1957 Studebaker Question....

[Earl]

When I was a kid, I lived on a duck & pheasant hunting club in the central valley in California. There was a 1957 Studebaker Broadmoor/President wagon in an old barn out there...It had originally been owned by a guy who owned a stude dealership back in the 50s called "Perotti Studebaker" which later became "perotti imports" If I remember right it was located in Freemont, CA...This guy was a member of the duck club. Story goes that this was his personal vehicle for around 10-15 years, at which time he brought the car down to the duck club, and used it, basically as a jeep...needless to say the car developed some serious rust issues. Around 1994, He sold his membership, for whatever reason, and the president of the club bought the car. My dad bought the car from him, for one doller...he didn't want the car, he just wanted to be able to say that he once bought a car for a doller (for the record, he's never told anyone about this) so anyway, we went out to the barn, pulled the car out with a tractor...it had four flat tires, which where cracked & a bit rotted from sitting flat for ~15 years or more. We washed the car off, and cleaned enough hardened mud out from under it to build a small house in mexico. The car was kind of the color of a red potato...kind of a reddish pinkish color with a black roof, and black on the sides. It had a V8 (whatever those cars came with as far as engine specs, I do not know, 289, so I've been told) and it had an automatic transmission. The car had an AM radio, and two bench seats upholstered in black & white...the door panels where black and white with some metal strips on them. The car was in the shape of needing a complete frame off teardown restoration....I don't know the condition of the frame or the engine/trans/rear end, etc. becuase we never drove it...i never even heard it run....battery was dead and I'm sure any oil/gas/other fulids where REALLY nasty at that point. There was a bit of rust on the bottom of all panels on the car, and the chrome was in pretty bad shape. the grill had a few pieces that where missing (but laying in a box in the car, along with the horn button and a bunch of other misc stuff) Basically everything was there...the only thing I recall the car missing was a V8 emblem on the driver's side.

It looked like this...

I don't think ours had a roof rack, but I don't remember for sure.

My dad never did anything with the car...I was always very interested in it...but I was just a little kid & couldn't do anything with it...we moved away from the place in 95 or so, and left the car there...I talked to the guy who lives there now...he said "somebody came and picked it up along with a buch of other cars that where out here" So I have no idea what ever happened to it...hope it didn't end up in the crusher, but it might have, sadly.

Does anyone here have one of these? Or know anything about them (production numbers, specs, etc.) does anyone have pictures of one?

thanks,

Earl

[Roscomacaw]

Pretty rare car nowdays. There were only 1530 of these Broadmoor's built in '57, so you can figure the survival rate is really low.
Looking at the "factory" offered two-tone color schemes, I don't see anything that comes close to what you described. However, that's not to say that one couldn't have been ordered that way as Studebaker would easily deliver something painted to the wishes of someone will to buy one of their cars!
And yes, the Studebaker 289 V8 (not to be confused with the later Ford 289 - a totally different engine) would have been the standard powerplant for a Broadmoor. Too bad you and dad didn't keep it, BUT - lest you think you let a fortune slip away - restoring that car would have to have been a labor of love because it's doubtful you'd ever gotten back whatever money you'd invested in returning it to it's original glory.
This is a case where "rarity" doesn't automatically translate into "value". Of course, the "COOL" factor that such a car would impart would be without a price tag![:0][8]

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[Earl]

There's a good picture of one....The car was that redish color, but the top & sides where it's white on that car where painted black....if that color combo was not available, it was probably special ordered...after all the guy who had the car owned a studie dealership. Would have been a super cool car restored.

[StudeDave57]

I've got a few pics of these cars, but I can't post them here. My Dad owns one that's in need of restoration. It's in a long line of cars that need restoration... We'll get to it someday- I want it eventually! See my sig- you'll understand then! [8D]

StudeDave

'54 Commander 4dr
'57 Parkview (it's a 2dr wagon...)
'57 Commander 2dr
'57 Champion 2dr
'65 Cruiser

[R2Lark]

I have two of the Broadmoor wagons. One is copperish/white and the other one is mostly white (for the moment). I have had the first one since 1977. Back then, noone wanted to do with station wagons, but they have started to become very popular since most of the other body styles have been restored or destroyed. The flags on either fender are being reproduced if anyone needs them, but the Broadmoor scripts are hard to find. I found 2 NOS ones last year from a local vendor. http://www.mystudebaker.com has the flags

David

[Roscomacaw]

I had a chance to buy a Broadmoor when we first moved to the central valley. Guy wanted $1500 for it and while it was solid and all there, it needed EVERYTHING![V] If the same car were offered to me today, I'd be on it in a heartbeat[]
Last I knew tho, the fella took it and about 6 other Studebaker with him when he moved to Nevada.[8D]

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[Dwain G.]

Oddly enough black accents on a red body was a standard offering in 1956 but isn't shown for '57. In '57 the black accents are shown available with the coppertone and some other colors, but not with any of the reds. So maybe it was a special order. Or maybe a local repaint to suit someones tastes.

Dwain G.

[Roscomacaw]

And yet, you could opt for red & black on a '57 Transtar truck![)]

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[Earl]

Hey, you said that you had an oppertunity to buy a broadmoor in the central valley that "was all there and needed everything" what color was it? what year was this when you had this chance to buy one? Ours was in the central valley, was all there, but needed everything....hmmmmm

Now that I think about it the color was more of a copper than a red...I just think "red potato" with that color, but yes, it was copper/black

[Roscomacaw]

Earl, I don't honestly remember now, what colors that Broadmoor was. I do remember that the fella that owned it had a bunch of other Studebakers as well. I know that in the mid-90s he and his son moved to Nevada and took some, or all, of the cars with them.
When I saw this Broadmoor, it was sitting in an auction sales yard along Hwy 99, south of Fresno. When I first saw it and stopped to inquire, I was told it was there on "consignment" and that the price was $1500.00.[:I]
Even tho it was all there (well 99% there), I was leery of buying it because I was already topheavy with "project" cars and parts cars. At the time I thought $1500 was tops for that car in that condition. If I'd long been seeking a 57 Broadmoor, I'd probably have given it a home. It carries less urgency with me tho. Especially since it was in the hands of a "Studebaker guy". I felt at least it would be just scrapped.
Do I wish I could turn back the clock now - yeah. But I'm happy with this '58 Provincial wagon I'm currently rehabbing. It'll be a great car when it's done.

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

But I'm happy with this '58 Provincial wagon I'm currently rehabbing. It'll be a great car when it's done.

It's a little known fact, but before Mr. Biggs decided to rehab the '58 Provincial, he used it for his regular surfing trips to the coast. I snaped this pic of it with his trusty 10' 6" Cooper loaded up as he headed for the point break at Steamer Lane after getting word of a major south swell.



-Dick-

[Roscomacaw]

Yup! That's true. I only gave up the board after a great white made it an 8-footer![xx(]

Thruth is, I'd lower that tailgate window and that board and fin would add some noticable stability above 100MPH![:0][]

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[redvoyager]

When I was looking for my wagon I found one at this website that I was really considering buying http://motionunlimitedmuseum.com/sho...ake=Studebaker
The prob with it was that I really wanted a 2 door. I settled on a 58 Scotsman from So Lake Tahoe that was virtually rust free but has a Chevy V8 in it. I am very happy with it except I would like the 57 style taillights. I digress..
The purpose of my reply is that the Broadmoor is still available for $895 and looks in pretty good shape.

Norm
58 Transtar 1 ton dually PU
58 2 door wagon

[StudeDave57]

I remember seeing this one quite awhile back as well. I wonder if it's ever gonna sell. It does look like a good car. It's just too far away for me... well that and I have five already, with another maybe on the way!?!?!? I MUST be crazy!
I also remember seeing your Scotsman on eBay not too long ago- congrats on what looked to be a car not too far off from nice!
[8D]

StudeDave
San Diego, Ca

'54 Commander 4dr
'57 Parkview (it's a 2dr wagon...)
'57 Commander 2dr
'57 Champion 2dr
'65 Cruiser