Origination of bullet nose.

[Rafe Hollister]

We call it the Bullet Nose, when in actuality we were all taught that it was the jet age that inspired the style. But none of that is true. History tells us that Bourke had a particular fascination with... This is where the look really came from!
Rafe Hollister

[IndStudenut]

Eureka !!!!!! You have solve the mystery Rafe!

[6hk71400]

Interesting conjecture. The more accurate assessment would not be Studebaker but Cadillac and Buick then Packard in 1955. The "bumper guards" on those cars were called "Dagmars" Here is a Life magazine cover photo:

In 1950s auto design, the slang term Dagmar bumper emerged to describe dual pointed chrome projections on the front ends of Cadillacs, Buicks, Packards, and other U.S. automobiles, an allusion to the actress's physique and trademark attire.

Having met Bob Bourke in Nashville at the International Meet and having my picture taken by my wife for the cover of my newsletter, I can say that he was a true gentleman. In his later years he lived in Scottsdale and I traveled from Tucson to meet once again.

Further reading on Bob Bourke: https://www.motorcities.org/story-of...for-studebaker

Thom, I think you did this to be tongue in cheek. If you link the article and read it, you will see that the photo was more of an afterthought than Bob Bourke's inspiration.

[Rafe Hollister]

I apologize, I figured he was long gone and existed in only history, not currently alive fans.
Rafe

[Guido]

It is amazing in this day and age old men are still objectifying women. Some people never grow up…

[Rafe Hollister]

Hey, don't look at me, I've been a van guy most of my life.
Rafe

[swvalcon]

You can grow old but never grow up.

[6hk71400]

It is amazing in this day and age old men are still objectifying women. Some people never grow up…

Gary,

I hope you are not referring to me

[6hk71400]

Milton Berle and Terry Thomas discuss America, England and bosoms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrKMJ8u94gc

[Rafe Hollister]

Booosums... said with great diction, hilarious!
Rafe

[Bo Markham]

Rafe, I like your theory, but I have to say these bear a remarkable resemblance to the head lights to either side of the bullet. I want to say that the whole front end motif of the car was really inspired by the P-38 "Lightning", twin engine fighter from the recently concluded war, but I should think your research and theory might prove the more enticing. Popular, as they certainly are, as it will, err, as you will.

[Chris Pile]

When I was around 4 or 5 years of age, I used to sit in front of Grandad's '50 Studebaker and imagine myself flying a twin engine airplane (the bullet being the cockpit, and the headlights the 2 props). I was obsessed with planes from childhood, thus my fascination with Studebakers began at an early age.

And as for Guido's tut-tutting - that stuff is pretty much what drives the history of the human race. Right? The battle of the sexes, it was called back when I was a kid looking at Grandad's bulletnose.

[Rafe Hollister]

I have a similar early childhood memory. My dad and I were at a neighbors house when he opened the garage door. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a Stude Bullet nose. The image is still in my head like a photograph. I remember thinking how good it looked and wondering why all cars didn't look like that.
Rafe

[Rafe Hollister]

6HK 71400 got me curious, Here are two pictures of Virgina Ruth Egnor, stage name Dagmar. Picture of her alone and one of her with a Cadillac sporting the eponymous bumpers.
The British had their own model, Norma Ann Sykes, who also lent her stage name Sabrina to the same feature on European cars, third pix.
I hope these pictures don't violate our porn policy. I didn't mean to titillate, just illustrating design history. Honest!
Rafe Hollister