The 1966 Studebaker Company Cars

[Stu Chapman]

In the recently published August 2012 Turning Wheels, you will find an article I wrote regarding the 1966 Studebaker Company Cars, along with some interesting tidbits on the 1964 and 1966 Rally Cars.

We would love to know if any of these vehicles have survived so please check your serial numbers against the published lists. One of these cars has been located and has been fully restored by Ray Martin. It will be shown at South Bend at the International Meet.

In order to follow up on this project, please let me know through the Forum or by email at schapman5@cogeco.ca if you have one of these cars.

Stu Chapman

[FlatheadGeo]

Stu,

Read the article and I must compliment you on a job well done. I learned a great deal!

Thanks!!!

[Stu Chapman]

Thank you Art Unger for the excellent layout and presentation of my article. I neglected to thank you in my original thread.
Stu Chapman

[Warren Webb]

I just got mine today & your article was the first one I went to. After seeing the list of cars that were leased to company employees, I rushed out back to check the vin on my Cruiser. No dice. As Maxwell Smart used to say "missed it by that much!". My vin is 6 units past C533381. Darn. At least I confirmed what I had suspected on when it was built, another handy tidbit. Thanks Stu. Great article especially with the incite you have.

[Scott]

I checked my serial number and I don't have one of them, but I learned that my car was almost certainly made Dec. 1, 1965 and was 4 cars (or 3 depending on how you count) away from one of the police Commanders.

[Doug M]

I checked my 66 Commander 194/6cl A/T 4dr and A/C#C133436 it is 50cars before the lastCompany Consigned Car #C133486 plum Cruiser made Jan. 14 1966. So my car must have been made about the first of the year. Doug M on the Beutiful Alabama Gulf Coast

[Doug M]

I guess all of the 66"s that are left are in Southbend not much responceon this subject!

[Doug M]

IM is over maybe some responce now. Bump to the top

[qsanford]

Stu-
I really enjoyed your article about the '66s. Do you remember how the leases were handled? Did the Corporation handle them inhouse or were they assigned to a local dealer? What was the length of the typical lease? Sad to say neither of my '66s, a Highlander Red Daytona and a Mount Royal Red Cruiser, are on your list. Quentin

[2R5]

I guess all of the 66"s that are left are in Southbend not much responceon this subject!

No but we need to get our TWs before we check <g>

[Bill Pressler]

Well, I don't know the serial no. of my '66 Daytona off the top of my head, but I know it was built on 9/1/65 so it isn't one of the Company cars. It was shipped new to a dealer in Rockford, IL.

Stu, is "Martha Rich" in your TW article, Martha Fleener as I knew her later? I know at some point she had married Lon Fleener of Studebaker. She was a delightful lady and was willing to speak to anyone who came up to her at the couple of events in South Bend I had seen her at, in the '90's.

[2moredoors]

Stu, sorry my 1966 does not check out as a company car but thanks to you and Andy Beckman I now know who the original owner was and of course what dealer delivered my car. I want to go on record to thank you both publicly for assisting me in my endeavour for tracing the history of my 1966 Studebaker.

[JBOYLE]

Great piece. The kind of stories I like to see.
love the detailed trivia/footnote/anorak pieces ...especially with a "where are they now?" element.

[Stu Chapman]

Stu-
I really enjoyed your article about the '66s. Do you remember how the leases were handled? Did the Corporation handle them inhouse or were they assigned to a local dealer? What was the length of the typical lease? Sad to say neither of my '66s, a Highlander Red Daytona and a Mount Royal Red Cruiser, are on your list. Quentin

Eligible employees were allowed to order a model of their choice with the equipment of their choice at the beginning of the model year. Monthly cost was based on the model and the equipment ordered. The car would be delivered through one of the local dealers and the employee was charged monthly by the Company, everything in house.
Stu Chapman

[qsanford]

Thanks Stu!