Hawaii Studebakers

[go-studebaker]

Hi guys,
since Hawaii is part of the US it got plenty of cars, even Studebakers. However it is a real harsh environment.

Those guys that restore Studebakers in Hawaii deserve a medal of recognition for what they have to deal with. There is usually a member from Hawaii at most meets. I remember talking to a real nice gentleman that had several Studes at the 2002 meet and had driven them all his life.

Greg





Greg Diffen
Australian Stude nut living in Warwick, United Kingdom

1933 St Regis Brougham Model 56 Dutch delivered
1937 Dicator sedan. Australian Body by TJ Richards
1939 Packard Seven Passenger monster UK delivered
1939 Commander Sedan Australian Body by TJ Richards
1939 Commander Swiss Cabriolet by Lagenthal
1961 Hawk
1963 Daytona Hardtop
1988 Avanti Convertible

[Skip Lackie]

I can't add much to 53k's excellent response. I also was on Oahu a lot in the late 1960s (Paul -- maybe we passed each other going through the gate at Pearl Harbor!) and remember seeing plenty of Studebakers. As noted by several folks, rust is a real problem on the islands, so there were also plenty of Studes in the junkyards. At the time, I was accumulating Hawaii license plates, so I spent my spare time in junkyards instead of on the beach. I also remember radio ads for Wholesale Motors, though I can no longer remember what make they were selling.

The most striking thing I remember about cars on Oahu was the number of Japanese cars -- a much higher percentage than we saw on the East Coast. In fact, I remember a big introductory splash for the opening of the first US dealership for Mazda -- a make that I had never heard of at the time.

Skip Lackie
Washington DC

[Skip Lackie]

I can't add much to 53k's excellent response. I also was on Oahu a lot in the late 1960s (Paul -- maybe we passed each other going through the gate at Pearl Harbor!) and remember seeing plenty of Studebakers. As noted by several folks, rust is a real problem on the islands, so there were also plenty of Studes in the junkyards. At the time, I was accumulating Hawaii license plates, so I spent my spare time in junkyards instead of on the beach. I also remember radio ads for Wholesale Motors, though I can no longer remember what make they were selling.

The most striking thing I remember about cars on Oahu was the number of Japanese cars -- a much higher percentage than we saw on the East Coast. In fact, I remember a big introductory splash for the opening of the first US dealership for Mazda -- a make that I had never heard of at the time.

Skip Lackie
Washington DC

[JRoberts]

I was in Oahu in the mid '60's and I too noticed the number of Japanese cars that I had never seen or heard of before. Of course I was in high school and from the east coast. My dad bought a little Datsun sedan. I thought it would have been better if he had purchased one of the Fairlady's but something about not enough room or some such thing.
One of my buddies had a bulletnose, but I don't know if it was a '50 or '51. It was a Starlight coupe and would not pass inspection because of cracks in some of the backglass. It did pass, however, when he broke all of the glass out! This did prove to be practicle because he could stash his surf boards through the opening!
I remember that the broken tail light lenses were repaird by using fiberglass rosin from his surf board repairs that was died red and molded into new lenses.


Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[JRoberts]

I was in Oahu in the mid '60's and I too noticed the number of Japanese cars that I had never seen or heard of before. Of course I was in high school and from the east coast. My dad bought a little Datsun sedan. I thought it would have been better if he had purchased one of the Fairlady's but something about not enough room or some such thing.
One of my buddies had a bulletnose, but I don't know if it was a '50 or '51. It was a Starlight coupe and would not pass inspection because of cracks in some of the backglass. It did pass, however, when he broke all of the glass out! This did prove to be practicle because he could stash his surf boards through the opening!
I remember that the broken tail light lenses were repaird by using fiberglass rosin from his surf board repairs that was died red and molded into new lenses.


Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Editor of "The Down Easterner"
Eastern North Carolina Chapter

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Skip Lackie
The most striking thing I remember about cars on Oahu was the number of Japanese cars -- a much higher percentage than we saw on the East Coast. In fact, I remember a big introductory splash for the opening of the first US dealership for Mazda -- a make that I had never heard of at the time.

I remember having the same impression. When they first sold Toyotas there they were called Toyopets. A popular model was the Corona which offered a two-speed automatic. Can you say slug? They also sold Toyota GT2000s there long before they were available on the mainland (if ever?). And, they offered a luxury model, the Crown, which had an in-line six. Daihatsus were sold there many years before they made their brief appearance on the mainland. I remember some really slick Isuzus too. They had a small sedan called the Bellel or Bellet (can't remember). It had independent rear suspension long before Toyota or Datsun. They cleaned up on the sports car track (first rice rocket?). They offered a trunk mounted a/c that also gave you a refrigerator in the trunk (handy for north shore picnics).
To keep Studebaker content, the Oahu Studebaker dealer, Wholesale Motors, sold a Japanese car called the Prince. Mrs. Silva in Hilo also sold them as a sub-dealer to Wholesale. I don't know who made them and as far as I know, they were never sold on the mainland.
One side note about Wholesale Motors- they were such notorious crooks that they were ruled off-limits to military personnel- I had to get special permission to take my Wagonaire to them for warranty work. Actually, their mechanical and body shops were very good- just the unscrupulous sales made them bad. I remember seeing a '64 Commander two-dooor with bucket seats and four-speed in the shop one time and their body shop foreman drove a customized '65 Daytona sport coupe.

[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/R-4.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64L.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64P.jpg[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/53K.jpg[/img=right]Paul Johnson
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Skip Lackie
The most striking thing I remember about cars on Oahu was the number of Japanese cars -- a much higher percentage than we saw on the East Coast. In fact, I remember a big introductory splash for the opening of the first US dealership for Mazda -- a make that I had never heard of at the time.

I remember having the same impression. When they first sold Toyotas there they were called Toyopets. A popular model was the Corona which offered a two-speed automatic. Can you say slug? They also sold Toyota GT2000s there long before they were available on the mainland (if ever?). And, they offered a luxury model, the Crown, which had an in-line six. Daihatsus were sold there many years before they made their brief appearance on the mainland. I remember some really slick Isuzus too. They had a small sedan called the Bellel or Bellet (can't remember). It had independent rear suspension long before Toyota or Datsun. They cleaned up on the sports car track (first rice rocket?). They offered a trunk mounted a/c that also gave you a refrigerator in the trunk (handy for north shore picnics).
To keep Studebaker content, the Oahu Studebaker dealer, Wholesale Motors, sold a Japanese car called the Prince. Mrs. Silva in Hilo also sold them as a sub-dealer to Wholesale. I don't know who made them and as far as I know, they were never sold on the mainland.
One side note about Wholesale Motors- they were such notorious crooks that they were ruled off-limits to military personnel- I had to get special permission to take my Wagonaire to them for warranty work. Actually, their mechanical and body shops were very good- just the unscrupulous sales made them bad. I remember seeing a '64 Commander two-dooor with bucket seats and four-speed in the shop one time and their body shop foreman drove a customized '65 Daytona sport coupe.

[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/R-4.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64L.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64P.jpg[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/53K.jpg[/img=right]Paul Johnson
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine

[studegary]

53K/Paul - The small car you call a "Prince" was probably a Prinz. A Prinz was a model of NSU during that time frame. NSU was German, not "Japanese." NSU merged with Audi in 1969.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[studegary]

53K/Paul - The small car you call a "Prince" was probably a Prinz. A Prinz was a model of NSU during that time frame. NSU was German, not "Japanese." NSU merged with Audi in 1969.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Skip Lackie]

Gary:
No, I think Paul is correct. I remember seeing a car called the Prince in Japan in 1963. It was made by Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan around 1966. The Prince competed with the Toyopet Crown. Most of the taxicabs in Tokyo were either Crowns or Princes (remember, Japan is a constitutional monarchy!). The model names were always written in English, even those sold domestically in Japan.

Skip Lackie
Washington DC

[Skip Lackie]

Gary:
No, I think Paul is correct. I remember seeing a car called the Prince in Japan in 1963. It was made by Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan around 1966. The Prince competed with the Toyopet Crown. Most of the taxicabs in Tokyo were either Crowns or Princes (remember, Japan is a constitutional monarchy!). The model names were always written in English, even those sold domestically in Japan.

Skip Lackie
Washington DC

[studegary]

Thanks, Skip. That didn't come to mind as I am familiar with the Prinz.
There was a Prince car company in Italy, 1921-1923.
The Japanese Prince company was 1952-1967, with it being a division of Datsun/Nissan in 1966-1967. It was named in honour of Crown Prince Akihito.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[studegary]

Thanks, Skip. That didn't come to mind as I am familiar with the Prinz.
There was a Prince car company in Italy, 1921-1923.
The Japanese Prince company was 1952-1967, with it being a division of Datsun/Nissan in 1966-1967. It was named in honour of Crown Prince Akihito.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[DEEPNHOCK]

So far... Nuthin'...
The state says it is up to the county/city...
So far three have said they can't sort by brand.
Oh well...
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by DEEPNHOCK


Well... We'll find out.
I sent an e-mail to their PR department asking for some basic, generic, information.
Registrations are handled at the county level, so it might be a bit different than here on the mainland.
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by 14x7

Contacting the DMV sounds cool,But I'll bet it cost some money ,nothing is free.Except a $1.00 dollar studebaker.

[DEEPNHOCK]

So far... Nuthin'...
The state says it is up to the county/city...
So far three have said they can't sort by brand.
Oh well...
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by DEEPNHOCK


Well... We'll find out.
I sent an e-mail to their PR department asking for some basic, generic, information.
Registrations are handled at the county level, so it might be a bit different than here on the mainland.
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by 14x7

Contacting the DMV sounds cool,But I'll bet it cost some money ,nothing is free.Except a $1.00 dollar studebaker.