Wagonaire Camper in Jan 29th Hemmings Daily Blog

[BobPalma]

Cool beans:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2020/01/29/sleeping-in-cars-part-2-the-rarities-the-pioneers-and-the-missed-opportunities/?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-01-29

[tsenecal]

It's funny that I was just on Ebay looking at some other Stude reference books, and a copy of the Wagonaire camper popped up for sale. I hadn't seen it before, and pointed it out to my wife. It looks a little cumbersome, at a 1000#, but had HD springs, and overloads, with heavier shocks. It wouldn't be hard to replicate it, as a novelty.

[studegary]

Another idea from Bob Bourke - his vehicle tent camper patent and model.

[garyash]

That Wagonaire with the camper top has always looked like a roll-over waiting to happen. Mounting 1000 lbs up high sounds risky, even with heavy-duty springs, bigger tires, etc. If a rear tire went flat, it would be a real job to change it, as you need a bumper jack even on a normal Wagonaire.
Here is another view of it.


I've put better things in the back of my Wagonaire.

[Bullet]

The camper that gets all the attention because of the factory connection has always peeked my interest. There was another one built that mows resides at the Bell’s Museum and can be seen on their museum web page. The camper is called a Tote Motel. It is fiberglass vs the metal so might not be as heavy. I have always wondered what happened to the factory one show above.

Mark

[StudeRich]

The Factory Promoted Camper that is the subject of this String, was purchased by our Parts Manager Bob Moss at Frost and French Studebaker, Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Zone Office had the Wagonaire and Camper and "MAY" be who he bought it from.

I believe we had the Camper stored at F&F for awhile and then Bob stored it at Home and drove the Wagonaire for awhile before selling it.
Where it went, I have no idea. Maybe my friend Bill W. who also worked there, and is also on here will remember more.

The Arrow designs on both units were a matching Red.

The "ToteM otel" at the Bell Museum and Diner IS the one mentioned later in the Hemmings Article as the one built for the back of Notchback Full Size Sedans, so it does not really drop into the Cargo Area of the Wagonaire like the first one and have a "Pass Through" like the First one.

The interesting thing about the Bells Wagonaire is that it also was ordered/built just the same as the "Feature Car" all H.D. equipment, 283 Overdrive and was ordered By the Camper Mfg. for their Demo Unit.
So there had to be "Some" Stude. Factory involvement, but they left it to the Camper Mfg. and it's Dealers to sell just the Camper.

There is not enough light to clearly see the Wagonaire here, but you can see it's ToteM otel on it, way in back of one of the Bell's Museum Buildings.

It HAD to be a rare Day that some Cars had been moved out, because you never see any empty space like that without Studebakers!

[Bullet]

Thanks for the little bit more history Rich! I am sure it is no longer in existence, but then you never know someone my have it just wondering what it ever say upon.

Mark

[Devan]

I remember seeing this photo waaaayyyy back, probably in the sixties. What I didn't remember was the interesting paint scheme. And being a kid back then I thought this was a production option.