54 Starliner Mystery

Does anybody recognize this car??
I bought from a guy in Madera,Ca. He said he's owned it less than 2 years, & it came from Iowa??
I am just trying to get some additional info/history.

Thanx

1954 Starliner Hardtop
Tacoma,Washington

[Roscomacaw]

Ya know, Tim... I never put two and two together until now (remember - you'd asked me to check this car out for you a short time ago). And maybe even at that, they don't add up![}] But some years ago, I was attending the Turlock, CA annual swap meet when I came across a vendor selling a bunch of nice trim off a 54. It was so cheap that I just grabbed it all and didn't even try to haggle the price![:0]
The guy then asks me if I'm interested in the driveline out of the car the trim came from. Of course, I was. And I was really excited to hear that the engine, trans, brakes and rear axle (all of which were removed in an effort to, ahem! "upgrade" the car with "superior" brand X stuff) had all been rebuilt and then never used. I got all that stuff and more for $500 bucks![] Such a deal!
The story went that the car had been under resto by a Stude guy who succumbed to a fatal disease and it was sold out of his estate. I didn't really care about it's history since I wasn't getting the car - only it's valuable innards. The engine was a later 259 instead of what the '54 would have come with and that was a plus as far as I was concerned. I hauled everything home from Madera in my Transtar. He even threw in the stock wheels that had a brand new set of wide white bias ply tires. It was quite a score!
Of course..... that was at least 13 years or so ago. I never had contact with the guy after that. This could be another 54 altogether.[:I]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle!!

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

Ya know, Tim... I never put two and two together until now (remember - you'd asked me to check this car out for you a short time ago). And maybe even at that, they don't add up![}] But some years ago, I was attending the Turlock, CA annual swap meet when I came across a vendor selling a bunch of nice trim off a 54. It was so cheap that I just grabbed it all and didn't even try to haggle the price![:0]
The guy then asks me if I'm interested in the driveline out of the car the trim came from. Of course, I was. And I was really excited to hear that the engine, trans, brakes and rear axle (all of which were removed in an effort to, ahem! "upgrade" the car with "superior" brand X stuff) had all been rebuilt and then never used. I got all that stuff and more for $500 bucks![] Such a deal!
The story went that the car had been under resto by a Stude guy who succumbed to a fatal disease and it was sold out of his estate. I didn't really care about it's history since I wasn't getting the car - only it's valuable innards. The engine was a later 259 instead of what the '54 would have come with and that was a plus as far as I was concerned. I hauled everything home from Madera in my Transtar. He even threw in the stock wheels that had a brand new set of wide white bias ply tires. It was quite a score!
Of course..... that was at least 13 years or so ago. I never had contact with the guy after that. This could be another 54 altogether.[:I]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle!!

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Tim O]

Thanks Bob.

That is an interesting story. All I could get from the seller was he had the car for less than 2 years, and I think he said it came from Iowa. However, he did mention the previous owner had died also. I would not be suprised to learn it is the same car your describing! The seller was not interested in giving me specific's regarding prior ownership or specifics on this car. He likely knew more than he let-on.

Thanks


1954 Starliner Hardtop
Tacoma,Washington

[Tim O]

Thanks Bob.

That is an interesting story. All I could get from the seller was he had the car for less than 2 years, and I think he said it came from Iowa. However, he did mention the previous owner had died also. I would not be suprised to learn it is the same car your describing! The seller was not interested in giving me specific's regarding prior ownership or specifics on this car. He likely knew more than he let-on.

Thanks


1954 Starliner Hardtop
Tacoma,Washington