Hamilton Ontario factory

[copcars1]

I was wondering what year did Studebaker build the Hamilton factory and did they have any other factories? Thanks

[DEEPNHOCK]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Canada_Ltd.

quote:Originally posted by copcars1

I was wondering what year did Studebaker build the Hamilton factory and did they have any other factories? Thanks

[copcars1]

Thanks for the link!! Was there any other factories making Studebakers?

[StudeRich]

quote:Originally posted by copcars1

Thanks for the link!! Was there any other factories making Studebakers?

Yes the Los Angeles, CA plant known as the "Vernon Plant" due to the suburb it was in. It closed in 1955 Assembling components from South Bend on 1956 cars only, no Trucks. I am not sure when it opened, about 1950 I think.

There were Assembly Plants in South America and Australia as well, but I do not believe they were completely Corp. owned.

StudeRich

[JeffDeWitt]

Wasn't there one in Israel too?

I seem to remember Golda Meir had a Studebaker limo and it was because Studebaker was the only company building (assembling) cars in Israel.

Jeff DeWitt

http://carolinastudes.net

[DEEPNHOCK]

Detroit had a plant in the 1930's...
As far as Isreal.. I don't know.
Most 'export' Studebakers were partially broken down and shipped in crate form to their destination point.
There, a dealer...or factory authorized assembly point...put the Studebaker together and did the dealer prep.
So, a factory it probably wasn't.
The only 'factory' assembled Studebakers were in south LA, Detroit, South Bend, and Hamilton....(AFAIK)
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by JeffDeWitt

Wasn't there one in Israel too?

I seem to remember Golda Meir had a Studebaker limo and it was because Studebaker was the only company building (assembling) cars in Israel.

Jeff DeWitt

http://carolinastudes.net

[STEWDI]

Studebakers were assembled,at various times, but mostly post war, in assembly plants that were locally owned (not corporate, as Deenhock has already said)in Australia, India, Israel, Belgium, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil.

Roger "153624" Hill

55 Champion
47 M-5
Izzer Buggy
Junior Wagon

[Roscomacaw]

Rich wites:"Yes the Los Angeles, CA plant known as the "Vernon Plant" due to the suburb it was in. It closed in 1955 Assembling components from South Bend on 1956 cars only, no Trucks. I am not sure when it opened, about 1950 I think."

The Vernon plant was established in 1935. During WWII, the plant supplied license-built aircraft engines to various warplane makers. It closed with the end of the '56 year model run.



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

[Warren Webb]

Dont forget the New Brunswick, New Jersey plant. Although it was built by Studebaker where they assembled jet aircraft engines during the Korean War, it never was used afterwards as an assembly plant. Subsequently it was sold to Volkswagen who owned it for only 6 months & never used it and sold it to the present owner.

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

[JRoberts]

What about Windsor (Walkerville). Ontario? I remembered something about a plant here and found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkerville,_Ontario

Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[Stu Chapman]

The Hamilton Studebaker plant was not built by Studebaker but rather by the Canadian Government in 1941 for the express purpose of building Bofors anti-aircraft armaments for the war effort. In fact I cover this piece of history on page 51 of my new book "My Father The Car". Studebaker Canada president Gordon Grundy had been Deputy Chief of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board prior to joining Studebaker in 1946. Because of Grundy's close association with the Canadian government, he was able to arrange the purchase of the plant for Studebaker. Following preparation for an assembly line operation, Canadian-built 1947 Studebakers were the first to come off the line. CKD Studebakers (completely knocked down) were shipped to South Africa, Belgium, Israel and Australia under Grundy's direction.

[Dick Steinkamp]

I have this Sept '53 copy of the Studebaker News...Overseas Edition. It is a 28 page magazine all about the introduction of the 1953 cars and trucks world wide...



Two of the "factories" featured are ones in Mexico...



...and India...



At least the one in India appears to be a full factory. They had their own foundry where cylinder blocks were cast, bodies were at least welded up there (and perhaps stamped).

I don't believe the LA "factory" was this complete. I believe the bodies were shipped there from SB already welded up. Motors may have been assembled there, but I believe they were cast in SB.

How about 65 and 66 Hamilton cars? How complete was that "factory"? Clearly, they didn't cast or assemble motors, but did they stamp and weld body tubs?

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[Warren Webb]

The Budd comapany of Philadelphia stamped out the body panels for Studebaker in 65 & 66. I recently saw a thing showing the roof of a 36 Studebaker being stamped for them by Budd, so there probably was a long relationship between the two compaines. Seeing all the different body panels used by Stude for all the models to 64, I doubt all stamping could have been done in South Bend. Years ago, Ford came out with new body panels (front fenders & rear quarter panels) and was charging list price around $3,000 each. They substantiated the cost by saying that each time they changed dies, it took almost 2 days to setup until they could produce panels. It would be interesting to interview a former stamping plant employee to see how things were done by Studebaker. Perhaps one set of dies stamped out for example a 2 door rear fender, then another trimmed it to being a 4 door fender. If something like that was done, it would cut in half the amount of tooling & stamping equipment needed for those parts.

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

[Gordy911]

The union sure didnt do any favors for Studebaker

62 GT Hawk
84 vette
31 Ford Pickup
2005 Maxima
2009 Dodge Dakota
Gravely 17hp Pro
Gravely Walker 10HP