1953 studebaker commander convertable might have found one.... HELP!!!

[luck]

May of found a 1953 studebaker commander convertable. I would like to ask anyone who knows about this one to give as much information as they can. It belongs to my father in law and the car has not been driven since the early 60's. Needs to be restored. I was told only 2 where made by his 17 year old son. A pic of the other one would be helpful. I will try to get more info on it this weekend. Also how do you find the vin and what number in it is the year?

[(S)]

Under the hood on the cars RIGHT side is a tin tag. Record all of the letters and numbers. This is the body type, car model, and body number.

In the drivers door jamb is a stainless steel tag with numbers. This is the car serial number/engine type. Record those numbers.

You wont be able to tell what year a 53 is by any of the numbers without a book. Posters on this forum will tell you in minutes......

[JGK 940]

Pics as requested; snagged from the Web.

The lady is Raymond Loewy's daughter Laurence.

[luck]

Pics as requested; snagged from the Web.

The lady is Raymond Loewy's daughter Laurence.

ok now i have somthing to compare it with there are some simalarities from what i remember. I want to say the quarter panels look right I don't think they stuck out. I will know more when i get the vin and pic's this weekened. Thank you very much for the pic's they will help

[Michael]

The pictures posted are not on the original 1953/54 Commander convertible prototype.
That one is a replica built by Jim Maloney in CT.
By the way, only one convertible prototype was built by Studebaker in 1953. It was
eventually updated with 1954 trim. It has survived.
If you have any pictures and VIN and Bodytag numbers we will help identifying the car.

Michael Bostedt

[luck]

What type of trim is on the other one?

[Michael]

It looks about the same although when converted into a 1954 it was dolled up with chrome accessories.
I have lots of pictures of it somewhere but I can't find it now.
I'd love to see pictures of you father in laws Stude.

Michael

[PackardV8]

The pictures posted are not on the original 1953/54 Commander convertible prototype.
That one is a replica built by Jim Maloney in CT.
By the way, only one convertible prototype was built by Studebaker in 1953. It was
eventually updated with 1954 trim. It has survived.

There are several convertible conversions extant, some more faithful to the prototype than others. There are also several shortened wheelbase two-seat versions running around. How these look depends primarily on what was done with the windshield.

A bit OT, but I remember one hot rod convertible conversion built back in the day which ended up with the doors welded shut. Without the roof, the A-pillars and doors sagged too much with the doors opened and the B-pillars were so flexible, the doors would pop open on a bump and it rattled like a coffee can full of marbles. It takes much professionally fabricate interior bracing to make a C/K convertible really operable, not to mention the work on the top.

jack vines

[mr moto]

This recent thread might shed a little more light. I mentioned posting photos from the old TW article but I never got a scan that looked very good. Maybe I'll post the article this weekend anyway.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?44490-Any-knowledge-about-the-53-convert-prototype

[luck]

Ok I called and I guess it's a 1950 but some stuff on this car is still confusing. I did get the vin number
it has 2 doors but it has a v8 in it and marked with v8 on the hood. I think the motor is original


here it is: GI084T74 If someone could look this up that would be great

[fatboylust]

Something is not quite right with the number: including the "G" it should be 7 characters long with no Alfa characters other than the first "G". Note Studebaker used the letter "I" as their 1.

[luck]

I wonder if it is G1084174 instead of GI084T74 he said the tag in the door jam was old but thats probably it

[Michael]

If that's the correct serial number the car would be a 1951 Studebaker Champion (six cylinder).

Michael

[JGK 940]

The pictures posted are not on the original 1953/54 Commander convertible prototype.
That one is a replica built by Jim Maloney in CT.
Michael Bostedt

Ah... learn something new every day. I sit corrected. Thanks, Michael.

How about this (snagged off the Web; I'm ashamed to admit I did not note where)?:

[luck]

I wonder why there is a v8 under the hood and the hood itself says v8 in the middle? Did Studebaker ever put a v8 in a champion, or could it be ordered by the customer from the dealer? The reason I ask is that the car in question was junked in 1962 and if it is a 51 Champion the commander had a option of a v8. Also if there was a engine swap from the 6 to the 8 and then junking the car all within that 11 years or so it seems like a waste.

I will know more tomorrow I have all the information and pic's I could get my hands on. Thank you all for your help it's been helpful and I will post everything I find out and pic's.