Among my souvenirs #5 (1958 hardtop ad poster)

[Studebaker Wheel]

Original large approx. 15 X 22" format. In the "did you know" department...The early models in this body style were referred to simply as hardtops. It wasn't until a few months after production that they began using the old "Starlight" name.

[Roscomacaw]

That was the color scheme of my old '58 Commander. Wish I knew if that car still exists. I sold it to a fellow SDCer. Richard, is this something peculiar to hardtops or were other body styles featured in this format?

[56H-Y6]

Hi Richard

Everyone else had glamorous, evocative names for their hardtops, Studebaker-Packard should have promoted "Starlight" as an instant identifier for their hardtops. Better perhaps would have been to reserve "Starlight" for Studebakers; revived "Mayfair", "Panama", "Pacific", "Constellation" or "400" for the '58 Packard hardtop.

Steve

[Studebaker Wheel]

That was the color scheme of my old '58 Commander. Wish I knew if that car still exists. I sold it to a fellow SDCer. Richard, is this something peculiar to hardtops or were other body styles featured in this format?

Bob; I have never seen any other 1958 ads of this nature.

[decappastubbie]

I really like the single headlight Commander.

[StudeRich]

I really like the single headlight Commander.

Those were only available on Champion Sedans. Commander and President were Standard with Dual Headlights.

[studegary]

I really like the single headlight Commander.

To expand the subject/answer beyond hardtops for 1958 -
Scotsman - single headlights
Champion - single headlights in dual rims standard with dual headlights as an option
Hawks - single headlights
all others - dual headlights.

[56H-Y6]

Hi

If I could, I'd go to my friendly, neighborhood Studebaker-Packard dealer, order a fully-power optioned '58 Packard hardtop with overdrive and ........... insist on the Champion single headlights in the dual rims and pods!

As long as I paid good bucks, bet they'd have built it!

Steve

[62champ]

Always wondered if there was a '59 Lark styling study where they used this one-year-only roof on one - might have looked pretty good...

[mbstude]

Always wondered if there was a '59 Lark styling study where they used this one-year-only roof on one - might have looked pretty good...

I remember seeing something in TW about that a few years ago. Can't remember the details, but it seems like Engineering mocked one up.

Sal posted this a while back.



I always liked the '58 J body roof. Looked much better than any of the Lark hardtop roofs. JMHO.

[Skip Lackie]

If anyone has a 58 President hardtop and wants a nice original 14" x 18" ink and watercolor of one (red), let me know. I have one that you can have for the postage.

[Studebaker Wheel]

Found this additional Starlight ad while looking for something else.

[studegary]

Found this additional Starlight ad while looking for something else.

The benefit of this ad is that the Commander and President are referred to as Starlights and the Packard is referred to as a Hardtop.

[Studebaker Wheel]

Yes, Starlight was reserved Studebakers only.

[56H-Y6]

Hi

Perhaps the lack of a specific glamorous name for the Packard hardtop equivalent to Starlight was a subtle indication that management wasn't very hopeful it would be successful and sell well. The fellow who bought an Olds Super Eighty-Eight got a "Holiday" hardtop, the Desoto Firedome owner a "Sportsman" hardtop, the Mercury Montclair a "Phaeton" but the Packard buyer.......just a plain old hardtop, no glamorous moniker. Heck, not even a model name, "Clipper" having been retired for '58.

Steve