Okay, I'm not quite sure how I came across this site, but I'm pretty sure that a push-button ignition switch is how I'm going to cap off my restoration. Stock? No. Pretty cool? Absolutely.
Pushbutton ignitions for classic cars
In an effort to derail my own thread before it begins, I'm interested in people's thoughts on putting new technology in their Studebakers. I saw a lively debate in another thread about updating an older Stude to 12 volts. One member remarked that sometimes you have to embrace new technology, and it caught a response along the lines of "Then why bother with a Studebaker to begin with?"
My personal feelings are that I like the looks of Studebakers, but I think you can modernize the technology inside the car while still keeping to the "spirit" of the design. I can't help but think that if Raymond Lowey and the designers of the time had access to the technology we have today, they would have used it in a heartbeat.
Plus let's face it, some things really should be updated. Seatbelts are one example that pops to mind. Another would be adding a modern two-chamber master cylinder on the brakes. I mean, if you're building a 400 point trailer queen, you're probably not going to be flying down the highway at 60 miles per hour with your wife and toddler in there with you. But if you want to actually use the cars for what they were built for (driving!), then what's the harm in making them a little more modern in terms of safety and convenience?
Pushbutton ignitions for classic cars
In an effort to derail my own thread before it begins, I'm interested in people's thoughts on putting new technology in their Studebakers. I saw a lively debate in another thread about updating an older Stude to 12 volts. One member remarked that sometimes you have to embrace new technology, and it caught a response along the lines of "Then why bother with a Studebaker to begin with?"
My personal feelings are that I like the looks of Studebakers, but I think you can modernize the technology inside the car while still keeping to the "spirit" of the design. I can't help but think that if Raymond Lowey and the designers of the time had access to the technology we have today, they would have used it in a heartbeat.
Plus let's face it, some things really should be updated. Seatbelts are one example that pops to mind. Another would be adding a modern two-chamber master cylinder on the brakes. I mean, if you're building a 400 point trailer queen, you're probably not going to be flying down the highway at 60 miles per hour with your wife and toddler in there with you. But if you want to actually use the cars for what they were built for (driving!), then what's the harm in making them a little more modern in terms of safety and convenience?
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