It's Not Just St. Patrick's For Us at SDC

[STEWDI]

On behalf of Stu Chapman, this thread today is to remind us of the date when the production of Studebaker automobiles ended. It was a momentous day for him, first having made the announcement on March 4th of the intention of the Corporation, then "engineering" closing media news items for March 17th, marking the "occasion" for the local TV and radio stations, despite the auto division not really wanting too much attention drawn to the "event". It was unforgettable for Stu - even with a Studebaker career from August '63 to late April '66 marked with SO many major happenings!

At the time, the Hamilton plant closing was thought to totally bring an end to the tradition of a once-major industrial entity, but it was soon that the Avanti Motor Corporation did a Phoenix-like appearance which began that chapter of the story - and the Studebaker Drivers Club began a meteoric growth with members in some 30 countries! As the old advertisement said, "The Sun Never Sets on Studebaker" - and it still doesn't!

Thanks to the happy efforts of so many people, we members of the club still get to celebrate our wonderful, stylish cars and trucks and - yes- horse drawn wagons, our invaluable SDC friends, the fascinating history of the Corporation, and even our decent supply of parts still available from dedicated vendors after all these years!

It's been quite a "trip" for Stu and all of us, and today marks the anniversary of a day that deserves remembering.

P.S. Thinking fondly of - and missing - our friend Bob Palma on this day too.

[64V19816]

The Birth Certificate

[66Studebaker]

Today is a day to remember for the loss of our beloved car and what the loss did to Hamilton and South Bend.

[StudeRich]

A very Memorable Day in U.S. and Canadian History for sure.

Being detail oriented as I am, I couldn't help noticing though, the Hamilton Plant Car Order Form L8391 is Missing a Check Box for "Power Brakes"! How Odd.

It has all the details like Carpeting, Console, Vanity Tray, Sports Roof, Sliding Roof, many items that could be added to certain Models, all but THAT.
I am pretty sure that Power Drum Brakes WERE available, but missing from the form.

Thanks Ray, for Posting what I guess are Pictures of all of Stu's collection of last Car Memos and Orders, quite interesting.

A Very well equipped, nicely ordered Last Car.

[64V19816]

Those documents were an eBay find. All the seller could tell me was that they were from the estate of a former Studebaker employee. What I find exceptionally interesting is that the early notes. planned the car to be Plum. It’s interesting to know how “well planned” this last car was. It was Meant to be a preserved showpiece. I do wonder about not including AM FM radio and air conditioning.

[Bill Pressler]

I wonder who C.N. Pearson at South Bend was.

I believe I remember hearing that Ed Dunbar in South Bend drove the car until 1969 at which point it was donated to the City of South Bend with its snow tires mounted.

I wonder who, exactly, picked the colors and options. Would it have been Ed Dunbar? Seems as logical as anything.

I wonder about no A/C as well. My '66 Cruiser was built with wire wheel covers which one might've thought would've been installed on this well-equipped last car as well.

[Bill Pressler]

I wonder who C.N. Pearson at South Bend was.

I believe I remember hearing that Ed Dunbar in South Bend drove the car until 1969 at which point it was donated to the City of South Bend with its snow tires mounted.

I wonder who, exactly, picked the colors and options. Would it have been Ed Dunbar? Seems as logical as anything.

I wonder about no A/C as well. My '66 Cruiser was built with wire wheel covers which one might've thought would've been installed on this well-equipped last car as well.

[2R5]

Here is the car on the late shift of Mar 16th getting its final dress up . I have the original photo on my garage wall in a location that I usually see it on a daily bases

[StudeRich]

Did you use a .Jpeg Format so it would post ?