What do you think about my plans for my 57 President Classic?

[jnfweber]

Got a call from my paint and body man that the car is in primer, doors, trunk, and hood have been aligned, and now doors will be removed again for painting the door jams and interior. I plan to have him do the entire interior and exterior in 2014 Chevrolet Impala "Blue Velvet", an almost black looking fine metallic. Will do the entire dash the same. and have already had the seats upholstered in gray 1956 style fabric, and door and kick and rear panels in 1957 black and pewter, as was original. All completed by Southeast Studebaker and ready to install as soon as body is done. Will also paint dashboard and top of dashboard in "Blue Velvet", solid color, as well as interior front and rear window mouldings. May eventually have vinyl applied to top of dash, either black, blue, or gray, or maybe leave without padding, as found in Commander and plain President models. What do you think?

The first photo is not my car, just a nice black President with white top and side panel. I will probably be more "modern" and just do a solid color, "Blue Velvet"' but a contrasting side panel "1957 Pontiac" look, but not the top, might look good in the 1956 color, "Cambridge Gray", a sort of blue-gray color.

[jnfweber]

I think old cars look best in the colors and fabrics the designers put on/in them when they were new.

http://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/2785871-studebaker-president-v8-automatic-1957

This car is probably identical to the car I have, and looks much better, but cost twice what I paid for mine. I do not think the gray/black interior is complimentary to the "Coppertone' exterior and interior paint. My car may have been more of a light violet, instead "Coppertone" but was no better than the car in the link. Cars that hit the dealer's floors are not always in the interior and exterior colors and fabrics the designers had in mind..

[StudeRich]

Good choice Jack, on that '56 Style President Classic Seat Material, the '56's were more plush than '57, and WAY more plush than '58's.

If you say that Chev. "Blue Velvet" is BLUE I will have to agree with you, but believe me NO ONE is Ever going to see the Blue or call it anything but Black without direct sunlight on a very hot Day! In your photo it's BLACK.

Don't you think it's just a fine metallic, they have not used anything as course as Metalflake since the early '70's Eldorados and they looked like they belonged to a gangbanger from East L.A. which you and I know about all too well.

[kurtruk]

I am surprised that after spending some REAL money for an original style interior, that you would go with a non-original style paint. But if that's what you want, be happy!

I think the contrasting fender spear looks great on these cars. Adds a lot over single-tone paint, but maybe your blue velvet would look great by itself.

[TWChamp]

I am surprised that after spending some REAL money for an original style interior, that you would go with a non-original style paint. But if that's what you want, be happy!

I think the contrasting fender spear looks great on these cars. Adds a lot over single-tone paint, but maybe your blue velvet would look great by itself.

X2 I think exactly the same.

[RadioRoy]

http://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/2...automatic-1957

This car is probably identical to the car I have, and looks much better, but cost twice what I paid for mine. I do not think the gray/black interior is complimentary to the "Coppertone' exterior and interior paint. My car may have been more of a light violet, instead "Coppertone" but was no better than the car in the link. Cars that hit the dealer's floors are not always in the interior and exterior colors and fabrics the designers had in mind..

I forgot about the lapses in judgement that came with the late 50's. That Coppertone certainly does not compliment the grey interior at all. Still, there are lots of colors in the 57 palette that will go nicely with a grey interior. Wedgewood blue is one of my favorites. Check out the 57 color chart, if you like.

[Jett289]

It will looking stunning by the sounds of it ... Put some pics up after its all done!!!

[56H-Y6]

Hi

Your President Classic was Combination No. P5737: Taupe Metallic and Arctic White. Taupe Metallic is a beige-violet which was considered smart and stylish in that era. There were only three interior two-tone color choices available for the President and President Classic: Charcoal, 61CH; Blue, 62BL; Green, 63GR. Cool-hue exterior colors such as greens and blues were an easy match or complimentary, any would work; same for neutrals such a grays, black and white. Problem was for the warm-hue exterior colors such as your taupe, copper, red: only the two-tone Charcoal would be acceptable. All of the '57 Presidents I've seen in the warm-range colors over the years have had the Charcoal interior.

Personally, a non-standard two-tone combination of base color Woodsmoke Gray Metallic with Wedgewood Blue accent color insert and top with the complimenting two-tone blue interior would be ideal. I would also add appliques of that metallic door trim material all across the dash in place of the painted lower section. The dash design itself is fine, just too plain for a President with all that painted metal, reference the '57 Clipper for how an upscale model should look! And yes, not only replace the dash pad but add more padding and shape for a richer look!

Steve

BTW, while we're upgrading the interior, get the back-rest cushions from other Classics or Cruisers with the folding armrest, not only for the rear but also to add to the front seat!

[StudeRich]

You wanted opinions Jack, so here is mine. If YOU like that Blue Black fine, I would not use it on a original looking 4 Door because it does not look like it could have came that way, but it's fine if you like it.

But the Interior Paint needs to be contrasting to the exterior, NOT the same, same. You need a Bluer, Blue to contrast with the exterior on the window frames, and dash.

I would use that beautiful '58 Packard Mountain Blue Metallic on the Interior, it already will have Chevy Blue paint and '56 President Gray Seat Material (too bad it's not Blue), so originality is not so important.

In fact, now that I look more at this Pic (Thanks Craig) I would probably do the whole Car just like this one! But of course the Rear fender "Bullet" would have to be the Baby Blue like the Roof or Arctic White.

[jnfweber]

You wanted opinions Jack, so here is mine. If YOU like that Blue Black fine, I would not use it on a original looking 4 Door because it does not look like it could have came that way, but it's fine if you like it. The Interior Paint needs to be contrasting to the exterior, NOT the same, same. You need a Bluer, Blue to contrast with the exterior on the window frames, and dash. I would use that beautiful '58 Packard Mountain Blue Metallic on the Interior, it already will have Chevy Blue paint and '56 President Gray Seat Material (too bad it's not Blue), so originality is not so important. In fact, now that I look more at this Pic (Thanks Craig) I would probably do the whole Car just like this one! But of course the Rear fender "Bullet" would have to be the Baby Blue like the Roof or Arctic White.

Thanks to all respondents for their solicited opinions. I appreciate all of them. I love the way my 2014 Impala LTZ-2Z (my road car) looks, handles, and performs, and at age 76, I am happy with a comfortable and peppy 4 door sedan. Its interior is in black leather, which looks good with the ultra dark blue metallic exterior. My 1957 President came with black window trim, and the interior door jams and dash bottom were the same as the exterior, the Taupe Metallic beige-violet (thanks, Steve) which was acceptable, though hardly ideal, with the leopard-spot gray-black seats and the gray/black/pewter door panels.

The 1956 President gray material looks more luxurious and expensive than the 1957 leopard spots, and when I have the window frames, interior door metal, and dash done in "Black Velvet" it should look good with the same exterior. (Not all 1957 Studebakers had contrasting window frames.) One color for everything is much easier and cheaper for my excellent body and paint man. Seat skins are done in 1956 fabric with door and kick panels done in 1957 materials by Rene' Harger, fully padded with new foam and batting but without armrests, which would probably not be "authentic" for 1957, though standard for 1956

Rich, the 1957 President whose photos I have included, look very much like the same color of the 1958 Packard Clipper you included. I actually prefer the gold mylar fender spear on the 1958 Packard to the contrasting side panel on the 1957 President, which makes it look more like a 1957 Pontiac, minus 3 or 4 "Star Chief" stars. That is my rationale for a solid color. Thanks to all again. "Different strokes for different folks."

Jack, in Montana (car in CA)

[studegary]

Only the Packard Hawks had gold Mylar. The other three models/body styles of 1958 Packards used gold anodized aluminum.

[56H-Y6]

Hi Jack

Your plans to finish in a solid color should give your President Classic a very elegant look. If you'd like to take that concept a bit further, may I suggest removing the stainless trimmed framed area on the rear doors and quarters, have the holes MIG welded closed. Swap out those big '57 taillights for the narrow '56 units, which will bolt in place once the lower fill units above the bumper pan are removed. Have a set of fender skirts created that fit the complete area within the sweeping character sculpting around the wheelhouse. Add a pair of the end spears from the sides onto the skirts with the point forward. Add GT Hawk rocker panel stainless moldings to underline the clean sides.

How I came up with this is notice how clean and elegant Custom Champions and Commanders look with the simple side trim sweeping back from the headlight to end three-quarters of the way, leaving the rest completely clean. Add the crest to each C-pillar, you'd have to look over the various model years for the one that accents nicely without being over-powering.

Just a few ideas you might like to consider. BTW, I don't blame you for selecting the '56 President Classic fabric instead of the '57 "Flagstone Pattern Cloth" leopard-print or what I refer to as "enlarged kitchen sponge pattern" Ugh!

Steve

[studeclunker]

Whilst I prefer the paint and trim of the President on the wagons, the Commander Sedans are much nicer than the Presidents IMHO. I have a '56 Commander in the two-tone blue with matching interior at Fawn Lodge. It will likely never see the road again, however there is still enough left of the interior and the original paint to give a good idea of what the car looked like when new. That two-tone blue is my favourite of Studebaker colour schemes. My second fave would be the green two-tone of my wagon. The blue you describe sounds really beautiful Jack. Your car will likely be quite a looker.

By the by, if you do elect to remove the trim and etc. Do keep the parts and sell them off. There are a lot of people who would likely want them for their own cars. The 'bay often has free sales days, and you might consider those as a venue.

Bon chance, your plan sounds great to me.

[jnfweber]

Whilst I prefer the paint and trim of the President on the wagons, the Commander Sedans are much nicer than the Presidents IMHO. The blue you describe sounds really beautiful Jack. Your car will likely be quite a looker.
If you do elect to remove the trim and etc, do keep the parts and sell them off. There are a lot of people who would likely want them for their own cars. The 'bay often has free sales days, and you might consider those as a venue.
Bon chance, your plan sounds great to me.

I will probably put all the trim back on after the car is painted. I agree with you that the wagons and Commander sedans have a much cleaner look than the two-tone Presidents, with the light-colored "blunt spear" on the rear. I had considered just leaving the straight strip beginning at the headlight and ending at the middle of the rear door, but that would leave a bunch of holes to fill. The same could be said about the side window trim, as it will take some searching to find the right size trim clips, as they are not carried in S.I.'s "trim kits". Really, for a "clean" look, emphasizing the clean design of the '57 models, the Scotsman is the very best, both in the two and four door models. I do not like the up-swing at the rear door of the Commander and wagons; continuing the strip straight to the tail light would be best. The nicest-looking of all these Studebakers is the 1957 Packard Clipper, again continuing the straight trim from front to back.

http://automobilesoftheworld.blogspo...ull-sizes.html

[studeclunker]

A valid point about the "up swing." I would prefer if the '56 wagon didn't have the fibreglass fin. The rear of the '54 & '55 looked much nicer IMHO. In fact, since Bess' fins are deteriorating (though admittedly easily fixed), I am considering removing them and enjoying that cleaner line. Being a coward though, my inclination is to fix, rather than remove as that's how the car was produced originally. Hopefully the old girl will be back on the road in a few months. In the meantime I have a Champ that is being silly about stalling out every five minutes, then refusing to start. My suspicion is that something was dumped into the tank.

As to the relaxed check-mark of the Commander Sedan, I kinda like it. The bump in the trim kind of relieves what would otherwise be a rather dull, straight line. Also, it kind of echos the line of the rear wheelwell. So, no objections from me for that. However, on the President, I agree with you. It is a bit much. However, I would gladly have one and thoroughly love everything about it, including the 'blunt spear.' The '56 is my favourite year of Studebakers... Well, mayyyybe the '53 and '54 (which just so happens to have a wagon ) would give '56 a run for the money.

An afterthought:
I like the '57 too, just not the rear. Don't like the tail-lights or the frame around them. Also, the extension to the rear of the Wagon is a turn-off for me. Other than that, the re-styling for '57 was pretty nice and makes the faults with the tail easy to live with. Can't stand the '58s. Even the Packard-bakers were just... ugly. Ah... there I go again, dropping my pants and exposing my opinion. Sorry about that, but there you have it.

Funny, '53-'54 are a very nice design, '55 don't like the front end, '56 again a very nice design, bracketed by '57 with a rear I don't like... Then topped off with '58 which is ugly from every angle (except the '57-'58 Scotsman which largely keeps the good looks of the '56). After that starts the Larks and I like all of them.