Station wagons - question

[Scott]

My 7 year old daughter was so impressed riding in a 1980s vintage Oldsmobile wagon the other day - in the rear facing seat in back, I started looking at Studebaker wagons for the same feature. Those extra seats were an option, but I don't know what years they were optional. I checked some of Fred Fox's articles on specific wagon years and it's unclear what years they were offered.

Are those seats a "rare option"? I know other brands seemed to have those seats as standard equipment by the early seventies, at least.

She said we should get one of those wagons - especially a Wagonaire, and gave me permission to trade any of our cars for one EXCEPT the "Studebaker Hawk"!

Does anyone have a good picture of how those seats looked? Could you get seat belts to work with them?

[bams50]

Not sure what years have the third seat- but my 57 does... here's a picture:



Don't you just love how they didn't see fit to upholster the entire backrest? [:I]

I don't know about previous years, but I don't believe the Larks or Wagonaires had a third seat.

Robert K. Andrews Owner- IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2358680/1

[Scott]

I'm pretty sure 1962s had them and I think Wagonaires could also, but someone out there should know.

I don't think partially uphostered seats would make it in the market anymore!

[klifton1]

63 to 65 had them and there was even a optional ladder for the tail gate for ease of entry.
Klif

[Roscomacaw]

Well, I thought I'd be smart and look up these 3rd seats in the parts books.[^] Guess what? In the 53 to 58 Body Parts book - they ain't there![:0]
There's different rear seats (different in that they're split back or full back. There's even a different split back arrangement for an ambulance. But the third seat setup - not there![V]

bams, looks like your car has what they call a "tailgate bridge" that's spring-loaded and bridges the gap between the lower edge of the tailgate and the rear edge of the floor. Makes sense as far as kids clambering in and out, but it's significance is more appreciated as a means to easily slide a gurney in in the ambulance role.
A quick check of the 59 thru 64 Body Parts book doesn't show them either. They DID offer them. At least a couple of years they used a sort of run flat tire on the wagons so they didn't need a spare.[xx(]

BTW, the "tailgate step" mentioned for Wqagonaires IS in the parts book. But it wasn't exclusive to 3rd seat wagons. It was an option on all Wagonaires since the roof slid open and one was likely, at times, to want to step up into the open rear area.

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

[Scott]

Well now, it looks like we have some research to do. Calling all wagons with third seats!

[showbizkid]

The '63 catalog shows a Wagonaire with the 3rd seat:

http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/Studebaker/1963/images/1963studepage09_jpg.jpg

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Clark in San Diego:

Proud new owner of a '63 Lark!

[mbstude]

There was one on ebay a while back. It was redone in a Coca-Cola theme. [:0]

Matthew Burnette, the 16 year old Stude nut.
South Georgia Chapter Newsletter Editor
63 Daytona HT (project)
51 2R16 dump truck (yes, I won the raffle)
52 Commander Starliner (basket case)(will trade for another Stude <g&gt
MANY more Studes in the family and a few parts cars.
Click my name and check out "Links".

[showbizkid]

Here's a (bad) photo of the '57 Scotsman one-sheet, but you can still see the 3rd-row seat option:

http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/07/42/c0/89_1.JPG

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Clark in San Diego:

Proud new owner of a '63 Lark!

[Scott]

I looked at the Fox article again and read that the seat was first offered in 1957 on four door wagons, but later was also offered on 2 door wagons. Are they pretty hard to find on existing cars? Were seat belts offered for the third seat? Does the seat fold down flat into the floor?

[Rosstude]

[showbizkid]

'57 Wagons brochure doesn't list or show the option. But that Scotsman sheet does... maybe the 3rd seat was a mid-year option?

http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/pdf/files/Studebaker/1957/Wagons/stude.pdf

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Clark in San Diego:

Proud new owner of a '63 Lark!

[tstclr]

The third seat option would be cool in a Wagonaire. With the roof open it would feel like going backwards in a convertible!

Todd

63 Lark 2dr Sedan

[Roscomacaw]

Checking the bridge part numbers thru SASCO's site, all but one rubber "moulding" are NLA Heck, I'd buy them for my Provincial if they were to be had! OF COURSE - looking at the illustration in the parts book, I could probably make one out of some sheet metal and simple hinges.

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]

I remember our 65 Wagon had one, in fact its easily seen in our home movies. I would like one for my 58 Scotsman

Norm
58 Transtar 1 ton dually PU
58 2 door wagon
Davenport, Fl