I got a tip from a fellow Stude nut last week. He allowed as how he thought he'd seen a Stude truck sitting in an equipment yard near Fresno. Since I had to make a trip to that fine town this AM, I thought maybe I'd check out that tip I'd gotten.
I was told it was along the western side of the freeway and even tho I'd be on the eastern side as I travelled north, I did catch a confirming glimpse of it. Of course, I would have to stop on the way back home and see just what the story was.
I know about the yard it resides in. It's a farm equipment/vehicle auction place and every other Sunday they hold an auction.
So, I went onto Fresno and picked up the V8 block I'd had worked on at Dan's Performance. Block loaded, I decided to stop at the Pick-a-Part wrecking yard to see what I might see. Truth is, there wasn't much to interest an old fart like me. I can remember when I first found this yard in 1990 - they had several Studes set out for picking. And each time I'd go back (every several weeks or so) there'd be at least one new offering to scavenge from. It's not like that anymore![V]
Now, A 60s car of ANY sort is a rarity. I did see one, lonesome 61 Ranchero and a 71 Buick Lesabre. That was IT for oldies![xx(]
At one point, I watched as a front end loader smushed down the roof of a foreign car so they could stack another on top of it. As I approaced, I could see that it wasn't some Toyota or Datsun - what the heck? As the loader turned away to scoop up the car that would piggyback, I scooted around to get a look at the trunk. Aha! A Lancia. That's why I couldn't define it too quick. But more than that, it's other name script said ZAGATO. Now, there was a name I'd not encountered (personally) since the mid-70s. Of course, the Zagato-bodied Alfas I worked with were WORLDS apart from the production line pablum.[|)]
Back in the parking lot, a fella with a really heavy accent came over and hailed me as I was buckling in. "Hay mon! Das a nyce-lukeing truk you gos dere! I gos one too - an old truk dot ees. Yu kin see it oba dere - ees a reckah." (He was pointing to about a 70 Chevy with a wrecker boom on the back)
"Oh yeah - looks cool." I said, feigning interest.
"Yah mon, 'n I gos a seexty-seben coogah too. Maybee you wanna bye it, no?"
"No, no, I only fool with Studebakers." That drew a look of disbelief.
I twisted the key and the Transtar came to life. I was hoping to get on my way......
"Whel mon, maybe yoo taka my telee-pone numbah and tell you friends 'bout my coogah, no?"
I take his number and he identifies himself as Herman from cooba. I nod: "Oh Cuba! Gotcha! Thanks."
After stopping for a big gulp at AM/PM, I'm on the freeway with a Stude truck in mind. It's just a short hop to the proper exit and in no time I'm pulling into the auction yard.
As I exit the Transtar and shove my digital camera into one pocket, a shrivelled, little wisp of a codger is shuffling his way towards me. As the truck door cliocks shut, he calls to me: "Is the name on that hood right?"
"Yessir - sure is!"
"Well, by golly I ain't never seed one what looks quite like that. We've had a bunch of Stoodiebakers go thru here, but not one what looks quite like that. No sir.
Matter a fact, we just had one in a auction a week ago Sunday. It was older'n yers tho."
I asked: "Would it be the one I see sitting over there by the fence?"
"Oh!... Yeah! ..... That's the one. Gal what bought it says she can't come an git it til next week er so. Dang folks always take forever to haul stuff away after they's bought it."
I nod my head knowingly - I wanna get on his good side if it's necessary. "Mind if I take a look at that truck?"
"Nah. Go ahead - look all you want. It ain't mine."
"Can I ask what it sold for?"
"Yeah.... lesseeee.... 8 hunert dollars. That's what they bid it to. 8 hunnert bucks. Pretty dang rusty if you ask me!"
SO - I went and poked around what looked to be a pretty solid example of an L5-C6. In one way I wish I'd learned about it BEFORE the au
I was told it was along the western side of the freeway and even tho I'd be on the eastern side as I travelled north, I did catch a confirming glimpse of it. Of course, I would have to stop on the way back home and see just what the story was.
I know about the yard it resides in. It's a farm equipment/vehicle auction place and every other Sunday they hold an auction.
So, I went onto Fresno and picked up the V8 block I'd had worked on at Dan's Performance. Block loaded, I decided to stop at the Pick-a-Part wrecking yard to see what I might see. Truth is, there wasn't much to interest an old fart like me. I can remember when I first found this yard in 1990 - they had several Studes set out for picking. And each time I'd go back (every several weeks or so) there'd be at least one new offering to scavenge from. It's not like that anymore![V]
Now, A 60s car of ANY sort is a rarity. I did see one, lonesome 61 Ranchero and a 71 Buick Lesabre. That was IT for oldies![xx(]
At one point, I watched as a front end loader smushed down the roof of a foreign car so they could stack another on top of it. As I approaced, I could see that it wasn't some Toyota or Datsun - what the heck? As the loader turned away to scoop up the car that would piggyback, I scooted around to get a look at the trunk. Aha! A Lancia. That's why I couldn't define it too quick. But more than that, it's other name script said ZAGATO. Now, there was a name I'd not encountered (personally) since the mid-70s. Of course, the Zagato-bodied Alfas I worked with were WORLDS apart from the production line pablum.[|)]
Back in the parking lot, a fella with a really heavy accent came over and hailed me as I was buckling in. "Hay mon! Das a nyce-lukeing truk you gos dere! I gos one too - an old truk dot ees. Yu kin see it oba dere - ees a reckah." (He was pointing to about a 70 Chevy with a wrecker boom on the back)
"Oh yeah - looks cool." I said, feigning interest.
"Yah mon, 'n I gos a seexty-seben coogah too. Maybee you wanna bye it, no?"
"No, no, I only fool with Studebakers." That drew a look of disbelief.
I twisted the key and the Transtar came to life. I was hoping to get on my way......
"Whel mon, maybe yoo taka my telee-pone numbah and tell you friends 'bout my coogah, no?"
I take his number and he identifies himself as Herman from cooba. I nod: "Oh Cuba! Gotcha! Thanks."
After stopping for a big gulp at AM/PM, I'm on the freeway with a Stude truck in mind. It's just a short hop to the proper exit and in no time I'm pulling into the auction yard.
As I exit the Transtar and shove my digital camera into one pocket, a shrivelled, little wisp of a codger is shuffling his way towards me. As the truck door cliocks shut, he calls to me: "Is the name on that hood right?"
"Yessir - sure is!"
"Well, by golly I ain't never seed one what looks quite like that. We've had a bunch of Stoodiebakers go thru here, but not one what looks quite like that. No sir.
Matter a fact, we just had one in a auction a week ago Sunday. It was older'n yers tho."
I asked: "Would it be the one I see sitting over there by the fence?"
"Oh!... Yeah! ..... That's the one. Gal what bought it says she can't come an git it til next week er so. Dang folks always take forever to haul stuff away after they's bought it."
I nod my head knowingly - I wanna get on his good side if it's necessary. "Mind if I take a look at that truck?"
"Nah. Go ahead - look all you want. It ain't mine."
"Can I ask what it sold for?"
"Yeah.... lesseeee.... 8 hunert dollars. That's what they bid it to. 8 hunnert bucks. Pretty dang rusty if you ask me!"
SO - I went and poked around what looked to be a pretty solid example of an L5-C6. In one way I wish I'd learned about it BEFORE the au
but if I saw it I'd be sorely tempted myself...
Obviously, I have yet to find 'em all
]
Post away the information here after he has consulted with you.
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