I know I know, this has been asked before. However, instead of just telling us the bare essentials, why not make this more of a "intro" thread? How did you come to Studebakers? What are your other interests and passions? Ect.
I'll start off with my story (although some of you already know it). For me, it actually starts a ways back, 4 generations to be exact in my family. My great grandfather (Awesome guy, me and him were really close; and he passed away to meet our Lord at age 100 in 2005.) was a die hard Studebaker guy. The story I hear was that after WW2, he went to his local Chevy dealer, and ordered a brand new Chevy. A couple days later, a guy with "inside" connections at the dealership ordered a new one, and got his first. Slightly peeved (Ok, maybe more than that) he went to the local Studebaker dealer, and drove one right off the lot! After that, he bought a new Studebaker every couple years, with his last one being a '64 Wagonaire (A car someday I'd LOVE to clone!). A couple of his sons followed him in the begining, and my Grandpa got a used '53 Commander 4 door as his first car; with a '59 Silverhawk as his second. After those however, no more have followed, yet that is! My dad was always into old cars, and liked Studebakers because of the family "interest" in them. So, when I was 4 (I remember the details of this too, big event in my life) we went to go get his first Studebaker, a '62 Lark 6 4 door sedan. I have many many many (did I say MANY?) fond memories in that car, and probably influenced my current love (Or is it more of a obsession?) with the marque.
Now, we come to me (woo hoo! I get to brag once in my life! Kidding of course!). When I was young, my grandfather (The same one that had the '59 Silverhawk) told me of his cars, and told me many times of his ultimate dream car; a '56 Power Hawk. Couple those with my dad's Lark, and I couldn't escape the flood of Studebakers. I was always into old cars, but it wasn't until I was 12 or so that I became REALLY into old cars. We had a couple old T.W's laying around the house, as well as a old Newman & Altman catolog, and I just about memorized those. So, my interests shifted to Studebakers; way more than any in my family could have imagined.
The family friend that my dad got his Lark from came over one night, and it's a wonder he didn't go deaf. I had seen his Studebakers before, but the only one I could vaguely remember was his Lark station wagon, and it looked similer to my dad's lark. But, they as a whole, didn't play a huge part in getting me interested, but he himself did. I must have made a impression (Or he was trying to get me to shut up) because a few weeks later; I get something in the mail. He had bought me my first membership to the SDC!!! Not only that, but a little while later, 5!! boxes of past issues of T.W's arrived. I read every single one, no joke. By that time, I'm screwed; there was NO escape now, and I wasn't trying to hard. (They say ignorance is bliss, especially when your 14)
At the time, my dad was going to get a free '63 Wagonaire, via this friend. But, with out me knowing, he told my dad I should end up with the car. When I found out, I was ecstatic! I was going to get my OWN Studebaker! Later on though, things changed. He didn't want me to have that one anymore, he wanted me to have HIS wagon! Yes, this was the same wagon I had seen when I was much younger, and he wanted ME to have it. In September of 2008; a extremely excited 15 year old with out so much as a permit, got to go get my first car with my dad. That trip home was the most amazing thing ever, even if I was in the passenger seat.....
Now, the cars. My car is a ever continueing project, and will probably never ever end. In fact, I plan NOT to let it end, all the frustrations are kinda fun! When I got it, it was all original, save the tires and other stuff. As of now, it has lost some of that originality, but retains much of it all the same. My dad's '62 Lark still survives, and is torn apart thanks to me in a bay of our home shop; getting a much needed cosmetic overhaul. (Most people would have shot it in the head a LOOONGGG time ago, it was really bad) I had mentioned another Studebaker project in the works. To be honest, there is actually 2. One is a '52 Commander 4 door I'm getting with my dad. It's a good runner, and just needs brakes mechanical wise to be a daily driver. It's rust free, and will get a weekend overhaul as a hot rod once it's home. (Very soon I hope). The next one is a '57 Golden Hawk; that all the evidence is pointing to be a true 400 model, but the prototype at that. That story will be told a different time, when I get it fully in my hands.
Ok, hang in a little longer guys, I promise I'm almost done boring you! As I asked you guys earlier, what are some of your other passions and interests? Well, as far as passions go, I love collecting vintage US militaria, with most of my collection being WW2 and back. As well as that, I'm also really into history, and I plan to get a degree in that. I also love guns, and have done 4 and 3 position competitive shooting for almost 8 years now, as well as many hunting excursions. Another new found passion (Courtesy of my work), is I LOVE to teach! Other activities include biking, hiking, ect. You get the idea.
So, as promised, I'll get off my soap box and leave you guys alone. But, what is your story?
I'll start off with my story (although some of you already know it). For me, it actually starts a ways back, 4 generations to be exact in my family. My great grandfather (Awesome guy, me and him were really close; and he passed away to meet our Lord at age 100 in 2005.) was a die hard Studebaker guy. The story I hear was that after WW2, he went to his local Chevy dealer, and ordered a brand new Chevy. A couple days later, a guy with "inside" connections at the dealership ordered a new one, and got his first. Slightly peeved (Ok, maybe more than that) he went to the local Studebaker dealer, and drove one right off the lot! After that, he bought a new Studebaker every couple years, with his last one being a '64 Wagonaire (A car someday I'd LOVE to clone!). A couple of his sons followed him in the begining, and my Grandpa got a used '53 Commander 4 door as his first car; with a '59 Silverhawk as his second. After those however, no more have followed, yet that is! My dad was always into old cars, and liked Studebakers because of the family "interest" in them. So, when I was 4 (I remember the details of this too, big event in my life) we went to go get his first Studebaker, a '62 Lark 6 4 door sedan. I have many many many (did I say MANY?) fond memories in that car, and probably influenced my current love (Or is it more of a obsession?) with the marque.
Now, we come to me (woo hoo! I get to brag once in my life! Kidding of course!). When I was young, my grandfather (The same one that had the '59 Silverhawk) told me of his cars, and told me many times of his ultimate dream car; a '56 Power Hawk. Couple those with my dad's Lark, and I couldn't escape the flood of Studebakers. I was always into old cars, but it wasn't until I was 12 or so that I became REALLY into old cars. We had a couple old T.W's laying around the house, as well as a old Newman & Altman catolog, and I just about memorized those. So, my interests shifted to Studebakers; way more than any in my family could have imagined.
The family friend that my dad got his Lark from came over one night, and it's a wonder he didn't go deaf. I had seen his Studebakers before, but the only one I could vaguely remember was his Lark station wagon, and it looked similer to my dad's lark. But, they as a whole, didn't play a huge part in getting me interested, but he himself did. I must have made a impression (Or he was trying to get me to shut up) because a few weeks later; I get something in the mail. He had bought me my first membership to the SDC!!! Not only that, but a little while later, 5!! boxes of past issues of T.W's arrived. I read every single one, no joke. By that time, I'm screwed; there was NO escape now, and I wasn't trying to hard. (They say ignorance is bliss, especially when your 14)
At the time, my dad was going to get a free '63 Wagonaire, via this friend. But, with out me knowing, he told my dad I should end up with the car. When I found out, I was ecstatic! I was going to get my OWN Studebaker! Later on though, things changed. He didn't want me to have that one anymore, he wanted me to have HIS wagon! Yes, this was the same wagon I had seen when I was much younger, and he wanted ME to have it. In September of 2008; a extremely excited 15 year old with out so much as a permit, got to go get my first car with my dad. That trip home was the most amazing thing ever, even if I was in the passenger seat.....
Now, the cars. My car is a ever continueing project, and will probably never ever end. In fact, I plan NOT to let it end, all the frustrations are kinda fun! When I got it, it was all original, save the tires and other stuff. As of now, it has lost some of that originality, but retains much of it all the same. My dad's '62 Lark still survives, and is torn apart thanks to me in a bay of our home shop; getting a much needed cosmetic overhaul. (Most people would have shot it in the head a LOOONGGG time ago, it was really bad) I had mentioned another Studebaker project in the works. To be honest, there is actually 2. One is a '52 Commander 4 door I'm getting with my dad. It's a good runner, and just needs brakes mechanical wise to be a daily driver. It's rust free, and will get a weekend overhaul as a hot rod once it's home. (Very soon I hope). The next one is a '57 Golden Hawk; that all the evidence is pointing to be a true 400 model, but the prototype at that. That story will be told a different time, when I get it fully in my hands.
Ok, hang in a little longer guys, I promise I'm almost done boring you! As I asked you guys earlier, what are some of your other passions and interests? Well, as far as passions go, I love collecting vintage US militaria, with most of my collection being WW2 and back. As well as that, I'm also really into history, and I plan to get a degree in that. I also love guns, and have done 4 and 3 position competitive shooting for almost 8 years now, as well as many hunting excursions. Another new found passion (Courtesy of my work), is I LOVE to teach! Other activities include biking, hiking, ect. You get the idea.
So, as promised, I'll get off my soap box and leave you guys alone. But, what is your story?
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