Any knowledge about the '53 convert prototype?

[mr moto]

I hoping to build a model of the 1953 convertible prototype and information is pretty scarce. I've scoured the 'net and, although there are plenty of '53 convertibles, this is the only photo I can find of the real deal:



I hope a few people might be familiar with this car. For example, in the picture it appears to have no sun visors. Is that true? The front seats look to be separate, more or less buckets. Is that the case?
Can anybody help out with those questions and I'm sure I'll have more as I go along. This will be a long term project. I work slowly (not enough time) and usually on more than one project at a time. My other main project right now is a '56 Golden Hawk and it's a bear!

[mbstude]

The car in the photo isn't the original prototype, it's a nicely done custom.

The original car is locked in a garage and current photos are scarce.

[mr moto]

The car in the photo isn't the original prototype, it's a nicely done custom.

The original car is locked in a garage and current photos are scarce.

Sorry to hear that! Now I'm down to no photos of the original. I did notice that it had a remarkable resemblance to the often photographed custom that resides in Connecticut.

[raoul5788]

Sorry to hear that! Now I'm down to no photos of the original. I did notice that it had a remarkable resemblance to the often photographed custom that resides in Connecticut.

That's because it is the custom that resides in CT! The owner's name is Jim Maloney. A very nice car and very nice guy.

[woodysrods]

I like this one!
Brian

[studegary]

I saw the prototype several times when it was still in South Bend. It was built as a 1953 model and later it was changed (by Studebaker) into a 1954 model and got a color change at that time. It had the wire wheel cover option (like on Speedsters). It had a normal 1953 Starliner interior - no buckets. It never had body or serial number plates.

[56H-Y6]

Hi

Take a long, hard look at the photo above, then ask yourself: How could Studebaker management behold such a stunning automobile as a prototype and then decide not to build it for public sale?

The tooling cost of the two door sedan F-body was probably equal to what it would have cost to tool a convertible version of the K body. Of the two uses for the funds, tooling a convertible would have done Studebaker far more image and financial good than the generally poor F-body sales generated. It would be safe to say the unit profit on every '53 Commander convertible would have equalled or exceeded that derived from the sale of two F-bodied Champions or Commanders. In my opinion, unhappily, we'll never know.

Steve

[garyash]

Jim Maloney's car is as close as you can get to what the factory might have (or should have) made. It is a "phantom", created because Jim wanted it. As I remember, it has top bows from a '60 Lark that were narrowed. Jim worked in the factory in South Bend while he was in college, his wife was the receptionist in the administration building and sometimes was a model in some of the car photos. The car is very photogenic and the workmanship is excellent. While my photo below is from the 2001 Northeast Zone Meet, Jim drove the car to the 2010 Zone Meet a few weeks ago. It still looks great and so does Jim!

[paintim613]

There is a beautiful root beer colored Barris custom '53 convertible out there somewhere. I saw it sell for $19,000 at the Silver Auction in Phoenix about 3 or 4 years ago.

[S2DSteve]

Here you go. These were taken many years after it was owned by Studebaker, and I'm not sure it was red originally. Basically, just imagine a factory hardtop with every single geegaw and accessory offered during '53-54, then add a Chevy-esque soft top.

[woodysrods]

Suprised someone has not posted pictures of the one at this years Cam-Am Zone meet held this past weekend in Bellingham. It was quite a car.
Good Roads
Brian

[stuuder]

another '53 convert

One very sweet ride..........

[Guest]

I don't currently have pics of the original, but I know a little of its history. I have heard that the car was seen reguraly driving up and down sample street by engineers and it was eventually decided that they didn't like it and it was never produced.
I really prefer hard top cars over convertibles, but a convertible '53 looks good to me. I really don't see why it was never made. This reminds me of the '47 woody prototype. It's a great looking car, why was it never produced?!
Good luck on your project! Prototypes can be fun as well as a huge challenge (ask me how I know...)

[Chucks Stude]

There was a red one on Dennis Gage's show. It was made out of two cars, and used a Dodge Dart convertible top. Good looking car. Dennis really liked the car and went on about how he owned three Studes. Good publicity for the mark.

[mr moto]

Thanks to everybody who has replied! This has been a big help and really has clarified my thinking about how to proceed - it's very interesting, besides! I have some pretty adventurous Studebaker modeling projects planned or at some stage of underway and I promise to post pictures as things develop. There's an amazing number of interesting projects possible with Studes but I guess you knew that already.
BTW, last night I won the November 1976 issue of TW on Ebay for $0.99 ( I'm a real high roller!). That's the one with an article about the convertible prototype.