57 Commander in garage for 38 years

[luckydog]

Our first Studebaker besides the rusty front fenders and lack of rear window the car appears solid underneath and the interior is not too bad, actually pretty nice.
Can't wait to get it to our shop and start working.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all,
Jay

[53commander]

Great find congratulations! Welcome to the forum.

[Bob Andrews]

How lucky that somebody kept it inside, and you found it before it was pushed outside to rapidly deteriorate. Good find!

[kurtruk]

The backglass will need to come from a 56 or 57 only 2 or 4 door sedan. They're out there. While appearing similar, 1955 is different, as is 1958.

[JoeHall]

Great find! Hopefully no cats or rodents got in through the rear window.

[luckydog]

Here are some photos moving the car to the shop The car is in the shop. I have no keys and thought I would get into the trunk by way of the rear seat but there is a heavy paper panel that is fastened on the trunk side of the rear-shelf support and it is in such nice shape I don't want to damage it. I didn't have enough time to do anything serious, I didn't lift the hood yet since it got to the shop. I vacuumed up the rear glass pieces and did a quick cleaning of the interior looking for keys. Today I get out my collection of ground down hacksaw blades to try and pick the trunk lock. This is the only key I found, I should have written the number on the key while at the shop but didn't, will get that today, anyhow does this key look like anything a 57 Studebaker key should look. My shop and computer are about 4 miles apart, it is frustrating when I get to either place and discover I forgot something.
Thanks and I wish everyone a blessed and happy New Year.
jay

[JoeHall]

Since that key says GAS on it, I'd say that's a clue that it's for a locking gas cap. However, it may still work in your trunk lock. I have found the trunk locks used on 57-64 Hawks to be extremely easy to pick. I often substitute one key for another in opening either of the 62 or 63 GT's trunks here; I can open them with the ignition keys, glove compartment keys, or trunk keys. Try any key you have for the Stude, and jiggle it a bit in the lock. Unless the lock is disconnected from the linkage inside the trunk, you'll probably be able to pick it. I'd start with that gas cap key.

[Noxnabaker]

I don't know how it's supposed to be on a -57 but my cardboard piece is in front of the steel that's behind the rear seat, seems practical to me too...
& even thou it's a 4-door sedan just as yours it's a -55 & ofcourse the clamps/clips are on the front side.

[blkstu60]

Nice find. I am really starting to like the 56-58's. I never paid much mind to them before. Maybe one in my future someday...

[luckydog]

Thanks everyone I got the trunk open in about a minute by picking it and found the fourth hubcap and jack and spare but no keys. There is no locking gas cap I was thinking that the blank needed for whatever key was being cut happened to have GAS stamped on it. I've seen Mack trucks with keys stamped Briggs & Stratton. I tried a few old Chrysler product keys in the ignition but those blanks must be very different as none would begin to go in.
Yesterday I only played around with some polish, we had a wedding to attend last night and didn't want to mess the hands up too bad. Today the puller comes out to see what lurks behind the drums I used the 38 year-old masking tape as a divider of what was polished and what wasn'tIt isn't looking too bad, My intentions are only to make it presentable and driveable.Here is a photo of the paper panel I didn't want to damage.

Here are some of our other cars, all drivers, but I seem to be more excited about getting the Studebaker on the road than any of the previous cars.
This is what some elbow grease did for a 48 Chrysler
Happy new Year,
Jay

[57pack]

Hi Jay, thanks for posting the photos of your 57. Too bad the rear window was broken. If the windshield were broken instead I'd give you one.
Wish my Packard was found in a garage instead of sitting in a junk yard since 1971! Maybe it would have had paint still on it and would've cleaned up as nice as your Studebaker will!

[luckydog]

I know what you meanthis car sat in a yard for 25 years. Our only car with fresh paint and that is only the body the roof is original. Previous owner paid $2700.00 in 1978 I paid $600.00 in 2005. He bought it with no place to store it out of the weather.
Jay

[SN-60]

Very interesting, very original Stude!.....That rust over the headlamps is a look that brings back memories of when these cars were in everyday use on the roads of New England!.....Good luck with it!

[luckydog]

Removed four brake drums, drained engine and transmission fluids, and found the neat tag fastened to passenger side of the front seat Also cleaned a little bit of the rear seat I tried to take a photo of a service sticker on the door post but it is too fuzzy to post but this car was serviced and was probably sold by C. F. Hahn and Sons which was a Studebaker dealership in Lehighton, PA. This is the dealership from which a 56 Studebaker Skyhawk, most likely the lowest mileage most original Skyhawk on the Planet was sold. The car was sold at auction from Jim Thorpe PA a few years ago a one owner car, it sold for about $13,000, I had $18,000 but quit bidding, I always wonder if I had enough to get it.
Anyone know where the car ended up, it was black and white with 3 speed and overdrive.
I worked with the fellow that bought it new, every now and then Mr. Hahn would show up at work with an offer to buy the car. One time a salesman brought a brand new Dodge Ramcharger offering to trade, the offer was met with a chuckle.

[ndynis]

Great thread. Please keep up the posting with pictures. I hope you are going to share what you use to do the polishing and upholstery cleaning other than a lot of elbow grease!!!
Congratulations on a great find.
Nick