Counting '55 President Speedsters

[SN-60]

To: Welcome,---- Thanks for posting the photo of the all green Speedster. I guess it would have had to of been a factory green/yellow car originally? Any chance of obtaining the serial/body numbers without getting into
too much trouble?

[SN-60]

To: Bob Palma,------ Your costing Me money Bob! I went through a box of kleenex reading You LAST post (Overdrive Speedster). Now I have to run out and buy another one!! Seriously , I don't know how rusty the twin '56 Golden Hawks
were, but in the photo they really don't look bad at all. Gee--crushed??? WHERE'S THAT BOX OF KLEENEX???...and the Chrysler 300? I have to go now Bob, I can no longer see the keyboard.----Sad in Massachusetts

[BobPalma]

To: Bob Palma,------ Your costing Me money Bob! I went through a box of kleenex reading You LAST post (Overdrive Speedster). Now I have to run out and buy another one!! Seriously , I don't know how rusty the twin '56 Golden Hawks
were, but in the photo they really don't look bad at all. Gee--crushed??? WHERE'S THAT BOX OF KLEENEX???...and the Chrysler 300? I have to go now Bob, I can no longer see the keyboard.----Sad in Massachusetts

I hear you, Ed. Neither of the Golden Hawks was restorable in and of itself, but if you had bought the pair, you could have made one good one from the "combo deal." At least they are accounted for in the 56J registry.

The 300D was definately restorable by itself, although the little hooligans had broken every lens and piece of glass imaginable. The tail light lenses look OK, for example, but they were busted.

I was a little surprised to see this group gone, to be quite honest. And the area was so overgrown that it had to have been at least two years, I'd say, since the clean-up had transpired. Which, backing up, means it was within three years of when I took those photos that they were likely crushed.

Looking through the remaining photos, I see at least two second-generation Corvair convertibles and, as I said earlier, there were some early Mustang convertible carcasses there, but they really were beyond hope.

I've got some coupons for cents-off Kleenex if you'd like me to send them along. BP

[8E45E]

I was a little surprised to see this group gone, to be quite honest. And the area was so overgrown that it had to have been at least two years, I'd say, since the clean-up had transpired. Which, backing up, means it was within three years of when I took those photos that they were crushed.

Are you absolutely sure they got crushed? If you haven't been checking up on them regularly, perhaps the old guy actually DID sell some cars to some individuals who are going to use them, either for restoration or parts. (At least that's what I'd like to think, anyway.)

Craig

[Welcome]

To: Welcome,---- Thanks for posting the photo of the all green Speedster. I guess it would have had to of been a factory green/yellow car originally? Any chance of obtaining the serial/body numbers without getting into
too much trouble?

Yes, an original Green/Yellow factory combination would be my guess too. The lighting wasn't good, but the Serial No. "appeared'' to be 7162825. The Body Tag was a lot easier to see and is: 6H-K7 1128 This Speedster is For Sale!!! It has a lot of drivetrain mods done to it and a lot of NOS parts go with it, like a NOS set of the Wire-wheel Covers. The Seller believes the PO had connections in Studebaker's Engineering Dept. It has a 289 (not 259) backed by what appears to be the '61 Hawk Floor Shift / 4-Speed Transmission set-up. The Seller (it's not me) is asking $6K for everything including a pair of "mystery" (R-3???) heads all wrapped up and sitting on the shelf.

[BobPalma]

Are you absolutely sure they got crushed? If you haven't been checking up on them regularly, perhaps the old guy actually DID sell some cars to some individuals who are going to use them, either for restoration or parts. (At least that's what I'd like to think, anyway.) Craig

Craig, you are correct: I am not absolutely certain they were rounded up and crushed. Strong circumstantial evidence suggests that, but I am going to ask a resident Hudson-nut (but also SDCer down there; not on the forum) if he knows anything about it.

Sadly, the biggest auto salvage yard in Monroe County, Bloomington Auto Parts, is no more than two miles down the same road; quite large and quite active. Gulp.

Stay tuned. BP

[SN-60]

To: Welcome,---- Thank You for coming back with the numbers. That Speedster was not listed on Bob johannessen's 1993 roster, nor My more recent info. I jump from 7162744 6HK7 1119 to 7162842 6HK7 1131. Well, as You
would know, the 289 engine and 4-speed would have to be verified by the production order, My guess is they're transplants. 6K sounds fair considering the entire package. But, when Avanti people see Your last sentence mentioning
that a pair of un-accounted for R-3 heads may be there, I think there may be some minor interest. (My best attempt at understatement!!!) entering serial#7162825 6HK7 1128 into roster index. take care

[Welcome]

To: Welcome,---- Thank You for coming back with the numbers. That Speedster was not listed on Bob johannessen's 1993 roster, nor My more recent info. I jump from 7162744 6HK7 1119 to 7162842 6HK7 1131. Well, as You
would know, the 289 engine and 4-speed would have to be verified by the production order, My guess is they're transplants. 6K sounds fair considering the entire package. But, when Avanti people see Your last sentence mentioning
that a pair of un-accounted for R-3 heads may be there, I think there may be some minor interest. (My best attempt at understatement!!!) entering serial#7162825 6HK7 1128 into roster index. take care

Just PM'd you with that Speedster owner's info. You can take it from there!

[SN-60]

I spoke with a '55 President Speedster owner from Maine whose car was sent to engineering before delivery. Apparently, His Speedster was the first one painted the Black/White/Black color combo. The production order
indicates the car was to be sent to engineering for 'Experimental Paint". (Speedster # 7162560 6HK7-1090). Since there's no indication on the PO the car was 'Special Ordered', the factory people possibly just wanted to
'do one up' in this paint scheme to see how it would look. Since the body # on this Speedster is roughly 110 units lower than the last of the Green/Yellow/Green cars ,(which were being phased out), it makes sense that
this Speedster probably was the first one painted in this 'new' color combo. It must have went over fairly well, as ultimately approx. 220 of the 2215 President Speedsters built were painted this Black/White/Black combo.

[cdevan]

SN-60: My daughters '55 Speedster has a body type of 6H-K7 817, and a Vin# of 7807067. Photos can be found on the members photos thread. Thank you for the words of encouragement on the '57 Golden Hawk Registry. Hope this helps you with your Speedster count. Do you have a complete listing somewhere for folks to view?

Take care Curt

[SN-60]

To: cdevan,----- Thanks for sending the info on Your Daughters Speedster. This car was not listed by Bob Johannessen in 1993, nor My more current info. I jump from 7807065 6HK7-815 to 7807093 6HK7-817!!!! We
have our first discrepancy! In the 1993 Roster, Speedster #7807093's Body number tag is supposed to be 6HK7-817. Your Daughter's Speedster Serial#7807067 also has Body Tag # 6HK7 817. I believe Bob got it wrong
in 1993, as your Speedster's numbers are consistent with Speedster Serial# 7807065 6HK7 -815. Perfect as a matter of fact. Speedster Serial # 7807093 should definitely have a later body tag number.

[BobPalma]

Are you absolutely sure they got crushed? If you haven't been checking up on them regularly, perhaps the old guy actually DID sell some cars to some individuals who are going to use them, either for restoration or parts. (At least that's what I'd like to think, anyway.) Craig

Update Thursday Evening, March 15. Craig, I have good news that some of the cars survived one way or another, including the 1956 Golden Hawks and the 300D! I am securing permission to redact and post what turned out to be a far more thorough analysis and report of the situation than I ever expected to receive.

Woo-hoo!

Stay tuned. BP

[8E45E]

Update Thursday Evening, March 15. Craig, I have good news that some of the cars survived one way or another, including the 1956 Golden Hawks and the 300D! Woo-hoo!

I always like to be optimistic, Bob!

Your photos did convince me some that even a scrap carrier, or the scrapper themselves would do a double-take on the K-body Studebakers and the letter-series Chrysler. Not ALL scappers are heartless individuals, and if there's more money to be made selling a collector car 'as is', they'll no doubt take that opportunity to do so. I KNOW you'll keep us posted!! Thanks for the update!

Craig

[Welcome]

I always like to be optimistic, Bob!

Your photos did convince me some that even a scrap carrier, or the scrapper themselves would do a double-take on the K-body Studebakers and the letter-series Chrysler. Not ALL scappers are heartless individuals, and if there's more money to be made selling a collector car 'as is', they'll no doubt take that opportunity to do so. I KNOW you'll keep us posted!! Thanks for the update!

Craig

YES, I'm hoping BP can come up with some good news for us too!!! Especially, if he can I.D. the serial number of that Black & White 56J. Looks like two Black & White 56Js were originally shipped close to where BP last saw that one:

6031374 to Bedford, IN
6032923 to Indianapolis, IN

Of course the B&W 56J could have come from anywhere ...or re-painted different colors, but I'm very familiar with at least one 56J that stayed the same colors & stayed in the same Indiana town for 56 years!

[Don Kelstrom]

The Speedster I bought from Don Kellogg is 7807410. It has an amateur restoration and is in my storage building in Centralia. Bill Hallett owns the first Speedster I owned and bought from my uncle C. H. Urness in The Dalles in 1960. As I recall, it is only a few numbers away. Not sure if these are in the roster.