Canadian Studebaker 1964 Video

[Bordeaux Daytona]

No sound, not sure some of this has been shown before.

[StudeRich]

That is way cool, I have to wonder who would have an old 8 or 16mm Movie Film in B&W and no sound from the Day the first loads left Hamilton, the Photographer even got in the U.S. Customs view Office! And then someone had to copy them to CD or some other modern media.

This is quite Historic, I always love seeing Brand New Cars like that, it confims my suspicions that most or all of the '64 Imports had the really neat "DISHED" Head light Doors we just talked about yesterday.

My Dad's Imported late '64 Daytona Hardtop did have them, and it is possible that the same vendor produced some used on late '64 U.S. Cars and for sure early '65's, but that is hard to verify.

It is interesting however, that the White Commander 6, 4 Door that they OK's for delivery did not have ANY headlight Doors!

I have never seen or even heard of this Video before.

[BobPalma]

'Way cool, indeed; thanks.

'Sure had a lot of snow...and those guys had to really have "a pair" to be backing new cars up those ramps with things so potentially slippery. Whew! BP

[53k]

No sound, not sure some of this has been shown before.

Wow! Brings back memories. When I picked up my Wagonaire at the factory in Hamilton I had to go through that Customs Office. I left Hamilton in the late afternoon and drove to Windsor, Ontario (had to wait until morning to cross). Next morning I got up at the motel and headed for the Customs Office. The turkeys didn't open until 10 am (supposed to have been 8 am) so I had to sit around there waiting on them. Once I got through I entered Detroit and was driving through the city on sort of a freeway. I was following a lowboy semi-trailer carrying a bulldozer. He hit a bump and big chunk of dirt flew off the trailer and bounced up in to my windshield. I had owned the car less than 24 hours and already got a chip in the windshield.

[57pack]

Great film, that white Commander 4 door looks like the one my Dad purchased!

[Mark57]

The only thing that would have made the video better would be to have had a Transtar or Diesel Tractor pulling that trailer load of cars!

[clonelark]

Looks like Dallas or Chicago got the first US cars, That'd be the place to look for low serial #'s

[Blue 15G]

I like how the guy in the suit scrawls writing all over the driver's side of the windshield right before someone is supposed to drive the car away. I also agree with Bob about backing the cars onto the trailer. That would be scary as h*** to do even under ideal weather conditions, let alone winter time.

Dave Bonn
'54 Champion Starliner

[Stu Chapman]

I like how the guy in the suit scrawls writing all over the driver's side of the windshield right before someone is supposed to drive the car away. I also agree with Bob about backing the cars onto the trailer. That would be scary as h*** to do even under ideal weather conditions, let alone winter time.

Dave Bonn
'54 Champion Starliner

The guy in the suit is Manufacturing Vice President Bill Moeser and the other man is President Gordon Grundy. Bill is using chalk to mark the car as the first to the U.S. I am proud to say this promo was one of my efforts. My only memory lapse is who we got to do the filming but it might well have been Hamilton's CHCH-TV. I donated all my 16mm and 35mm archival films to the Studebaker National Museum about 3 years ago so perhaps Andy Beckman has the original footage of this clip on file. By the way, the weather that day is just about the same as it is today. I visited the plant again last week and the only thing left standing is three of the outer walls. Very soon everything will be just a memory.
Stu Chapman