Rare Canadian Commander "Special"

[StudeRich]

JDP, those Commander "Specials" mentioned in your '64 Amber Pk. Lt. post were very rare models, apparently near the end of '64 Canadian production they had lots of extra Daytona interiors (door panels, 1/4 trim panels with the Daytona design & bucket seats made in house (in S.B.)for Hardtops. Problem was, not enough people bought the estimated number of the unpopular colors Green, and Brown SB had made. So they sent them to Canada came and up with this option right before they shut down Canadian '64 production. Oh, it also included Carpeting, that Commanders did not have.

The stainless drip rail mouldings, circle "S" "C" pillar emblem, the hood ornament and stainless body side mouldings were all STANDARD on Commander! They did not go the "last mile" though, and include stainless side window mouldings like a '63 Lark Custom or a '65 Sport sedan) The dual headlights were an option ordered on your car.

It is difficult to say if your car was a "Special" because there are no bucket seats and the door panels have been re-covered like the seats. If you have a build slip that proves it WAS a "Special", then maybe there were some built with bench seat or the seat was replaced when the interior was re-done.

There was one of these Commander 2dr. sedan Specials on the showroom floor when Dad & I bought his Canadian '64 Daytona HT in Dec.'64. It was a neat car: Jet Green (dark) with a tan bucket seat Daytona interior and a 289 with Powershift Auto. trans. [^]

Our SDC Northwest Zone Coordinator Brian Curtis, owned one of these Commander Specials and drove it many, many miles in Canadian & Washington rain and snow before the body finally rotted away.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[JDP]

OK, it did not have buckets, so that must mean it was just a optioned out Commander.

64 Commander-64 Daytona
64 GT R2 clone-63 GT R2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert-63
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT-60Hawk
59 3E truck
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

OK, it did not have buckets, so that must mean it was just a optioned out Commander.

64 Commander-64 Daytona
64 GT R2 clone-63 GT R2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert-63
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT-60Hawk
59 3E truck
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[BobPalma]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

JDP, those Commander "Specials" mentioned in your '64 Amber Pk. Lt. post were very rare models, apparently near the end of '64 Canadian production they had lots of extra Daytona interiors (door panels, 1/4 trim panels with the Daytona design & bucket seats made in house (in S.B.)for Hardtops. Problem was, not enough people bought the estimated number of the unpopular colors Green, and Brown SB had made. So they sent them to Canada came and up with this option right before they shut down Canadian '64 production. Oh, it also included Carpeting, that Commanders did not have.

The stainless drip rail mouldings, circle "S" "C" pillar emblem, the hood ornament and stainless body side mouldings were all STANDARD on Commander! They did not go the "last mile" though, and include stainless side window mouldings like a '63 Lark Custom or a '65 Sport sedan) The dual headlights were an option ordered on your car.

It is difficult to say if your car was a "Special" because there are no bucket seats and the door panels have been re-covered like the seats. If you have a build slip that proves it WAS a "Special", then maybe there were some built with bench seat or the seat was replaced when the interior was re-done.

There was one of these Commander 2dr. sedan Specials on the showroom floor when Dad & I bought his Canadian '64 Daytona HT in Dec.'64. It was a neat car: Jet Green (dark) with a tan bucket seat Daytona interior and a 289 with Powershift Auto. trans. [^]

Our SDC Northwest Zone Coordinator Brian Curtis, owned one of these Commander Specials and drove it many, many miles in Canadian & Washington rain and snow before the body finally rotted away.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[:0] Fred Fox's research might not support "all the above," Rich. Here's a quote from Fred's article on Page 10, February 1993 Turning Wheels, regarding what happened when production was shifted to the Hamilton Plant January 1, 1964:

"To counter the limited offerings of sporty interiors, a new model called the Commander Special was introduced. The Commander Special was a 2-door sedan (F-body) with a Daytona interior, dual headlights, and other special deluxe features. It cost only $130 more than a regular Commander 2-door; a good buy. Bucket seats were available at extra cost on the Commander Special." [Emphasis added.]

There were no corrections or changes regarding that information in Fred's "Recaps" of that article in the June 1993 Turning Wheels.

I believe JP's car, here, could be a Commander Special. [] BP

[BobPalma]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

JDP, those Commander "Specials" mentioned in your '64 Amber Pk. Lt. post were very rare models, apparently near the end of '64 Canadian production they had lots of extra Daytona interiors (door panels, 1/4 trim panels with the Daytona design & bucket seats made in house (in S.B.)for Hardtops. Problem was, not enough people bought the estimated number of the unpopular colors Green, and Brown SB had made. So they sent them to Canada came and up with this option right before they shut down Canadian '64 production. Oh, it also included Carpeting, that Commanders did not have.

The stainless drip rail mouldings, circle "S" "C" pillar emblem, the hood ornament and stainless body side mouldings were all STANDARD on Commander! They did not go the "last mile" though, and include stainless side window mouldings like a '63 Lark Custom or a '65 Sport sedan) The dual headlights were an option ordered on your car.

It is difficult to say if your car was a "Special" because there are no bucket seats and the door panels have been re-covered like the seats. If you have a build slip that proves it WAS a "Special", then maybe there were some built with bench seat or the seat was replaced when the interior was re-done.

There was one of these Commander 2dr. sedan Specials on the showroom floor when Dad & I bought his Canadian '64 Daytona HT in Dec.'64. It was a neat car: Jet Green (dark) with a tan bucket seat Daytona interior and a 289 with Powershift Auto. trans. [^]

Our SDC Northwest Zone Coordinator Brian Curtis, owned one of these Commander Specials and drove it many, many miles in Canadian & Washington rain and snow before the body finally rotted away.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[:0] Fred Fox's research might not support "all the above," Rich. Here's a quote from Fred's article on Page 10, February 1993 Turning Wheels, regarding what happened when production was shifted to the Hamilton Plant January 1, 1964:

"To counter the limited offerings of sporty interiors, a new model called the Commander Special was introduced. The Commander Special was a 2-door sedan (F-body) with a Daytona interior, dual headlights, and other special deluxe features. It cost only $130 more than a regular Commander 2-door; a good buy. Bucket seats were available at extra cost on the Commander Special." [Emphasis added.]

There were no corrections or changes regarding that information in Fred's "Recaps" of that article in the June 1993 Turning Wheels.

I believe JP's car, here, could be a Commander Special. [] BP

[JDP]

Well poop, it did have carpets and Daytona trim on the seats that's I covered over, so maybe.

64 Commander-64 Daytona
64 GT R2 clone-63 GT R2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert-63
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT-60Hawk
59 3E truck
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

Well poop, it did have carpets and Daytona trim on the seats that's I covered over, so maybe.

64 Commander-64 Daytona
64 GT R2 clone-63 GT R2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert-63
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT-60Hawk
59 3E truck
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[StudeRich]

You are correct (as usual) Bob. Did you note this:

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

If you have a build slip that proves it WAS a "Special", then maybe there were some built with bench seat or the seat was replaced when the interior was re-done.

As I said, it is impossible to tell without a build slip, because all four interior trim panels have been recovered with very nice pleated vinyl like a '60 Lark Regal, even the seats! Since that's what was "special" and it's gone...who knows!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[StudeRich]

You are correct (as usual) Bob. Did you note this:

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

If you have a build slip that proves it WAS a "Special", then maybe there were some built with bench seat or the seat was replaced when the interior was re-done.

As I said, it is impossible to tell without a build slip, because all four interior trim panels have been recovered with very nice pleated vinyl like a '60 Lark Regal, even the seats! Since that's what was "special" and it's gone...who knows!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[JDP]

OK, it's a very early car C1000347, so it's highly unlikely to be a special if they were indeed late production.

64 Commander-64 Daytona
64 GT R2 clone-63 GT R2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert-63
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT-60Hawk
59 3E truck
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

OK, it's a very early car C1000347, so it's highly unlikely to be a special if they were indeed late production.

64 Commander-64 Daytona
64 GT R2 clone-63 GT R2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert-63
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT-60Hawk
59 3E truck
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[BobPalma]

You think we're gonna get JP to cough up the tariff for a build slip? [:0] BP

[BobPalma]

You think we're gonna get JP to cough up the tariff for a build slip? [:0] BP

[nels]

I just sold a 64 Commander Special. It had the Daytona seat trim on the bucket seats but it still retained the Commander door panels, not Daytona.

[nels]

I just sold a 64 Commander Special. It had the Daytona seat trim on the bucket seats but it still retained the Commander door panels, not Daytona.