Israeli 1964 stretch convertible

[Studebaker Wheel]

Does anyone know of the current whereabouts of the Israeli stretch limo convertible that was featured in the Nov/Dec 1977 issue of Special Interest Autos? It was a pretty remarkable automobile with a 25 inch stretch, Lincoln style suicide rear doors and a Six cylinder engine! It was built as a parade vehicle for the President of Israel and was used for only two years before being sold (1966). It vanished shortly thereafter.

R. Quinn

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Studebaker Wheel

Does anyone know of the current whereabouts of the Israeli stretch limo convertible that was featured in the Nov/Dec 1977 issue of Special Interest Autos? It was a pretty remarkable automobile with a 25 inch stretch, Lincoln style suicide rear doors and a Six cylinder engine! It was built as a parade vehicle for the President of Israel and was used for only two years before being sold (1966). It vanished shortly thereafter.
R. Quinn

It sticks in my (often faulty) memory that someone actually went to Israel and tried to locate the car. He was told that it was used privately for a while then was scrapped.


[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/R-4.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64L.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64P.jpg[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/53K.jpg[/img=right]Paul Johnson
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Studebaker Wheel

Does anyone know of the current whereabouts of the Israeli stretch limo convertible that was featured in the Nov/Dec 1977 issue of Special Interest Autos? It was a pretty remarkable automobile with a 25 inch stretch, Lincoln style suicide rear doors and a Six cylinder engine! It was built as a parade vehicle for the President of Israel and was used for only two years before being sold (1966). It vanished shortly thereafter.
R. Quinn

It sticks in my (often faulty) memory that someone actually went to Israel and tried to locate the car. He was told that it was used privately for a while then was scrapped.


[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/R-4.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64L.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64P.jpg[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/53K.jpg[/img=right]Paul Johnson
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine

[garyash]

It has been a well kept secret for all these years, but the truth is that the stretched car was loaded with more than 1000 lbs of high explosive and dropped from an airplane in a raid on Iraq's nuclear facilities in 1981. The extended shape of the car enabled it to be a "bunker buster" bomb. Israel had identified the need for such a weapon back in 1966 when the car disappeared. By using a Studebaker, it could be parked out in the open at an Israeli air force base without attracting attention, a classic case of "hide in plain sight". Isn't it good to know that the car gave up its existence for a good cause!

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Opera

[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[garyash]

It has been a well kept secret for all these years, but the truth is that the stretched car was loaded with more than 1000 lbs of high explosive and dropped from an airplane in a raid on Iraq's nuclear facilities in 1981. The extended shape of the car enabled it to be a "bunker buster" bomb. Israel had identified the need for such a weapon back in 1966 when the car disappeared. By using a Studebaker, it could be parked out in the open at an Israeli air force base without attracting attention, a classic case of "hide in plain sight". Isn't it good to know that the car gave up its existence for a good cause!

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Opera

[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by Studebaker Wheel

Does anyone know of the current whereabouts of the Israeli stretch limo convertible that was featured in the Nov/Dec 1977 issue of Special Interest Autos? It was a pretty remarkable automobile with a 25 inch stretch, Lincoln style suicide rear doors and a Six cylinder engine! It was built as a parade vehicle for the President of Israel and was used for only two years before being sold (1966). It vanished shortly thereafter.

R. Quinn

It seems to me I read in TW some 20 years ago that it got scrapped. Seems very unfortunate it ended like that. We can only hope it suddenly appears in a similar way those GM Motorama showcars have; thanks to a sympathetic autowrecker owner that secretly didn't carry out the 'destroy it' order.

Craig

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by Studebaker Wheel

Does anyone know of the current whereabouts of the Israeli stretch limo convertible that was featured in the Nov/Dec 1977 issue of Special Interest Autos? It was a pretty remarkable automobile with a 25 inch stretch, Lincoln style suicide rear doors and a Six cylinder engine! It was built as a parade vehicle for the President of Israel and was used for only two years before being sold (1966). It vanished shortly thereafter.

R. Quinn

It seems to me I read in TW some 20 years ago that it got scrapped. Seems very unfortunate it ended like that. We can only hope it suddenly appears in a similar way those GM Motorama showcars have; thanks to a sympathetic autowrecker owner that secretly didn't carry out the 'destroy it' order.

Craig

[rockne10]

Gary,
Tell me your response is tongue in cheek. I remember the article in Special Interest Autos and have often wondered about the fate of the convertible limo. If I remember correctly, it was red with a white top w/silk underlinement and the script on the car was in Hebrew. Hard to imagine anyone would scrap it, no matter its condition.

I've heard some efforts have been made to find this car. If anyone can it would be one serious coup.

If no one has information, does anyone have suggestions as to where queries should be directed? Mr. Quinn does not ask questions out of idle curiousity. If the original writer is still with us, perhaps he has some adjunct knowledge.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight

[rockne10]

Gary,
Tell me your response is tongue in cheek. I remember the article in Special Interest Autos and have often wondered about the fate of the convertible limo. If I remember correctly, it was red with a white top w/silk underlinement and the script on the car was in Hebrew. Hard to imagine anyone would scrap it, no matter its condition.

I've heard some efforts have been made to find this car. If anyone can it would be one serious coup.

If no one has information, does anyone have suggestions as to where queries should be directed? Mr. Quinn does not ask questions out of idle curiousity. If the original writer is still with us, perhaps he has some adjunct knowledge.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight

[Studebaker Wheel]

For further clarification re my inquiry. I was contacted by Hemmings Motor News

[Studebaker Wheel]

For further clarification re my inquiry. I was contacted by Hemmings Motor News

[Roscomacaw]

Say, here's an idea.... I've got this here X-member frame from the Wagonaire I'm parting out. Why doesn't someone take it and put it under a Cruiser and whack the roof off???[:0][:I]
To make the B-pillars a bit more stout, you could fashion something of a second cowl behind the front seat. For that matter, cut away the firewall and windshield frame of the Wagonaire and make a second windscreen for the rear seat passengers. We can use it to lead the Stude parade thru South Bend whenever the meet's held there!

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


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

[Roscomacaw]

Say, here's an idea.... I've got this here X-member frame from the Wagonaire I'm parting out. Why doesn't someone take it and put it under a Cruiser and whack the roof off???[:0][:I]
To make the B-pillars a bit more stout, you could fashion something of a second cowl behind the front seat. For that matter, cut away the firewall and windshield frame of the Wagonaire and make a second windscreen for the rear seat passengers. We can use it to lead the Stude parade thru South Bend whenever the meet's held there!

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


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

[Lark289]

That is the first I have heard of that car. Thanks for posting the article, but can you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE POST THE PICTURES TOO!!! Can you scan and post them? I would love to see pix of that car. TIA




Ready for a trip to the beach!

[Lark289]

That is the first I have heard of that car. Thanks for posting the article, but can you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE POST THE PICTURES TOO!!! Can you scan and post them? I would love to see pix of that car. TIA




Ready for a trip to the beach!