WHEN STUDEBAKER WENT TO CANADA

[benaslopoke]

In my old age I seem to remember that the company was moved to Canada.. I'm pretty sure they did use the Chevy engine in the Hawks and Avanti on or about the same time.. I know Checker did but I'm really not sure about Studebaker's main line.. Help me out quick.. I know I won't be able to sleep until I find out.. Sure is bad getting old..

Ben

[MARCHOBBS]

When production of the 64 models was discontinued in South Bend, the only production for the 65 & 66 model years was in Canada, they did use the GM 283 cu in engine, only 2 & 4 door sedans & 4 door wagons were produced... no Hawks...no Avanti's

[studegary]

The company never "moved to Canada". There was Studebaker production in Canada from something like the 1920s. There were even Hawks made there. When production was shut down in South Bend in December 1963, all Studebaker production was consolidated to Canada. Hawk and Avanti production did not move to Canada. Late 1964 (Lark type) models were all made in Canada and all had Studebaker engines. 1965-1966 Studebaker models were all made in Canada and all had GM engines.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[JBOYLE]

And if you remember an Avanti with a Chevy engine...
You're thinking of the Avanti II, produced in South Bend starting in 1965-66 after the Avanti design, tooling and surplus parts were acquired by Newman & Altman. It was an independent company. The cars were NOT Studebakers. They did have Chevy engines since the Studebaker foundry had closed in South Bend.

See, there's no one easy answer to a question about Studebaker history.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[raprice]

Just to add onto what's been already said, the GM engines installed in '65 & '66 Canada built Studes were supplied by McKinnon Industries, a division of GM. I'm not sure of the correct spelling.
They were, in fact, Chevy engines.
When production was only in Hamilton, Ontario, the Avantis, Hawks, and truck lines were discontinued.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop
Smithtown,NY

[Retired]

The motor was a modified Canadian Chevy. Some of the internal parts (Stude spects) were not interchangable between the one used in the Canadian Chevy and the Canadian Studebaker. Checker used the U.S. Chevy motor with the Studebaker transmission so it was a no brainer, Studebaker had already developed the bell housing to marry their transmission to the U.S. Chevy motor.......

Richard

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by Retired

The motor was a modified Canadian Chevy. Some of the internal parts (Stude spects) were not interchangable between the one used in the Canadian Chevy and the Canadian Studebaker.

Urban legend.

They were the same as any other Chevy engines. Not modified in any way. The 283's were "off the shelf" 195 HP 283's and exactly the same as you would find in a 65-66 Chevy (Pontiac in Canada). Same with the 194 and 230 CID 6's.

Mckinnon (also known as St. Catherines) was just another engine plant for GM...like Flint, Tonawanda, Saginaw. GM has owned McKinnon Industries since 1929.

The Chevy engines used by Studebaker are not stamped with the factory code as used by GM so there is no way to tell which plant they came from. It is logical that they came from the McKinnon plant due to the proximity to Hamilton, but there is some evidence that GM reneged
on their agreement with Studebaker to provide the engines from Canada and provided them from Flint and Tonawanda soon after '65 production began.

We would like to think that Studebaker wouldn't stoop to use an off the shelf Chevy engine ()...but they did.


Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[Warren Webb]

At the time in 65 I felt that this move by Studebaker would be a good one inasmuch as what was offered by Chevy was a 2 speed powerglide trans vs. the 3 speed in the Stude. Cars I had seen in the showroom showed that the fit & finish on the Stude was far better than GM. With the hype we read about a proposed plan to enlarge the factory in Hamilton, I believed it was going to get better, but that was just hype, nothing else. The die was already cast & the end was planned. The Avanti II was good, but it was the leftovers of Stude, close but no cigar.

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[Roscomacaw]

I haven't gone looking for a detailed history of Studebaker - especially their last few years - on the net. This is because I'm pretty familiar with the how and why of the final years. But today I was motivated to do so because of the thread originator's questions. So I did follow whatever links I could find EASILY - I didn't want to make a day of it. And while I found several links to summations of Studebaker history, none of them accurately explained the shift to Canadian-only production or the why of the GM engines or even clearly noted that all but the Larks had been dropped after '64. I don't even see a "history" on this website. Anybody know where there's a good, fairly detailed history on the net?[?]


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[Sdude]

It's a fascinating story full of intrigue and behind closed doors shennanigans. You can really get into it if you so chose. There's even a Richard Nixon connection. I read that Studebaker management had already given up on building cars and only transferred production to the Hamilton plant to get out of certain union agreements.

Good stuff!!! Someone oughta make a movie about it.

Jon Stalnaker
Editor, Hawk Talks
Karel Staple Chapter SDC

[StudeRich]

quote:Originally posted by Retired

/Cut/Checker used the U.S. Chevy motor with the Studebaker transmission so it was a no brainer, Studebaker had already developed the bell housing to marry their transmission to the U.S. Chevy motor.......Richard

I think you will find that it is the other way around! Either Checker or Kaiser Jeep (one of the 4 Jeep names/owners) paid to have the Chevy. Engine to Borg Warner Trans. Converter Housing made, for the Jeep Wagoneer and or the Checker car. Then Studebaker picked it up cheaply, design and tooling having been done. [^]

Great idea about "Studebaker's Last Days", story/movie! [] [^]
The Nixon Movie only just hinted at the Studebaker connection, and we know Ike (Dwight Eisenhower) had a lot to do with the Curtis Wright merger (buyout) a Government orchestrated bailout!

StudeRich

[benaslopoke]

Alright,, Can we take this one step further ??

Before I retired, there was an Avanti ll dealer in the Atlanta area.. They did participate in the anual AJC car show for a coupala years and were listed in the journals list of dealers.. The cars looked as if they had a stretched chassis with the last production four door body from Studie.. The front header,hood and fenders were Avanti panels.. I think a Chevy drivetrain.. Not really that good looking but needless to say they did stand out.. Somewhere in the back of my mind seems they were built at Villa Rica, Ga., just west of Atlanta.. Yep, I'll agree Studie has a very interesting pedigree.. Some body please write a book !! I've bought all the tapes I can find with a little insight from the past, but no complete history..

Ben Barfield
retired GM

[benaslopoke]

Oh, one other thing..

On the Jeep Wagoneer (the small one) one year they came with the Chevy 60 degree V-6 2.8 Liter engine.. That Bellhousing was a different bolt pattern from the V-8.. Don't think the CJ's had the Chevy engine..

Ben

[s1b]

From what I've read, Studebaker wanted to use the Ford 289.....since Stude had a 289. Ford said NO, so GM said yes, but they were 2nd in line

Orlando FLA

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

quote:Originally posted by Retired

/Cut/Checker used the U.S. Chevy motor with the Studebaker transmission so it was a no brainer, Studebaker had already developed the bell housing to marry their transmission to the U.S. Chevy motor.......Richard

I think you will find that it is the other way around! Either Checker or Kaiser Jeep (one of the 4 Jeep names/owners) paid to have the Chevy. Engine to Borg Warner Trans. Converter Housing made, for the Jeep Wagoneer and or the Checker car. Then Studebaker picked it up cheaply, design and tooling having been done. [^]

That's right!! As per E.T. Reynolds Sr....



Craig