything, grille, bumper, turn signals, side mirrors, window visors and who knows what else. Do you have any side or rear photos of that truck?

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

[Mark57]

Jack, Here are 2 more of the same truck... Pics came from a book entitled "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Pickups" by Peter Henshaw, 2007.




<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island Chapter
http://visdc.shawwebspace.ca/ </h5>

[silverhawk]

Nice truck, but that grill don't do it for me, sorry. Makes it look like a front heavy caddilac,LOL!

Dylan Wills
[IMG][/IMG]
'61 lark deluxe 4 door wagon

[PackardV8]

Can't remember seeing many single-color Transtars with the chrome check-mark side trim. Like most of the chrome, the side trim wouldnn't have have been original to a '55, would it? It just needs a couple of the chrome accessory spotlights to finish it off.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

[Mark57]

quote:Originally posted by PackardV8

Can't remember seeing many single-color Transtars with the chrome check-mark side trim. Like most of the chrome, the side trim wouldnn't have have been original to a '55, would it?

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

You are correct Jack - That "check mark" chrome trim on the doors first was used on '57 (3E series) trucks. It was standard with a two tone paint job, but could be ordered on a single tone. I think in '59, all Deluxe models (non-Scotsman) had the trim no matter what paint they came with.

Personally, I agree with Dylan - it's a bit too much chrome for me.

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island Chapter
http://visdc.shawwebspace.ca/ </h5>