Studebaker Proving Grounds Sold... (again) (5/20/2015)

[DEEPNHOCK]

http://www.todaysmotorvehicles.com/truck-design-manufacturing-studebaker-navistar-052015#.VVyh77lViko

(copy)

Navistar buys former Studebaker test track

May 20, 2015

Indiana proving ground to let truck manufacturer test systems in house.



Navistar has purchased a historic proving ground in Indiana and plans to use it to test new trucks, school buses, and military vehicles.
Now called the Navistar Proving Grounds, the test track dates back to 1926 when Studebaker built it for testing. Adjacent to the track, trees were planted in a specific formation so the Studebaker name is still visible in aerial photography.
In 1963, Studebaker shut down production in nearby South Bend, Indiana, and sold the track to commercial truck systems company Bendix, a company now known as Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems. In 1996, German automotive supplier Robert Bosch bought the track to test its components and began allowing other automotive companies to do the same. By the time Bosch sold the property to Navistar, more than 75% of the testing work done there was for non-Bosch work.
The 668-acre site includes a three-mile paved and banked oval with several that Navistar hopes to use for:

• Brake testing capabilities which include infrastructure, complete instrumentation, and computerized data acquisition
• Structural durability testing/accelerated mile accumulation with road profile capability using accelerometer and strain gage data and multiple road surfaces including chatter, impact, cobblestone, undulating, resonance road surfaces, high speed oval, gravel, body/chassis twist event, and off-road surfaces
• Specialized testing such as vehicle noise and handling, center-of-gravity, rollover and roof crush testing, gradeability up to 60%, traction control, and powertrain durability

"The new Navistar Proving Grounds is a strategic addition to our product development operations and will play an important role in our mission to deliver industry-leading uptime for our customers," says Bill Kozek, president, Navistar Truck and Parts. "Beyond testing our latest vehicles and innovative technologies, we will also use the site as a customer center to showcase new products and give customers an opportunity to experience our vehicles firsthand."
Located about 90 miles from Navistar headquarters in Lisle, Illinois, the close proximity of Navistar Proving Grounds will complement the company's validation center in Melrose Park, Illinois, driving efficiencies and allowing test capabilities to be managed in-house by Navistar.
Source: Navistar

[Deaf Mute]

I hope that the local South Bend SDC folks can get a good relationship with Navistar so the club can continue to make the facility available for occasional use by members attending meets!

[raprice]

It looks like a win/win situation all around. I hope so.
Rog

[BobPalma]

Thanks, Jeff.

'Sounds like they just bought the Bendix portion of the whole property, not the St. Joseph Parks & Recreation part as well.

'Nice to see that it is remaining a vehicle test facility, "as advertised." BP

[studeclunker]

Thanks, Jeff.

'Sounds like they just bought the Bendix portion of the whole property, not the St. Joseph Parks & Recreation part as well.

'Nice to see that it is remaining a vehicle test facility, "as advertised." BP

The part that amazes me is that this facility was built in 1926 and nearly ninety years later is still considered to be up-to-date enough for Navstar to adequately test their systems on.

[StudeRich]

Since I have never seen a "NAVISTAR", I googled it and came up with the fact that they build "International" Trucks.

I guess it is like Paccar here in Washington, not a everyday common Name, but builder of the Peterbuilt and the Kenworth, names you DO hear, and see on the Road.

With all of the Corporate buyouts, who knows, you may buy your next Chevrolet from Toyota!

[8E45E]

With all of the Corporate buyouts, who knows, you may buy your next Chevrolet from Toyota!

You never heard of the NUMMI plant where they assembled the Toyota Corolla-based Chevrolet Nova in the mid-to-late '80's?

Craig

[8E45E]

Then Intersmashable's use of the Transtar name is finally JUSTIFIED!

Craig

[57pack]

You never heard of the NUMMI plant where they assembled the Toyota Corolla-based Chevrolet Nova in the mid-to-late '80's?

Craig

We called them Toyolets...

[sochocki]

Unless i have missed it, have not heard or seen this on our local media (South Bend).

[8E45E]

We called them Toyolets...

Yes we did! http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ight=nova+twin

Craig

[Deaf Mute]

NAVISTAR is actually the last remains of the International Harvestor Company (Raymond Lowey & Associates updated their logo back in the 1950's

[8E45E]

NAVISTAR is actually the last remains of the International Harvestor Company (Raymond Lowey & Associates updated their logo back in the 1950's

Navistar was the new name for the re-formed company after they sold the Harvester division to Tenneco Corp. in 1985, where Tenneco merged it with their Case Tractor division.

Craig

[DEEPNHOCK]

An an anecdotal side note....
I was working for IHC when they spun the ag division off to JI Case...
IHC could not use the old 'Triple Diamond' logo, because they had let the copyright expire and a guy in Ohio grabbed it.
When IHC found out, they tried to buy it, but the asking price was too rich for them.
So they spend even bigger bucks to come up with a new name and logo....
I have a bunch of 'stuff' from that rollout....
(And I have to laugh at Studerich, who's lost in the eighties...and never knew what a Navistar Truck was called for the last 30 years)

Navistar was the new name for the re-formed company after they sold the Harvester division to Tenneco Corp. in 1985, where Tenneco merged it with their Case Tractor division.
Craig

Originally Posted by Deaf Mute
NAVISTAR is actually the last remains of the International Harvestor Company (Raymond Lowey & Associates updated their logo back in the 1950's

[Milaca]

This is very interesting news! Navistar could rename the test track as the "Studebaker International Proving Grounds" but Ed Reynolds may object.
Perhaps we can tour the facilities during the next South Bend International Meet?