Opinions and thoughts on this Commander over on BaT

[bumpkinvilledano]

I'm considering bidding on this and would appreciate any thoughts on the car;

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ander-special/

[8E45E]

Its another Commander Special that was first mentioned here: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...mander+special

It changed hands last fall.

Craig

[StudeRich]

It sure is Nice, but certainly was NOT originally built with all that performance equipment (IN CANADA)!

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

As it is a Commander Special, a car that results from what happens if Studebaker took their Daytona model and made it more Canadian, it certainly is interesting. Even though the actual assembly of this car occurred at the Hamilton plant, the engine foundry at South Bend managed to stay open long enough to produce the 289 cu. V8 engine for it. I think that if the price doesn't go any higher than $15,000, then it should be a fairly decent deal. That being said, don't expect to flip this car for profit. That's not what Studes were made for!

[StoneDog]

It has R1 badges, but the build sheet doesn't mention R1 engine and older conversations show no R engines put in these Canadian cars. How did it get there? Am I just being too suspicious? It was a pretty rare model even without that as I read, so why the badges? In apparently great shape though with a lot of desirable options.

[8E45E]

It sure is Nice, but certainly was NOT originally built with all that performance equipment (IN CANADA)!

Here is the Production Order for it:

It was the 'hottest' Studebaker one could order after January 1st, 1964.

I saw this car in person in 2016.



Craig

[bumpkinvilledano]

Thanks for the info.

As it's currently at $12K, and it would cost about 15% of that to get it to me, I'll probably be letting it pass by.

[sals54]

I for one, don't think 12-15K is too much for this car if its mechanically sound and if the paint and body are as nice as they appear in the pictures. You certainly could not create this car for less than that unless you had many of the parts on hand.
Secondly, I still think too much is made of the build sheet in terms of the performance cars. How many dealers were building these cars for customers who wanted more power a couple years after the owner had been driving? I think a valid argument could easily be made that a car like this is as authentic as any one that rolled off the assembly line in the same form.
And as an aside, I had a friend who ordered a 68 Mustang from the factory with certain items which were not commonly adorning the 68 Mustang at the time. (I can't remember which items they were). Even with the factory order sheet and the factory build sheet, he was docked points at a car show because, according to the "books", those parts were not available on his car and points were deducted as a result. He tried the following year again, but was again rejected. He quit showing his car.
I think the Daytona is gorgeous. I would love to own one like it, factory or not.

[bumpkinvilledano]

Final sale price was $24,250. I was long out of the bidding before it got near that.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ander-special/

Looking thru the comments, the seller was saying that it IS a JT engine with the correct serial number, yet the production order doessn't seem to show it as a JT engine. Did Hamilton cars not use the JT prefix?

I'm just curious in case I ever run into one in the future (not likely, but possible).

[BobPalma]

Here is the Production Order for it:

It was the 'hottest' Studebaker one could order after January 1st, 1964. Craig

Not quite, Craig; note that a 4-bbl carburetor is not specified.

Still, a "neat" car indeed. BP

[spokejr]

The only things I'd want to add to that are;
A/C
My name to the pink slip!

Sadly I come up short by $24,000!

[Bill Pressler]

That's got to be a record price for a Lark-type two-door sedan that isn't supercharged.

[StudeRich]

I think that $24,500.00 IS a Record for a Lark Type Commander!

Losing those 2 extra DOORS must have REALLY helped in this case!

This has got to be ONE of ONE built this way, or even CLOSE with a sporty 4 Speed, in conservative Canada!