Which model could be the most complete with NOS parts?

[Scott]

I'm sitting here trying to ignore the foot of snow on the ground and trying to imagine which Studebaker model and year could be built the most completely with NOS parts. Any ideas as to percentage of NOS parts that could be found to build one?
This might keep some of us occupied for a while!

[Milaca]

Three vehicles come to mind.... a 2-1/2 ton military 6x6 truck, a Zip van, or an Avanti. Perhaps a 1958 4-door Champion would be possible as well, as they are seldom restored thus leaving many NOS parts available.

[studefan]

1964 Lark 4 door?

[StudeRich]

So you are saying IF you had NOTHING, which model would be the easiest to FIND the MOST pieces NOS to build a Complete Car?

If I got that right, a '64, '65 or '66 4 Door Lark Type would be the ONLY possibility, the hands down winner. What other Model would have 1000 NOS Left & Right Front Fenders in stock for?

Of course that is impossible to find ALL of them in NOS condition you would have to settle for a lot of Used, maybe 60% New, 40% Used.

We REALLY must be well into Winter Stovehugger territory for sure!
I have been watching it Snow for 5 or 6 Hrs. now.

[Scott]

That's right. I'm saying if you started from scratch. Are there still any NOS frames out there? Were there ever? I'm thinking 64-66 types would probably win the contest, but there might be more interior parts available for the earlier Larks.

So you are saying IF you had NOTHING, which model would be the easiest to FIND all the pieces NOS to build a Complete Car?

If I got that right, a '64, '65 or '66 4 Door Lark Type would be the ONLY possibility, the hands down winner. What other Model would have 1000 Left & Right Front Fenders in stock for?

Of course that is impossible to find ALL of them in NOS condition you would have to settle for a lot of Used, maybe 60% New, 40% Used.

We REALLY must be well into Winter Stovehugger territory for sure!
I have been watching it Snow for 5 or 6 Hrs. now.

[StudeRich]

Sorry, the Interior Trim; Door Panels, Seat Covers etc. remaining for the last 20 or more years are all 1962 to 1966.

When Newman and Altman, SASCO and Standard Surplus were still around yes, but after that NO Frames, the Avanti Frames were used up on Avanti II's.

[studegary]

I remember a number of years ago someone in California built up a 1963 Lark with NOS parts. I believe that the plate was something like; NOS 63. It was shown at an SDC International Meet. I do not believe that you could come close to doing it now and even if you could, the cost would be prohibitive.

[(S)]

There are probably more wagon parts than any other. You can't buy the frame but you can get almost all of a 64-66 wagon.
The cost is not prohibitive. The cost is the cost.

[studegary]

There are probably more wagon parts than any other. You can't buy the frame but you can get almost all of a 64-66 wagon.
The cost is not prohibitive. The cost is the cost.

Decades ago, I do not remember it as being easy to get NOS rear quarters for my 1963 Wagonaire. Are they now available?

EDIT: "The cost is the cost." sounds like a seller/vendor and not a buyer/consumer.

[(S)]

Yup. The early wagons actually have more parts I think. Its a tough call. There were frames too, but they are in ' private stocks' now.

[tsenecal]

I have a US6, and I was surprised to see it on the list for lots of NOS parts. I have searched the internet, and ebay, and haven't really come up with much. It is a ways down my list of projects, but would be interested in sources for parts.

[62champ]

This might be the hardest thing to find - they are in SI's stock - but I am not 100% sure they are NOS.

[Milaca]

I have a US6, and I was surprised to see it on the list for lots of NOS parts. I have searched the internet, and ebay, and haven't really come up with much. It is a ways down my list of projects, but would be interested in sources for parts.

I may be wrong, but I am assuming that the later Studebaker assembled military trucks would have many NOS parts available being that Kaiser continued to build them after Studebaker called it quits. I figure the US government would have kept many new parts on hand for the repair of their fleet of trucks. But, perhaps these parts were scrapped when the trucks became obsolete.

[JRoberts]

My guess too would be a '64 and '65 four door. That is unless the new owners of Studebaker International have kept all the four door sheet metal that used to be part of that inventory. I found much of what I needed for my '65 Cruiser and if I needed to build a "new" one from scratch I still believe it could be done.

[Mrs K Corbin]

The truck parts would have been scrapped thru DRMO (Defense Re-utilization and Marketing Office)....