Something is strange here

[Sam Ensley]

A fellow I know here just recently acquired a 1964, 2-door, supposedly a Commander. I went down to see it today. It has a 289 with 4-barrel carb, 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive. The word, "Commander," I couldn't find anywhere, but both front fenders have "Cruiser" affixed to them. The number on the engine block, as near as we could tell, are VCP410. The block had been painted with orange paint, and it was hard to read. The tag on the firewall reads "VF4." tHAT tag has another tag attached to it that reads "11979." I am attaching pictures. Ideas, anyone?

Also, I've tried the identification process in the SIL catalogue, but the numbers on the block of my 1964 convertible don't make sense to me. Those numbers are P93863. Can someone decipher it for me?

[8E45E]

It appears to have started out as a Hamilton assembled '64 Commander 2 door for sure, with some Cruiser trim added later. What is the interior like, BTW?

Craig

[RadioRoy]

The engine starting with "VC" is a 259 made in Canada. The engine starting with a "P" is a 289.

VF4 should be a 1964 V-8 powered two door sedan.

Your two door car is not a Cruiser. Someone probably replaced the front fenders after a collision.

Congratulations on your friend's purchase. A V-8 with overdrive is a great driver and a two door is definitely an all around cool car.

[Bullet]

Commander side trim, Cruiser script and trunk molding. Someone has definetely made a few changes. Like said, interior will tell as well. I am thinking Commander, not Daytona or Cruiser.

Mark

[BobPalma]

The 11979 tag indicates the body number as built at the Hamilton Plant. The bodies were given sequential numbers at Hamilton regardless of body style, unlike South Bend where each body type had its own sequence of numbers.

It looks like while someone was robbing a Cruiser of trim, they also removed its deck lid overlay and placed it on the Commander's deck lid as well. BP

[JEWELL]

Sam, 64VF4 shows to be a Commander in the Chassis Parts Catalog. Craig is correct.

[Dwain G.]

The engine number is using the new numbering system begun for the 1964 model year.
V= 259
C= Canadian manufacture
P= Look again, it's probably a 'B' representing the month of February
4= Year of manufature, 1964
10=Day of manufacture, 10th

[JRoberts]

Could the front fenders have been replaced with those from a Cruiser?

[Pat Dilling]

Could the front fenders have been replaced with those from a Cruiser?

That's what I was thinking, and probably the trunk lid too. Possibly someone was parting out a Cruiser and this car was in need.

[snowy_buffalo]

Also, I've tried the identification process in the SIL catalogue, but the numbers on the block of my 1964 convertible don't make sense to me. Those numbers are P93863. Can someone decipher it for me?[/QUOTE]

According to the table in the tech section of this Forum (attached), your 1964 Convertible engine started out in a 1963 Lark and it is a 289.

http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/V8EngineID.asp

[Roscomacaw]

One thing that MUST be kept in mind is that the late "Cruiser - Commader & Challenge" scripts all will fit the SAME mounting holes. So it's REALLY easy to RE-badge a car from what it was originally. Same for '56 thue '58 cars.