50 Commander Custom

[unclemiltie]

I am going thru some stuff I got from the Earle Haley estate. I have had some pictures for around 15 years now and am finally looking at them. I found this one which was taken at one of the National Meets in South Bend at the proving grounds. I have never seen this car. Earle's comments on the back indicate that it was a four door, the front doors were filled in and the rear doors used to enter and exit the car.

Thought other 50 Commander likers would like to see it. I wonder if it still exists.

[junior]

I'm diggin' it...any more photos? cheers, junior

[skyway]

Hey Milt, do Earle's comments indicate whether he approved?

[southbend]

Interesting custom job. Not that it matters, but isn't that a '51 trunk lid handle on the car? Also, if the back doors were used as front doors, would they be of the "suicide" type unless they were somehow reconfigured? It doesn't look like there's much room in front of the rear wheels for a door hinge let alone a full size front door which was wider than the rear doors, unless, perhaps this started life as a Land Cruiser. Perhaps that's the reason for the front hinged doors.

[fatboylust]

I have this image from the internet, which is labled (exner_roadster):
Hershey PA Oct 2000

[PackardV8]

That's the coolest thing I've seen lately; one I'd add to my own collection and drive proudly. If it were really designed by Virgil Exner, it is surprising we haven't seen it around here and at national meets.

jack vines

[unclemiltie]

I have this image from the internet, which is labled (exner_roadster): [ATTACH=CONFIG]32429[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]32436[/ATTACH] Hershey PA Oct 2000

That is it! All I have is that one not so great photo from the 1980's I am guessing. Cool thanks for the view from the front.

[unclemiltie]

Interesting custom job. Not that it matters, but isn't that a '51 trunk lid handle on the car? Also, if the back doors were used as front doors, would they be of the "suicide" type unless they were somehow reconfigured? It doesn't look like there's much room in front of the rear wheels for a door hinge let alone a full size front door which was wider than the rear doors, unless, perhaps this started life as a Land Cruiser. Perhaps that's the reason for the front hinged doors.

Yes, I thought it was interesting how the rear doors if that is what is really used was changed to swing from the back instead of the rear. They also moved the air vents back from the fenders

[fatboylust]

More pictures here:

http://www.studebaker-info.org/uniq/uniq1111/50Indy/50indy.html

The rest of the story is here: http://pillers-r.tripod.com/studebak...yarticle1.html text starts on page 2. It is credited to Paul Kuhl.

And from 2009 see post #6: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...e-are-they-now

[southbend]

Looks like 2004 is the last documented sighting of this car when it went up for auction at Kruse. Anyone know for sure its whereabouts today?