53 Commander coupe will be coming home

[powerhawkeye]

Got a 53 Commander coupe yesterday in South Dakota just have to go get it when the trailer is ready

Good chrome on the grille bezels and a solid hood needs a good wash last on the road 1969
it's a project car for sure no motor etc.








soap and water will be required and lots of work

[sweetolbob]

A lot of work YES!!, but if the hood fit is any indication of the shape of the rest of the car, It will make a great project.

Bob

[powerhawkeye]

Has a solid hood from what i can see it's wired shut

no pits on the chrome grilles as far as i can tell

quite happy with the coupe + a title

[BobPalma]

...but if the hood fit is any indication of the shape of the rest of the car, It will make a great project.

Bob

Good point, Bob. Who has ever seen a 1953 C/K hood fit better than that? Not me! BP

[bob40]

At least you got a title unlike my last '53 in which case I was assured there was a title(and paid extra)and then 3 years later was still waiting.

[Nelsen Motorsports]

Wow, those grille surrounds are near mint!

[powerhawkeye]

At least you got a title unlike my last '53 in which case I was assured there was a title(and paid extra)and then 3 years later was still waiting.

yeah Bob that's to long 3 years,
her husband died she has the forms to handle the title

all his toys are being sold, there were a couple of guys from Alex picking up a rusty Porsche 911 when i got there

[powerhawkeye]

Wow, those grille surrounds are near mint!

Alex, in the original ad photos you couldn't tell if there was one surround or the condition
couldn't see any pits the coupe had years of dirt on it & a solid hood

[powerhawkeye]

the coupe is home

the 53 Commander coupe is home
bad news the hood flew off it was wired by the previous owner who is deceased checked under the car didn't know the hood wasn't bolted on the hinges went back 40 miles no luck, the car was loaded backwards there was no room
it was not a happy day when we discovered the hood was missing at the gas station

now the better news the floors are solid as is the trunk and the body except for the usual fender rust, need to straighten the right rear 1/4 and it has a title, couldn't be happier except for loosing the hood no rust just the dent now who knows

multi color primer on the car some paint and bondo in the fender rust other then that no bondo
has a very wide clutch pedal and the title is being handled by the spouse





the hump was cut out needs a piece of metal welded in


has cop car wheels



last licensed in 1969 not to bad for a Minnesota car

[Nelsen Motorsports]

I am feeling your pain. That car has great looking rockers though, I bet replacements. I sm surprized how solid the floors are because my car had nothing but fiberglass srom the c pillar to the firewall ans it is a southern car, never seen salt that I know of.

[powerhawkeye]

I am feeling your pain. That car has great looking rockers though, I bet replacements. I sm surprized how solid the floors are because my car had nothing but fiberglass srom the c pillar to the firewall ans it is a southern car, never seen salt that I know of.

Alex nothing has been replaced on the car it's all original the car was inside most of the time, the trunk mounts a solid as a rock
he had it outside someone stole the grille bars and door glass after that it was locked up
he passed away and he wife sold it

still going through the if i only did this or that on the hood loss, i'll never take it for granted again
this was tough, had visions of the car sitting in my driveway with the hood on then the shock at the pump, makes a guy sick

[Pat Dilling]

What a total bummer to an otherwise great day. Really sorry to hear about that, I hope it did not cause anyone else harm. This is the 3rd or 4th person I have heard something like this happening to when towing an old car home, others have just had them blow up and in one case take out the windshield too. So lesson for all, put a strap across the hood when trailering an unknown car, especially an old one.

[powerhawkeye]

The hood could of come off on the country road? we looked all over

tall grass could of hid it or gone in the water, walking the ditches would work but 40 miles of walking

no signs it caused any problems to anyone that's the good of the bad

[Flashback]

The same thing happened to my hood (not with me, previous owner). You have a great car to start. Are those wheels 15"?
I need two 15" mopar police rally like those, with a 6", 6.5" or 7 at the widest. Anyone have any anywhere close to me for
sale, or any any where that would be reasonable shipping?

[powerhawkeye]

went back to South Dakota to get the 53 Stude coupe title issues handled mission accomplished on that
checked the ditches on the road to the interstate came up empty for the missing hood
1 out of 2 that's 50/50
have a few leads on 53 Studebaker parts and cars plus other makes
they want to clear the land only time will tell on that deal