Pop Quiz: Was the 1957 Scotsman all that "cheap?"

[Chris_Dresbach]

I've often played with the idea of "If I were an engineer at Studebaker, what else could I remove from the Scotsman all together to make it even cheaper". Here are a few things that I came up with:

Hub caps, heater, hood ornament and grille badge, paint the bumpers (to omit chrome), headliner, back seat (optional), passenger side wiper (optional), offer only two colors: black and gray, no horn button (metal cap over). This would probably allow the Scotsman to retail for about $1550-1600 instead of $1776.
CASO to the core...

[studegary]

So were turn signals on a Scotsman. Were they standard or optional on a cheapie Chev or Ford?

(Being a previous winner, I don't qualify, but I don't have the book on Chev or Ford to give me an answer.)

Craig

By 1953, most states, including New York, required turn signals on all new cars delivered.

IIRC, our 1958 Ford had vacuum wipers. I found this hard to believe when our 1940 Studebaker President had electric wipers.

[BobPalma]

So were turn signals on a Scotsman. Were they standard or optional on a cheapie Chev or Ford?

(Being a previous winner, I don't qualify, but I don't have the book on Chev or Ford to give me an answer.) Craig

Craig: I don't have the inclination to research it right now, but it seems like Turn Signals were by law mandatory in the United States after January 1, 1956. (Subject to research and verifcation or refutation, you understand, and I don't profess to know about Canada.) BP

[BobPalma]

Electric windshield wipers. Dan

Nope, Dan; vacuum was standard, electric optional.

From the spec sheet (backside of single-sheet "brochure" at top of this thread):

[BobPalma]

Bob, I'll take the pace car mailer! Wow, this is like winning the lottery!

OK, Eric....but it's a small lottery! <GGG>

Is your address still Pond Ridge Road in Libertyville, per the 2011 SDC Roster? Please confirm. BP

[j.byrd]

Like Studegary says, electric wipers were slow coming, our 62 Ranchero had vacuum wipers, so I converted it to electric courtesy of a 63 Sprint and a 74 electric replacement motor for a huge number of Fords. I believe our 38 Packard had electric wipers from the factory. Seems like manufacturers just randomly selected cars to install things on or not, ha ! Wonder if you could specify a heater delete on the Scotsman ?

[BobPalma]

automatic choke

Nope, Bob; both the 1957 Scotsman, below, and 1957 Ford Six had manual chokes:




The 1957 Chevrolet Six, though, had an automatic choke. BIG selling point for Senior Citizens looking at low-priced sixes in 1957, I'd bet! <GGG> BP

[Roscomacaw]

Heater-Defroster? Unexpected luxury.

Electric wipers? Your call.

Overdrive? For a nominal charge.

185 flathead six? Priceless.

[pointer42]

Heater. Not bad for a $1776 price tag.

[BobPalma]

Heater. Not bad for a $1776 price tag.

You bet, Fred. BP

[2R2]

OK, Eric....but it's a small lottery! <GGG>

Is your address still Pond Ridge Road in Libertyville, per the 2011 SDC Roster? Please confirm. BP

yep Bob, same address...I'll see you in South Bend in a few weeks!

[BobPalma]

I politely call "BS" Bob. The exhaust created more heat...............

Good one, Mike. I suppose it depended on where you had the timing set! <GGG> BP

[clonelark]

Too bad they didn't offer the Golden Hawk engine in a 57 Scotsman as an option, it would have shut down a lot of 57 Chevies but NHRA would probably have outlawed it.