The Crescent City Comet

[mr moto]

Where to begin? This is my first post on this forum BTW. I'm a model builder from Baton Rouge, LA and I'm interested in modeling the Crescent City Comet. "What's that?", you might ask but I'm thinking some of you might know. Searches on Google and Yahoo for Crescent City Comet turn up absolutely no responses so I guess this arcane knowledge now resides only in the minds of some knowledgeable Stude-o-philes. As I understand it, the factory built a 1953 Commander convertible prototype showed it a few places then put it away. When the '54 models came out it was updated to 1954 spec. In spring of 1954 it was used to lead a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans (I don't know which one) with "Crescent City Comet" and, I think, a graphic of a comet painted on the sides. That's about all I remember. I think there might have been a small black & white photo of it in "Turning Wheels" sometime around the late '70s. Anyway, I'd like to hear, or even better see, anything you know about it that would help a model builder - colors, details and of course photos. Can anybody help?[?]

[Swifster]

I think the Turning Wheels issue that you're looking for is November of 1976. I'm too young to even think about that issue...

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[Swifster]

I think the Turning Wheels issue that you're looking for is November of 1976. I'm too young to even think about that issue...

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[KevinSheen]

Mr Moto, welcome to our world. I recently left Crowley after living there for the past eight years. Check out the Louisiana Studebaker Club website. I think there is a link here. I'm at a school for my job and don't know the website address off the top of my head, but the good folks there should be able to help you. I seem to recall that a question about the CCC was on there a year or so back. Kevin in radar school.

1963 Champ

[KevinSheen]

Mr Moto, welcome to our world. I recently left Crowley after living there for the past eight years. Check out the Louisiana Studebaker Club website. I think there is a link here. I'm at a school for my job and don't know the website address off the top of my head, but the good folks there should be able to help you. I seem to recall that a question about the CCC was on there a year or so back. Kevin in radar school.

1963 Champ

[studegary]

Studebaker did build one prototype 1953 Commander convertible. It was updated to appear as a 1954 model.

I saw this car many times over the years. It appears the same as a Starliner would, except for the removal of the hardtop and installation of a soft convertible top. When it went from a 1953 to a 1954 the color was changed. The car had the wire style wheelcovers (commonly, erroneously called Speedster covers). The prototype has no body or serial number plates, or any indication of it ever having any.

The car still exists. I do not care to give the owner's information out because he is quite private about it.

I do not know anything about it appearing in a Mardi Gras parade or being a Crescent City Comet. Are you sure it was the factory prototype that was used for that parade? Many Starliners have had their tops removed to make convertibles/roadsters.

Somewhere, not retrievable, I have pictures of the prototype car taken in the '70s. I guess the Comet graphics is the part that you need.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

1959 DeLuxe pickup (restomod)

[studegary]

Studebaker did build one prototype 1953 Commander convertible. It was updated to appear as a 1954 model.

I saw this car many times over the years. It appears the same as a Starliner would, except for the removal of the hardtop and installation of a soft convertible top. When it went from a 1953 to a 1954 the color was changed. The car had the wire style wheelcovers (commonly, erroneously called Speedster covers). The prototype has no body or serial number plates, or any indication of it ever having any.

The car still exists. I do not care to give the owner's information out because he is quite private about it.

I do not know anything about it appearing in a Mardi Gras parade or being a Crescent City Comet. Are you sure it was the factory prototype that was used for that parade? Many Starliners have had their tops removed to make convertibles/roadsters.

Somewhere, not retrievable, I have pictures of the prototype car taken in the '70s. I guess the Comet graphics is the part that you need.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

1959 DeLuxe pickup (restomod)

[mr moto]

Studegary, I can't be SURE of anything but the Turning Wheels story said that it was the prototype and since this happened in 1954 it would make sense. Probably not many shiny new Starliners had been decapitated by early 1954. Anyway, any photo that shows the original color, wheels, etc. would be very helpful. Of course, the graphic is going to be critical but I can take one step at a time. I'm going to try Kevin's suggestion and see if the state chapter can help out. Thanks, everybody!

[mr moto]

Studegary, I can't be SURE of anything but the Turning Wheels story said that it was the prototype and since this happened in 1954 it would make sense. Probably not many shiny new Starliners had been decapitated by early 1954. Anyway, any photo that shows the original color, wheels, etc. would be very helpful. Of course, the graphic is going to be critical but I can take one step at a time. I'm going to try Kevin's suggestion and see if the state chapter can help out. Thanks, everybody!

[48M5]

Note to Kevin.

Make sure after you get out of radar school and before you get back aboard that you order up your own personal can of relative bearing grease. Somebody'll undoubtedly ask you for some.... --48M5 :<{)

[48M5]

Note to Kevin.

Make sure after you get out of radar school and before you get back aboard that you order up your own personal can of relative bearing grease. Somebody'll undoubtedly ask you for some.... --48M5 :<{)

[studeclunker]

Yeah, right, good idea. You can find that grease in the same section as the Western Jackalope traps in any Walmart.


Lotsa Larks!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[studeclunker]

Yeah, right, good idea. You can find that grease in the same section as the Western Jackalope traps in any Walmart.


Lotsa Larks!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[Michael]

You're correct mr moto.
Studebaker let the dealer in Crescent city borrow
the 1953-54 convertible prototype during the 1954 Mardi Gras.
Some comet graphics was painted on the doors. I have a bunch of photos of
the 1953 conv prototype and one of them has the comet graphics.
When the car was brought back to South Bend the doors were
repainted. I'll check for that photo.

Michael

[Michael]

You're correct mr moto.
Studebaker let the dealer in Crescent city borrow
the 1953-54 convertible prototype during the 1954 Mardi Gras.
Some comet graphics was painted on the doors. I have a bunch of photos of
the 1953 conv prototype and one of them has the comet graphics.
When the car was brought back to South Bend the doors were
repainted. I'll check for that photo.

Michael