Former Studebaker Dealer and his Stout Scarab

[JRoberts]

I opened the paper the other day and was surprised to see an article about Mr. Taylor and his Stout Scarab. I had met him a few years ago and he told me about the car which then was still in the process of restoration. We talked a lot about the other cars in his collection and his being the last Studebaker dealer in Lumberton, North Carolina. He was also a Simca dealer. When Studebaker went out the automobile business he sold Toyotas. He has been a very successful insurance man for many years.
On top of his automotive exploints Mr. Taylor was quite the track star when he attended the University of North Carolina. Later he donated a lot of money for the track and field facilities at Chapel Hill.

Here is the story: http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/...03/963373.aspx


Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[Guido]

Reminds me of the one of a kind 1945 Surlesmobile that John Dudley had in his collection.



Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful" and real Studebaker horsepower lives

See pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/GuidoSalvage

Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond, Goochland & Louisa, Va.

[JRoberts]

Boy, they do look a lot alike don't they. I have never heard of a Surlesmobile before. What kind of power did it have?

Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[rockne10]

[Guido]

quote:Originally posted by JRoberts

Boy, they do look a lot alike don't they. I have never heard of a Surlesmobile before. What kind of power did it have?

It is a one of a kind vehicle that was designed and built by one Don Surles. Below is the info I gleaned from the museum where it resides:

"One of the prime attractions of the museum is a one-of-a-kind 1945 Surlesmobile which features a number of interesting innovations in automobilia. This vehicle, which was entirely constructed by hand in Japan, was built on a 4-wheel Willy's jeep chassis and sports windows and doors that roll open by moving up and down into the body of the automobile. It is also reported to have windows that will pop out in the event of sudden impact, thereby preventing many a skull injury. This latter feature has been used in one or two other automobiles since that time. The inventor, Mr. Surles, who was from Virginia, was unable to speak Japanese and the crew members chosen to build the car were unable to converse in English. This unfortunate situation led to numerous complications and five months were required to construct this automobile causing Mr. Surles, being unable to express himself, to give up a number of his original innovations. Because of manufacturing and other difficulties, this machine was never put into production."


Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful" and real Studebaker horsepower lives

See pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/GuidoSalvage

Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond, Goochland & Louisa, Va.

[kurtruk]

He bought the Scarab from Bill Harrah's estate in the 1980s, after the casino entrepreneur died. Taylor paid $20,000 for it.

"It was all there," he said. "It was just raggedy."

Over the years, he has sunk another $300,000 or so into its restoration.[:0]

KURTRUK
(read it backwards)




Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. -A. Lincoln

[JDP]

quote:Originally posted by Guido

Reminds me of the one of a kind 1945 Surlesmobile that John Dudley had in his collection.



Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful" and real Studebaker horsepower lives

See pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/GuidoSalvage

Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond, Goochland & Louisa, Va.

I bought out John's Studebaker inventory 35 years ago. Is he still vertical ?

JDP/Maryland

[JRoberts]

quote:Originally posted by rockne10

That may have been Mr. Taylor's car. I do believe at least some of the restoration was done by White Post.

There is a link to the right of the article for pictures. Try this: http://photos.fayobserver.com/mycapt...8&pSlideshow=1


Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[Guido]

quote:Originally posted by JDP
I bought out John's Studebaker inventory 35 years ago. Is he still vertical ?

No he died several years ago. The museum is still there and his wife and daughter have moved their antique shop from Rt. 29 to the museum. As far as Studebakers, there are still a couple there for sale.

1962 STUDEBAKER GRAN TURISMO HAWK
V/8, 2 Door Hard top, Blue with Blue interior, 78,189 miles
Original car, last inspected in 1978, garaged since,
$8,000 (I think his wife used to drive this on occasion).



1962 STUDEBAKER LARK V/8
OD, 70,000 miles, This car has a 289 V/8 OD, heater, good body, good interior with split bench seats, runs well, and has full wheel covers. Suitable for restoration or as a donor, $950.



Here is the same car after the snow a couple of weeks ago.



As you can see, time has not been kind to it.

Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful" and real Studebaker horsepower lives

See pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/GuidoSalvage

Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond, Goochland & Louisa, Va.