2 Questions: Cathcart and coupe vs hardtop wheelbase

[AllstonEP]

Sorry for the basic questions:

1) Is Cathcart in CT still doing business?

2) Am I reading this correctly that 53 Hardtop wheel base is shorter than 2dr Coupe or is it 4 door (120) versus 2 door couple/hardtop(116)?
http://carnut.com/specs/gen/stud50.html

Thanks,

Eric

[PackardV8]

Coupe/Hardtop (C/K) are same 120.5" and the 4-doors/2-door sedans are the short ones. It's long been debated if the Studebaker Board had appreciated the appeal of the Lowey/Bourke design and made at least the 4-doors on the long wheelbase, what would they have looked like and would it have made a difference in sales?

jack vines

[studegary]

Coupe/Hardtop (C/K) are same 120.5" and the 4-doors/2-door sedans are the short ones. It's long been debated if the Studebaker Board had appreciated the appeal of the Lowey/Bourke design and made at least the 4-doors on the long wheelbase, what would they have looked like and would it have made a difference in sales?

jack vines

The 1953 Land Cruiser is on the longer C/K wheelbase (120.5 inches).

I shouldn't speak for him, but I believe that Cathcart is retired from the rebuilding/equipment business.

[StudeRich]

Sorry for the basic questions:

1) Is Cathcart in CT still doing business?

2) Am I reading this correctly that 53 Hardtop wheel base is shorter than 2dr Coupe or is it 4 door (120) versus 2 door couple/hardtop(116)?
http://carnut.com/specs/gen/stud50.html Thanks, Eric

Not sure how you read the word "Hardtop" into that chart, because I see it nowhere!
They listed "Coupe" to indicate BOTH "Hardtops" and "Coupes", but no mention of the "Hardtops".

For 1953 to 1957, there are only:

116" W/B Sedans (2 & 4 Door F & W Body) includes 2 & 4 Dr. Wagons D & P.
120" W/B C & K (Coupes & Hardtops)
120" W/B "Y" Bodies = Long W/B Luxury 4 Door Sedans; Land Cruiser, President State, President Classic.

[AllstonEP]

Sorry - I should used C/K rather than "Hardtop". I assumed hardtop.

Not sure how you read the word "Hardtop" into that chart, because I see it nowhere!
They listed "Coupe" to indicate BOTH "Hardtops" and "Coupes", but no mention of the "Hardtops".

For 1953 to 1957, there are only:

116" W/B Sedans (2 & 4 Door F & W Body) includes 2 & 4 Dr. Wagons D & P.
120" W/B C & K (Coupes & Hardtops)
120" W/B "Y" Bodies = Long W/B Luxury 4 Door Sedans; Land Cruiser, President State, President Classic.

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

From where are the 116" and 120" wheelbase figures coming ?

[Lou Van Anne]

I have never understood why a 4dr. sedan would be put on a 116" wheel base and a 2dr. c/k on a 120" ?

[StudeRich]

I have never understood why a 4 Dr. sedan would be put on a 116" wheel base and a 2 Dr. c/k on a 120" ?

Have you ever noticed the LENGTH of the Hood and Deck on the long, low Sport Coupes, Hardtops and Hawks?
There is no way you are going to put a 116 Inch W/B under ALL that car!

That is why it took a 4 Inch LONGER Sedan Body Rear seat area, to fill the Coupe/Hardtop Frame on the Luxury Sedan "Y" Bodies.

Here's a "Coupe/Sedan">

[StudeRich]

From where are the 116" and 120" wheelbase figures coming ?

This Chart in Post #1 and the Actual Cars.
If you want to be extra precise, actually: 116.5 and 120.5.
http://carnut.com/specs/gen/stud50.html

[Tom Bredehoft]

If memory serves, the '50 Land Cruiser was on a 124" wheel base frame. That Commander 2 and 4 door on a 120". So the CK's weren't all that long.

[junior]

Have you ever noticed the LENGTH of the Hood and Deck on the long, low Sport Coupes, Hardtops and Hawks?
There is no way you are going to put a 116 Inch W/B under ALL that car!

That is why it took a 4 Inch LONGER Sedan Body Rear seat area, to fill the Coupe/Hardtop Frame on the Luxury Sedan "Y" Bodies.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66819[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]66820[/ATTACH] Here's a "Coupe/Sedan">[ATTACH=CONFIG]66821[/ATTACH]

Interesting to note that the artist's conception of the 'Y' body car has suicide rear doors with no vertical bar in the windows. I've seen this ad before but never noticed. cheers, junior

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

[QUOTE=StudeRich;1072724]This Chart in Post #1 and the Actual Cars.

The chart calls out 116 1/2" and 120 1/2" for all models from 1953 through 1958.
The actual cars are 116 1/2" and 120 1/2". Correct ?

[StudeRich]

[QUOTE=55 56 PREZ 4D;1072773]

This Chart in Post #1 and the Actual Cars.

The chart calls out 116 1/2" and 120 1/2" for all models from 1953 through 1958.
The actual cars are 116 1/2" and 120 1/2". Correct ?

Of course they are, center to center from the Front Axle to the Rear Axle.

[Lou Van Anne]

Guess I didn't make myself clear.....what was the reasoning for putting a 6 passenger 4dr. sedan on the smaller wheel base and and the 5 passenger 2dr. on the longer wheel base?....doesn't seem logical to me.

Have you ever noticed the LENGTH of the Hood and Deck on the long, low Sport Coupes, Hardtops and Hawks?
There is no way you are going to put a 116 Inch W/B under ALL that car!

That is why it took a 4 Inch LONGER Sedan Body Rear seat area, to fill the Coupe/Hardtop Frame on the Luxury Sedan "Y" Bodies.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66819[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]66820[/ATTACH] Here's a "Coupe/Sedan">[ATTACH=CONFIG]66821[/ATTACH]

[PackardV8]

The Board of Directors chose the conservative, safe way to go broke and get out of the automotive business. They knew they were going broke anyway, but we'd have appreciated them more for going down reaching for the best instead of settling for mediocre.