Life is good. I have a new Studebaker!

[colmike1]

After a long hiatus, I have returned to the Studebaker fold. My new-used 1963 Cruiser arrived from Texas! Can't wait to start tinkering and getting her roadworthy. Will be my daily driver, although I hate to take her out in Illinois winters

[studerodder]

looks good - where in illinois are you?

[colmike1]

West Peoria.

[MrHemi2U]

Very nice good luck with it.

[studerodder]

my cousin, Jim Moore, lives in Lincoln, Il. he has three studebakers. i'm from the south suburbs of chicago. i have two studes. my pics are on the forum next thread below yours right now. hope to meet ya some day!

[colmike1]

Just did an estate sale in Lincoln. Nice town. Will be getting back into the World O' Studebaker now. Used to do the auctions at International Meets 12-15 years ago. Really have missed it. Look forward to meeting you too

[rockne10]

Coming from Texas it should be a solid example. The last Studebaker I bought to be a daily driver was a '63 Cruiser. Excellent automobiles with plenty of power and comfort.
If it's to be a daily driver through Illinois winters, I would suggest getting it up on a hoist and spraying anything and everything you can with something that will inhibit snow, salt and rust. Get it everywhere we especially expect to find rust: headlight eyebrows, back edge of front fenders, front corner body supports, bottoms of doors, pillars and doglegs, rear corners of trunk, etc.
There has been a lot of discussion over the years about what to use. I like Amsoil MPHD. Some just use old oil. Anything is better than nothing but, use something that will creep in to all the seams and never get fully hardened. If it solidifies it is likely to trap moisture against the metal.

[colmike1]

Thanks for the tips. Lark-types have some odd rust spots. Been driving Studebakers on and off since 1988 and been in SDC since 1992. My first Stude was a '63 Cruiser I bought for $450! Drove my boss nuts when I parked next to her brand new black BMW!

[t walgamuth]

Looks nice. I like that color too.

[colmike1]

Rose Mist under all that dust!

[unclemiltie]

You will enjoy driving the 63, they handle nicely

[southbend]

Nice car! And welcome back. I had to leave the world of Studebaker owners in 2003 and was able to come back to the fold about 2 years ago. Now I own 2 of them! Would love to see more photos when you get the chance. Are you also a member of the Big Six River Bend chapter or the Land of Lincoln chapter based out of Springfield? Used to belong to Land of Lincoln years ago when I lived in south central IL (Effingham), but they were about 100 miles from where I lived, so George Shirley and I started the Prairie Crossroads chapter in 1996 for those of us in the area. At the time the nearest chapters (Gateway in St. Louis, and Land of Lincoln in Springfield) were just far enough away to be inconvenient. Chapter membership is very beneficial, in my opinion. Lots of good people and fellowship (and lots of help, if you need it!).

[colmike1]

Have not joined a chapter as of yet. Last one I belonged to was the Michiana Chapter when I lived north of South Bend! Looking forward to the camaraderie of fellow Studebaker fans.

[1962larksedan]

Either a lot of 1963's were Rose Mist in color or; a high percentage of the survivors today were painted that way.

[Speedster#201]

Congrats!!