Yet another beautiful original coupe

[studefan]

I can't believe how many super nice original 53-55 coupes we've seen for sale lately. Here is another really nice all original car. (Not mine and I don't know the owner)

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/5191916864.html

[clonelark]

Looks like the car that belonged to a Russell Thomas (R.I.P.), who i worked with at McDonnell Douglas Tulsa, with all those Tulsa titles. It was a very low mileage car.

[BobPalma]

The owner's name, at least on the documents where it can be read, appears to be Ruth Gray. BP

[63t-cab]

Oh yes what a BEAUTIFUL - BEAUTIFUL 55 . also notice how tight and true the center grille fits against the hood all the way across.

[clonelark]

The owner's name, at least on the documents where it can be read, appears to be Ruth Gray.BP

That's true, but Russ bought it, not sure from her but that is the car Russ had. He won 1st place in South bend around 1992, or 93 with the car. He sold the car about a year before he died. He also had a nice yellow white 55 president 4 dr he used for a daily driver. He had the nick name "Studebaker" the whole time he worked at McDonnell Douglas he had many Studebaker's till the city made him get rid of most of them.

[BobPalma]

The owner's name, at least on the documents where it can be read, appears to be Ruth Gray.BP

That's true, but Russ bought it, not sure from her but that is the car Russ had. He won 1st place in South bend around 1992, or 93 with the car. He sold the car about a year before he died. He also had a nice yellow white 55 president 4 dr he used for a daily driver. He had the nick name "Studebaker" the whole time he worked at McDonnell Douglas he had many Studebaker's till the city made him get rid of most of them.

Cool, Bob; that explains it. When did he buy it from her? He must have owned it quite some time to have garnered those awards in South Bend.

Did Russ do the conversion to 12 volts? I note the alternator and what appears to be a 12-volt battery...one that needs to be turned around so the posts aren't so close to the underside of the hood!

'Looks like an unusually-nice driver in that configuration. BP

[Stu Chapman]

Seems to me I met Russell Thomas and his wife at the St. Louis meet in 1981. His car was parked next to my 53 Starlight Coupe at meet headquarters. I seem to recollect that Russell was blind at the time but was still able to perform much of the detail work on his car for judging. Can anyone shed any further light on Russell at this time?

Stu Chapman

[Carl Purdy]

I knew Russell back then and never knew of him being blind. He had a real loud voice and never needed a microphone.

[clonelark]

Must be the wrong Russell, Stu, Russell Thomas was a mill operator till 1995 when they closed the doors at McDonnell Douglas, doubt you could run a milling machine in production if your almost blind.

[studegary]

Seems to me I met Russell Thomas and his wife at the St. Louis meet in 1981. His car was parked next to my 53 Starlight Coupe at meet headquarters. I seem to recollect that Russell was blind at the time but was still able to perform much of the detail work on his car for judging. Can anyone shed any further light on Russell at this time?

Stu Chapman

Stu - I think that you are remembering the Russell from Florida who was blind and attended SDC International Conventions.

[Stu Chapman]

Stu - I think that you are remembering the Russell from Florida who was blind and attended SDC International Conventions.

Gary, I believe you're correct. Do you remember his last name?

Stu Chapman

[studegary]

Gary, I believe you're correct. Do you remember his last name?

Stu Chapman

It didn't pop up in my memory (or I would have included it). I seem to remember him as having a '57 Golden Hawk, not a '53-'55. I believe his wife did the driving. If I remember correctly, he is deceased.