Special non-stock factory order exceptions, options, etc. Heard about it; seeking verified examples.

[rockne10]

We know those odd examples of Studebakers were factory built with non-stock options: engine/trans, paint, upholstery, etc., verified with production orders.
Anyone have documentation of bona fide examples?
Any idea what the oddest approved exception was?

[8E45E]

Yep! Been covered before:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?11839-Lost-or-Rare-Factory-Studebaker-Stories&highlight=rhoads

Craig

[rockne10]

I know there have been "rare" cars ordered with otherwise standard options. I'm talking about the "exceptions"; vehicles that were authorized for production with options or schemes that were not part of the factory catalog.

[8E45E]

I know there have been "rare" cars ordered with otherwise standard options. I'm talking about the "exceptions"; vehicles that were authorized for production with options or schemes that were not part of the factory catalog.

OKay, maybe this is along the lines of what you are after???

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?22720-60-Marshal-Updates&highlight=hawaiian

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?25546-Now-I-ve-got-3-Marshals-minus-one....&highlight=marshal

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?17394-Ultimate-Wagonaire!&highlight=milwaukee

Craig

[Skinnys Garage]

You beat me to the punch Craig! The two page production order for my '60 Lark Marshal has a bunch of cool items, but most were checked right off the factory order sheets. Some of those items installation instructions etc are explained in the 7 pages of "deviation 4664" I have also, but still mainly pertain to factory options.

The special paint is another story though. While most of it's sister cars that were ordered by the Milwaukee PD were White Sand, this one has those codes "X"ed out and changed to a 1959 color, Hawaiian Green. I would need to check the archives further to see if any of the other cars were ordered with this non-1960 paint color.

I'm not really sure if my '61's fit though. I think all the items on the production orders were available on the order sheets (although still pretty different from most production cars).

[silverhawk]

Would a styling study count? It's not on the P.O though, but it being delivered to the engineer at the Engineering department is.

[8E45E]

From an older TW magazine:



Craig

[PackardV8]

Most of these were regular production parts, but in a non-standard-for-that-model-year combination. They also relied upon some personal contact higher up in Studebaker. I personally know of a small-town Bessemer, Alabama dealer who lost a profitable sale because Studebaker refused to special order equip a 1956 Golden Hawk with the 374" Packard Caribbean 2x4bbl engine.

The dealer later found out it was because there were already warranty claims from owners drag-racing the overdrive '56J and blowing the engines. They may have figured anyone wanting the most powerful engine would soon destroy it. The Packard V8 was not designed for high revs and many overdrive equipped '56Js will show evidence of a dropped valve and a blown engine.

This did not stop owners of '56Js from converting to the 2x4bbl intakes. Subsequent owners buying the car so equipped often make the claim, "It came from the factory this way - special order!" However, AFAIK, no documentation exists for one so built on the assembly line.

jack vines

[8E45E]

In 1979, I owned a '61 Cruiser which was in VERY rough shape. I have since regretted parting it out years later once I found out just how rare these '61 Cruisers are. It was painted two-tone from the factory in light yellow with a white roof. All City of Calgary fleet vehicles were painted in this yellow/white color scheme up to about 25 years ago which leads me to believe it was once a supervisor's vehicle. It still had the dealer's sticker on the back, so I know it came this way originally. I still have an old registration with the serial number on it, so next time I'm in South Bend at the Archives, I can at least view the Production Order. Since the car is long gone, I can't justify spending the $25 for something that no longer exists. My dream now is to see if more than one '61 Cruiser was sold to the city; something a check of the Production Orders may be able to tell me. I wouldn't mind finding another ex-city car if there actually was one or more.

Craig

[go-studebaker]

Hi,
I once owned a late model 64 Avanti that was Avanti Maroon with black interior and had a black steering wheel instead of the woodgrain one. I have heard only a few cars were made like that but it was not on the production order. The steering column was brown.

Regards
Greg

[53k]

We know those odd examples of Studebakers were factory built with non-stock options: engine/trans, paint, upholstery, etc., verified with production orders.
Anyone have documentation of bona fide examples?
Any idea what the oddest approved exception was?

I don't have any documentation or specifics, but one of the Anderson brothers (Anderson Studebaker, Garnet, Kansas) told me that if someone wanted something that technically wasn't available, either he or his brother could walk in to the office of the President of Studebaker and tell him what they wanted...and they would get it. To explain Anderson Studebaker, they were a small town dealer, but they were very good. They said there were more Studebaker trucks registered in Anderson County (name coincidence?) than Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Dodge COMBINED (and there were Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge dealers in the same town). While Andersons didn't sell the cars new, the State of Kansas bought a bunch of '59 or '60 Lark station wagons for the Highway Department. They got lots of complaints about dust coming in the tailgate when they were driving on unpaved roads. Andersons won a contract to properly seal all those wagons.
Then there is the story (I have never substantiated it) that Walter Cronkite wanted a '64 Cruiser, but balked when he learned they didn't have power windows. Supposely Studebaker built him one with the power windows he wanted.

[GEEMAC]

Was wanting to buy a new 62 Hawk black ext. with saddle tan int. this was at a small town dealer, George said they did not have the tan so i told him i would pass and go buy another brand, (whoa) he says let me make a phone call, ten minutes later Studebaker called back saying they could do that for me, got my 62 GT. MAC

[55s]

I have a loaded 1961 Cruiser with a factory Skytop - I think its the only one out there.

[StudeRich]

I have a loaded 1961 Cruiser with a factory Skytop - I think its the only one out there.

Have you registered it with the Skytop Registry? That IS a rare car!

[studegary]

I have a loaded 1961 Cruiser with a factory Skytop - I think its the only one out there.

That is a regular factory option for that car.
My own 1961 Skytop was a hardtop. The last that I knew, the car was in East Fishkill, NY.
A guy that I worked with ordered a new 1961 Regal four door sedan with Skytop. The different part was that he wanted Flamingo, which, at that time, was only available on convertibles and Hawks. It took awhile, but Studebaker did build it for him. Last that I heard, the car was in upstate NY.